Merry Christmas 2011

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Dear Family and Friends,

Once again, it's December and we find ourselves welcoming Christmas. We hope this letter finds you blessed with peace, love, and happiness.

Still living in McKinney, Texas, we remain very involved in our church and community. Marty is still employed as a Senior Manager at Ernst and Young in Dallas. I enjoy my life as a wife and mother, and feel blessed to be at home full time. Together, we serve in our church youth group as small group leaders for sixth graders. It's a ministry we both thoroughly enjoy. As you may have imagined, the kids keep us very busy and are all growing up way too fast.

Jack is now 13 years old and is in 8th grade. He is extremely active in both church and school activities, and his schedule keeps him away from home more than we would like. Still, it is so much fun watching him discover his gifts and talents. In November, Jack had one of the lead roles in the Dowell Middle School presentation of "HONK!", the musical. He has an amazing voice and a wonderful presence on the stage. In the coming months, we will finalize Jack's Freshman schedule for next year. It doesn't seem possible that those years should be upon us so soon.

Lily is now nine years old and in fourth grade. She still loves dancing. This year, she decided to study both jazz and ballet. In addition to dance classes and school, Lily is part of the children's praise team at our church. She loves performing!

Sofie is in second grade and will turn 8 years old this month. She just finished her third soccer season and has started practices for basketball. This past summer, she also attended tennis camp through our church. "Little Bug", as we call her, is happiest when she is playing outside and truly loves sports.

During the past few months, Marty and I started the process of adoption so that we can bring home our fourth child. Just a few weeks ago, we became "paper pregnant". That means we have finished a mountain of paperwork and are preparing for our home study. We hope to be on a wait list for a baby sometime within the coming year. Our family is very excited to meet our "chosen child", and we are already in prayer for our baby's birth mother. Hopefully, when I write this letter next year, our baby will be here with us.

With that, it seems a perfect time to mention another baby, who came into the world over 2,000 years ago and is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Jesus Christ, our Savior, is after all, the reason for the season, and the greatest gift we have ever received. I pray his love lights your path this Christmas.

Merry Christmas,
The Arbuckle Family

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"-Romans 15:13