Christmas Letter 2010

Merry Christmas & a blessed New Year from our home to yours!

2010 has proven to be an eventful year full of surprises and new adventures. We had a wonderful Christmas last year visiting all of Tiffany’s family in San Antonio and then flying to Tulsa to spend Christmas - Take 2 with David's parents and G-ma in Drumright, OK. We returned to SA in early January for Tiffany’s dad’s belated birthday and David asked him for permission to marry Tiffany. This was followed by asking the big question in early February!

Then the wedding planning ensued. We went back and forth on eloping (surprise! Wouldn't have guessed that would you? ;)) and finally settled on a small, July wedding with family and a handful of long time friends invited. We honeymooned in Norway where David's family spent most of the 1990's while David’s dad, Richard, worked for Conoco. We spent half our time in the city and the other half in a cottage on an island near Stavanger graciously lent to us by family friends who took very good care of us while we were there!

August and half of September were spent unpacking and then the craziness of starting Tiffany’s photography business ensued. Part of my plans when I (Tiffany) left my position at Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Houston in June, was to officially start my photography business this fall.

(Insert shameless plug for business here :)

I've been blessed with busyness this fall with school photography for Trinity Lutheran School & Children's Center as well as a couple "normal" portrait shoots during October & November. I've had my website up for over a year ( www.tiffany-r.com) and have recently added a blog for it (www.tiffanyrogersharmon.blogspot.com). I have a few more shoots for the school in the spring and hope to expand on Maternity Shoots & High School Senior Portraits as well.

As for now, we are looking forward to taking a break for the rest of December to focus our attention back on our home and our new 16 month old Irish Setter we adopted on the 7th of this month. He (Shakespeare) has had a sad life so far being rescued from a puppy mill and then locked up in kennels almost all of his short life. He is definitely a new project, but it has been a pleasure for us both seeing him open up the past week as he figures out that he has a forever home and we are here to lavish lots of love and attention on him. He's becoming a very happy boy and we're seeing more happy faces than sad or scared.

Video of Shakespeare seeing his new toy from Aunt Nika for the first time here:

http://vimeo.com/17851733

David has had another great year as the inventory control manager for Oil States Industries. Two unfortunate rounds of lay-offs at the beginning of the year left gaps in his department. After company wide restructuring, he gained a couple of new employees who have added their strengths to his great team. He continues to love his job and the challenges it brings. In his spare time, David continues coming up with projects for his cars and I continue coming up with projects for him :). He still enjoys drumming and is working on broadening his guitar playing skills. He has also enjoyed tutoring a friend's daughter this fall in math. She's really smart to begin with and taking a course beyond her grade level. We've enjoyed reports that she has one of the two highest grades in her class.

In 2011 we look forward to an Oregon Trail road trip (fly into Wyoming fly out Seattle) and visiting friends and family this fall in the D.C. when we attend my cousin Josh's wedding to the delightful Julie who is a restaurateur

http://www.scionrestaurant.com

Hopefully, we'll finally get to eat at Scion when we're there!!

(I like to plan my travels around food.)

It is our prayer that 2011 will be a wonderful year for you. Even if it brings challenges, may you be blessed with a positive outlook and comfort from the Prince of Peace.

Sincerely yours,

David, Tiffany (& Shakespeare)