Thursday, December 17, 2009

Christmas Letter

December 2009

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! We hope this letter finds you well. This has been an awesome and exciting year and we wanted to share a little of what has happened.

This year was our first full year of marriage – and boy was it great. Ryan and I are still madly in-love and enjoying one another (what a relief, huh? ☺). We even decided to go sky diving for our one-year anniversary (we had a BLAST). Of course, a healthy and happy marriage takes a lot of work, but we have really treasured learning more about each other and growing together as a couple. Our ‘young married’ small group, through our church, has been an amazing place for growth and friendship.

One thing that we have really enjoyed this year was becoming annual pass holders to Disneyland. It may seem childish – but I think that is what we love most about it. We have had a blast spending time with Mickey, Minnie, our friends, and each other at the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! Ryan’s office is about 15 minutes away from Disney, so I sometimes take the train up on Fridays and we will head over to the park for a few hours, catch the fireworks, ride a few rides and just take in the magic (and it is so much nicer when you don’t have to jam everything in to the trip, when you can take your time, and take pleasure in everything around you). I like the characters and Ryan likes the rides – but we both love DISNEY!

We’ve done a little traveling this year (not as much as we would have liked, but hey, that’s what happens when you have full time jobs and the economy is on the fritz – good thing our STAYcations are in the “Finest City in America”). In February we went to the Virgin Islands (with the McClurgs), in November we went to Destin, FL (with the Padots) and in December we will be heading to Cheboygan, MI (with the McClurgs). We will be taking a trip to San Francisco with friends in January and then Hawaii in February for another family vacation (MAN, WE’RE BLESSED!!).

BREAKING NEWS – There has been a new development in our lives as of late. Ryan and I have decided that we will be moving back to the East Coast this spring. We know that we love Southern California, but thought we would try the East Coast for a while. We want to be able to spend more time with family and figured now would be an awesome time to try it out. We don’t have many of the details worked out yet, but are thinking that we will pack up and head east in April. We will spend the summer with our families (down in Temperance, up in Cheboygan, and probably plenty of places in between ☺), as well as spending time traveling along the East Coast to decide where we want to set down roots next. We are thinking possibly Wilmington, NC, but really it will be up to where God leads us. Normally I am the type that needs to have every detail planned out, but I am actually at peace about this decision and not having things already determined – how freeing. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen – we realize we don’t like it out east and have to move west? We’ve already done it once before, it’s not that scary, don’t worry.

If you are interested in more frequent updates (rather than just once a year), feel free to check out my blog – www.carleepadot.blogspot.com. I am sure I will keep it updated when we are making the move out east (I may even start one dedicated to the trip and adventures along the way).

We love you,

<3 Carlee & Ryan <3

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