2009...in a nutshell...

If I were to have my act together and send out a Christmas Letter, this is what it would say…

2009 was a good, tough, joyful, growing and rich year for us. We’ve had some of the highest highs and lowest lows all at the same time, but through it all God is proving Himself faithful and teaching us things we could not learn any other way. Let’s review some of the highs, shall we??

Our kids…as you all know, God added to our family a son – Owen Garrett. Many people tried explaining to us how when you have two kids your love doesn’t divide, it multiplies. I never understood until Owen came. God has enlarged the borders of our hearts to welcome this sweet boy into our family, and it’s as if he’s always belonged there! He’s nearly 7 months old and so much fun. He’s almost always got a smile on his face, content and calm most of the time (who’d of thought??), and has the best laugh. If he cries, he means it and promptly returns to smiles as soon as whatever is ailing him is taken care of. Most of the time, he just wants to look at your face and be a part of the action. We love him to pieces, but I don’t think anyone loves him more than his big sister Hailey…

Hailey Lynn continues to light up any room she’s in! At “2 & 3 quarters”, as she says it, Hails is a big ball of energy, smart as a whip, and keeps us on our toes. We’re consistently laughing hysterically at the things that come out of her mouth. J Along with her sharp mind, however, comes her…ummm…strong side. She seems to have inherited a strong will from both her father and I, and uses it often. We are constantly asking the Lord for wisdom in how to parent her well. One tool He made abundantly clear we needed to use to its fullest is scripture memory! In the midst of a hard moment, we can ask her what Jesus says and without a thought she recites, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is good.” This makes teaching her obedience a whole lot easier! Her favorite places in the world are Target (girl after my own heart), Panera Bread, and her BSF Children’s Class.

Todd is still busy running our business, being a great dad and husband, and leading Young Life at Federal Way High School. Fathering a son has come extremely naturally to him…somewhat because he’s done it once before, and somewhat due to his belief that a baby boy is slightly less breakable than his first baby girl. J This year, God has blessed him with a group of solid Christian guys that he meets with weekly for bible study. As a result, he’s growing in his faith like never before and for this, we’re both thankful. Many times on Wednesday nights he comes home after learning some new truth eager to share it with me and pray together. One of the lows this year was the sale of Todd’s boat, but thankfully God provided one for his cousin in Bellingham, so when he can no longer fight the urge to get on the water he can head up north for a “fix”.

What am I up to, you ask? Being a stay-at-home mom, novice bookkeeper for our business, leading Young Life with Todd, and attempting to keep order in our crazy life! In a life full of diaper changes, never-ending laundry, running errands, more laundry, play dates, still more laundry, and attempting to love high school kids to the feet of Jesus I can often times find myself very overwhelmed! This year, God is teaching me over and over that He is not going to let me rely on anything else than Him. And believe me, in moments of desperation I’ve tried! Nothing else can bring me to a place of peace, confidence, and level-headedness except my Jesus. This side of heaven, I know I’ll always battle trying to do things on my own, but I’m thankful for His teaching me truth about who He is, and that I can trust Him.

Whew...that was a mouthful, but that’s what’s up with us (in a nutshell). We hope that 2009 has been a good year for you and your families and pray that God will bless you in 2010!

~Todd, Jessica, Hailey & Owen Yost