Happy New Year!

Instead of writing a letter and sending it in the mail...here is a little letter for you to let you know what we have been up to.  

As previously mentioned Mark is now working for Hope Church as the Campus Pastor of our new Mindframe Campus.  He is being stretched, learning a lot and really enjoying this new adventure.  He taught one class this fall at the University of Dubuque but this spring semester will be the 1st in 7 years that he hasn't taught a class!  A big change for him!!  He will continue to stay plugged in with college students as he is now heading up that ministry at church.  The Dubuque Rugby Team won the Iowa Conference and will be advancing to the 3rd round of the playoffs.  With all the changes in our life this year, he hasn't been able to play as much and stepped down as team captain but he hopes to be able and play a bit this Spring. 

In addition to keeping the whole family running smoothly, Emily spends lots of time playing with her favorite "toy".  The kids often join her in playing with the Kitchen Aid baking everything you can imagine.  With Toby's arrival this year, Emily has taken a short break from the Pregnancy Center and has not taught any of the abstinence programs in the schools.  She has been participating in Bible Studies and MOPs and will be leading a discipleship group for new believers.  She has no problem talking to kids about STD's and abstinence, but is a little nervous about teaching this class.  However she is looking forward to this new challenge.  To fill in any remaining free time she likes to host lot's of coffee playdates and is extremely thankful for all of the ladies God has put in her life.

Lillie who just turned 4 is growing fast!  She loves her role as a big sister, and is always helping in any way she can.  She is as determined as ever to figure things out for herself and isn't afraid of anything.   Most recently, she broke her little sled doing a pretty sweet jump off of a ledge...she ended up in tears, not because of fear or pain, but because her sled was shattered!  She proudly tells anyone who will listen that she goes to school (which is Awana).  She loves doing crafts and can write most of her letters, even "Happy Birthday".  We are so proud of who she is becoming!!

Titus, is a boy!!  He has an amazing ability to turn any object he finds into either an airplane, truck or train.  He can then entertain himself for hours with this object, last week it was a piece of paper.  Oh the simple things.  He is busy testing all of his boundaries and yet has the ability to melt your heart or "bust your gut".  Lillie has given us so much hope that we will make it through the terrible 2s and the trying 3s. :)  Titus will be turning 3 on January 21st, and we are hoping that this new year will bring big boy underwear and a boy who likes to keep them dry while wearing them!!

Toby was 4 months on the 9th.  He grunts, smiles, chuckles, sleeps and plays.  He is a joy!!  He has begun to grab at toys and different objects.  We have begun to notice him watching his big brother and sister, following them with his eyes and smiling most of the time when they come near!  We have a slight suspicion that he will become a body builder as he has started working on his crunches already.  :)  He has a dr. appointment coming soon and we will find out his weight and height percentile!  Tune in later! 

We pray you have a wonderful New Year and that you are blessed and see God for who He really is!!

*Note: this blog was co-written by both Mark & Emily, so neither of us wrote about ourselves in third person, although we did spend some time talking that way... Go Team Smith!!!

Love! The Smiths