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Mutch ado about nothing... |
Merry Christmas from the Mutch household to yours!
Michael and Jamie celebrated 19 years of marriage last April. We spent our anniversary exploring Little Rock, Arkansas. Wow, Arkansas is absolutely beautiful. It is lush and green with plenty of nature to enjoy.
Michael started a new job at the United
States Postal Service back in August. Jamie is still working remotely for Adventist
Health in California.
Our oldest son, Ben, is enrolled in nursing school in Salt
Lake City, UT. He is doing an amazing job. We are so proud of him and really
feel he’s found his calling. With his quiet and caring nature, he will make a
wonderful nurse.
Our oldest daughter, Kaleigh and her husband, Ross, are living only two hours away. That has been one of the highlights of living in Texas. We get to spend time with them regularly. In fact, this year, Michael was able to take Kaleigh and Olivia to a daddy daughter dance together for the first time ever. Guess the theme. 😊
Both Kaleigh and Ross are doing very well.
They celebrated their first Anniversary on October 8th! Here is to
many more years – cheers!
Griffin is a senior this year! Can you believe that? He has
officially entered the busy season of his life. Last Spring, he took 2nd
place in a state-wide are competition, launching him locally into the
spotlight. The local Art Council spotlighted his work with an Art Gallery
viewing and a banquet. This opened the door to several other opportunities,
including being commissioned to create a portrait for a local Interior
Designer’s client.
Griffin has been focused on the next phase of his life, as a college student. He has taken advantage of the dual credit program at his school and will graduate with most of his college generals out of the way.
Simultaneously, he is working as a waiter at a local steak
house, raising money for college. He has his mind set that he would like to
attend Sam Houston State University and seek a degree in graphic design. Go get
‘em, kid!
We are so proud of the hard working, kindhearted young man
he has grown into.
Olivia, the caboose, as her grandma would call her, is
really blossoming into a one-of-a-kind strong and beautiful young lady. She’s a
freshman this year.
When Griffin graduated sixth grade, Liv
was very sad that her big brother would not be in school with her anymore. At
the time, it reassured her to know that when she was a freshman, she would be
in school with him again. We all remembered that sweet moment as they started
this school year together. Time – where do you go?
Liv jumped into the Freshman year with gusto! Within 3 days
of starting school, she was already on the tennis team and in the school play,
Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief.
She is doing a great job in her schooling, maintaining As in
each of her studies. It has been fun to see her take hold of the opportunities
in her path and engage more fully in life.
Liv also has an artistic streak, both as a photographer and a baker. When you receive the Graduation announcement for Griffin, check out that senior photo! Livi did that!
As mentioned, Liv has become quite a talented and creative
baker, known around town for her generosity with her delicious goodies. She
loves to bake and create, but not eat. It is not uncommon for a neighbor or
school mate to receive a plate of cookies or beautifully decorated cupcakes or bread.
One of our favorite Christmas traditions is
decorating our Christmas Tree. Our first Christmas together as a family, we
were of very little means. Out of necessity we handmade all our
ornaments out of a stack of old CD’s. Everyone’s creativity came out, making it
a memorable experience and the beginning of a 20-year (and counting) tradition.
As we decorate the tree, each ornament we pull out of the
box holds a special memory, a unique phase of our journey together as a family.
Simultaneously we are reminded of all the joy we’ve shared, the years we’ve
been blessed with and the rapid passing of time. From “Crabby Santa” to “Olive,
the other reindeer”, each bittersweet memento echo’s this sweet truth – the savor
of life is found in the meaningful relationships we build along the way.
Like our ornaments, each of you are a reminder of how kind
and loving God has been to us, gracing our lives with the tears and joy we’ve
had the opportunity to share with one another over the years. What an honor the
time we’ve had together has been, sharing the different seasons of our lives.
We need look no further than that to see the reflection of a God who loves, and
cares for every detail of our lives. A God who generously gives us more than we
need and who designed us for relationship with one another. And more
importantly for the relationship with him. All the praise be to God for the
gift of you in our lives.
We pray for blessings over your life and family. May your holidays be Merry and Bright, filled with love. But most importantly, as Momma Linda at House of Prayer would say, as she hugged you with the biggest warmest hug ever, “Remember, it is all for Jesus! He loves you so much! You need to know that. Do you know that? He loves you sooooo much. He’s worthy of it all! Hallelujah!”
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John
3:16
Its all about the love of God. All of it.
Please leave us a comment and let us know how you are doing. God bless you and keep you until we meet again.
The Mutch Family
