Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

From all of us to all of you we wish you a very Happy New Year! We are a little late for Christmas wishes but I did want to share some Christmas photos. It has been a very busy season at the Lucas house. It started off with Thanksgiving where we spent the day with our friends Bill & Brenda. Of course that was after a trip to the ER with Cassidy who was having an asthma attack triggered by strep throat. Brenda set her up in a room all to herself where she was waited on hand and foot by mom and had total control over the tv and dvd player. She was a little bored but it really forced her to rest and relax more than she would have at home. Then there were concerts by both Josiah and Cassidy.(pictures to come) Our annual Christmas Cafe at church and our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Of course, lets not forget Christmas at our house. This year we had 34 people, mostly at different times. The most we had at one time was 25. It was lots of fun and we really enjoyed having everyone here. We got good use out of the sunroom Alan built. Glen & Wanda brought over the Wii and that was so much fun. I am already thinking about our tax refund!! We have got to get one of those!!

As I sit here tonight I think about 2007, what a year. It started off really rough with Alan being sick. Once springtime came and the days got a little longer (they are still shorter here than in Kentucky though) things got better for him and life started to even out. We bought a new SUV. We went home to Kentucky for spring break - where it snowed!! We had our first family camping trip with 30+ of our closest friends - what a blast! Beau joined our family as a Mother's Day gift. The sunroom was started. Marcia, Gary and Jenna visited for a few days. School started again. Another family & friends camping trip. The sunroom was finished.


Alan had a hard start to the year but is doing much better. He has been working on the never ending home improvement projects. Work keeps him busy selling to the government and military. He played softball again and did even manage to play golf one time this year. He is still playing trumpet in our church's worship team. He went to Louisville for a week in March where he trained and tested for his QSSP (Qualified Safety Sales Professional). He received the QSSP a couple weeks after returning. It is a pretty intensive course and test and he did a great job!


I (Dianna) spent the year just trying to keep up. Work has been very stressful and busy so I have made a very conscious effort to enjoy the time I am not there. :) I am working toward my Bachelors in Human Resources Management while being the Membership Chair on the PTSA at the middle school, working on the media team at church and trying to keep up with the kids. I have been spending a lot of time with my embroidery machine and trying to find as many cool and fun designs as I can. Alan got me a Cricut Expression for Christmas and I can already see that becoming a new addiction for me.


Cameron had a few job changes this year. He is now currently at Arby's and is a Shift Leader (?). He is doing fine and drops by at least once a week to make sure that the washer and dryer are still working and there is milk in the fridge. ;) He turned 21 in October.


Mikaela had a big year. Along with turning 18 she got her GED. We are very proud of her, it was a very hard test and she worked very hard to pass. She is currently working at a church after school program where she loves the kids. She refers to them as "my kids". She is very rarely home as she is still the social butterfly of the family.


Josiah is 13, he will be 14 in February. He is in the 8th grade. He loves video games, air-soft, and has become very active in Boy Scouts again. His troop does a lot of camping which is right up his alley. He loves to camp and do the outdoorsy things. He was supposed to be camping right now but after 2 days he got dehydrated and we had to go pick him up. He is already ready to go again. He is getting ready for his SC State robotics competition in February. There should be one in January too at the local level to qualify for state. He is still wanting to be an "Advanced Cyber Robotics Engineer", or maybe join the military. He is facinated with all things military. His favorite TV channel is the Military Channel.


Cassidy started middle school this year. We are so not ready for that!! She is 11 going on 22. We have even had to deal with boyfriends. She is all about being social and we are having to reign some of those social skills in. She likes monkeys and loves the Bobby Jack stuff. She has several good friends and likes to talk on the phone - a lot! She is playing the violin in the school orchestra and doing quite well.


Alexis is 9 and in the 4th grade. She just loves life! She is getting that 4th grade attitude though and can go from being sweet and loving to queen of the attitude. She loves dogs. She loves dogs a lot, a whole lot. Fortunately Shadow and Beau are very tolerant of her "love". She is very funny and smart. We have new "Lexi stories" about every other day. She has lots of friends too and like her sisters, loves to be on the phone.


Overall we have had a very blessed 2007. Though not everything has been easy and we have definitely had some very rough spots, by the grace of God we have made it through. We wish you all a very blessed 2008. Continue to pray for our leaders and support the men and women who give of themselves to guarantee our freedom and fight for the freedom of others. In 2008 we will elect another president. Pray now for God's guidance in your decisions of who to vote for. Take every moment and enjoy it. Don't waste time being angry. Love one another. Laugh together. Remember to praise God regardless of your circumstances. God is good - ALL the time.