merry christmas!!

Hello Everyone,

This Christmas we're cutting corners a little bit... that's why we liked the picture below so much!! We prefer mailing out Christmas cards but decided that we should spare the expense this year.

This year has been wonderful with many high points and a few challenges as well. Through it all we have been very blessed and are so grateful for the opportunities to learn and grow.

Things fell into place for us such that we decided to look into purchasing a house. The first offer that we made was accepted and so we were able to buy a home in Wellington, Colorado, about 10 miles north of Fort Collins. We have loved working around the yard and doing little fix-up projects and just making our house a home. We are really enjoying small town living and our new ward, where Mason is serving as the Deacon's Quorum Advisor and Assistant Scout Master and Stacey teaches one of the CTR6 classes in Primary. We are very thankful for our home!

In February, after many months of doctors appointments, Stacey was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. It has been a challenge for her often not having the energy she wants and not feeling good enough to do the things she needs and wants to do, but she is learning to manage it somewhat with diet and other changes.

In July, we found out that Stacey was pregnant!! We are expecting another precious boy on March 15, 2010. We’re very excited but also a little nervous for two. Our family is growing and we look forward to meeting the new member of our family!

Mason was unfortunately laid-off from his employment around the first of November. Thus trying to spare any and all expenses that we can!! This is of course a challenge but we’re confident that good things will come of it.

Andrew is doing really well and has had a great year. Even though he was born 6 weeks early, he’s caught right up and is a super cute whirlwind of excitement, curiosity and activity. He loves to talk, count and sing and we love listening to him! He started nursery at church in June much to the delight of the entire family! Trying to keep him both quiet and occupied was proving to be difficult! He loves nursery and asks to go "play" right as we're pulling into church. Senior nursery may prove a bit more difficult for him this next year... :) He turned two on December 10th and is an active, talkative, independent toddler. We're so thankful for him and for the joy and laughter he brings into our home.

At the close of another year, we're very thankful for our Father in Heaven's love and for the knowledge that we have that He is there. We're thankful for our Savior and for His example and sacrifice. Even in the midst of difficult times, we're indeed grateful to know we are not alone. Our testimonies and faith have been strengthened by the challenges we have been called to go through and we are most thankful for that.

We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love to all,
Mason, Stacey, Andrew and ? Taggart