Christmas Letter - it's long, I apologize

Ok Folks here we are...finally posted.

Sam and I have had a year of change. As we look back on the year of 2010 I wonder if there is ever way to fit more into a year. Most likely but man it was a whirlwind.

January - construction commenced on our new home. Sherry turned 25, which seemed to be a turning point. At the age  of 25 I finally felt like an adult. Sam coached Jr. High boys basketball.

February - Was a month of rejoicing! Sam had his last month with National Guard after serving 8 years and one tour to Iraq. We celebrated with a weekend at Chico Hot Springs in Prey, Montana. We also met with our marriage mentors for the first time this month. We have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and their family over the year.

March - We celebrated our 3rd Anniversary. I can't believe how fast it has gone.

April - During the later part of March and into April Sam and I visited Sherry's family in Enid, Oklahoma. It was great to see family, meet cousin's spouses and just be around family we hadn't seen in a long time.

May - Our new home was finished and we moved in shortly after the first part of May. Shortly after moving in Sherry was in her first car accident (she wasn't at fault). The week following had her laid up in bed after she came down with a bad virus.

June - For Sam, school was officially out for the summer and he had started his summer work as an apprentice with a horse ferrier (they trim horses feet and apply the shoes). We also hopped in our Subaru with our good friends the Lohrenz's and road tripped down through Wyoming, Utah, Nevada (Lake Tahoe), California (Redwoods) and the Oregon/Washington coast. This was a highlight of our summer and we definitely enjoyed seeing the country with some great friends. Sherry was very dissappointed that we happened to be gone during Billings Fathers Day tornado and storm. Apparently most of Billings almost blew or floated away.

July - My sister moved in with us briefly for about three months. It was great to have family so close. I really miss having her here.

August - School started up again as well as the start of Sherry's new job with Farmers Insurance and her new at home business with Arbonne International as an Idependent Consultant. She still works part time at Old Chicago a couple days a week. My father visited on his return visit from Sturgis. We really enjoyed having him here. At the end of his visit we met Sam's parents in Butte for the An' Ri' Ra' Irish festival for a 5k run. I rode with Dad on the back of his motorcycle all the way there. I now understand the freedom and draw to motorcycles. While we were in Butte Dad and I enjoyed a beer at the Silver Dollar Saloon and while we were there we graced with the presence of a frequent patron of the bar. A rather hefty feline. We first noticed this dude as he slinked across the top of the bar swishing his tale lazily to and fro. Also, after a rather spontaneous decision Sam began his graduate studies at Rocky Mountain College (our Alma Mater) in Educational Leadership. Thankfully he will be done this time next year.

September - My sister moved back home. It is an understatment to say that Sam was busy during the first part of the fall. During September he taught, attended school and coached cross country. It has been a culture shock adjusting to Sam's "absence." Sam also turned the big 30. We had a quiet celebration due to the intensity of our busy fall.

October - I made a trip with my good friend Holly to Vancouver, WA where mom hosted an Arbonne event for me. I had a great time road tripping with Holly and it was great seeing my parents.

November - November proved to be the arrival of winter in Billings. We had some few weeks of consistent snow fall and really cold weather. Sam and I took some time from our schedule and went to Missoula, MT to attend a University of Montana Griz Football Game. We had a blast hanging with family and friends. We spent Thanksgiving with Sam's family in Ryegate. We enjoyed some great adventures with a paintball gun.

December - Sherry began the month with a 3 day, 27 hour insurance class, followed with 3 tests to get her insurance license. Sherry passed all three tests and can now legally sell property and casualty insurance in the state of Montana. Sherry's parents visited us for Christmas and the four of us spent the Christmas weekend in Ryegate with Sam's Family. Sam completed his first semester of grad school and has one more to go. Only 6 more months!! Sam has also earned himself the title of king of the distance learning class. He and some of the guys while on skype during class will come up with different games to play. For example one person will throw out a challenge like "say the word mammiferous in a question." Sam has succeeded on more than one occastion. His top accomplishment is successfully broadcasting a armpit fart. Sherry is very proud of her husband.

Well that completes the bigger points of our year. It has been a fun one and we're looking forward to what this next year will bring. We hope and pray that your new year is filled with many of God's blessings as well. We love you all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.