Elliott Times: Didn't mean to be gone SO long!

I will post a few things about life back in South Carolina now and then go back to leaving Manila and all that has happened since October!

We are doing fine-all glad to be back home but treasuring the wonderful people we met (and wishing we could see them regularly too!) and thankful for the amazing opportunity it was to live there!

God has blessed the kids with great teachers and, in my opinion, an easy transition back. Ashley's teacher is young, sweet, enthusiastic, and Ashley loves her-she is leaving though, the end of April, to have a baby (her first). The class is already anticipating her bringing the baby to visit them at school. Ryan's teacher came from a Christian school and is a believer who feels called to be a Christian teacher in a public school-how much better can you get! She also loves Science which is a great fit for Ryan too. Still can't believe we have a middle-schooler! Scott is enjoying his school, continuing in band, has a small group of nice new good friends, and is enjoying being part of our church's youth group-as I write this is at church on his first Disciple Now weekend!

Our new house is great and it is a nice feeling to have all our stuff in one place-though it was chaotic for quite a while. We loved getting to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas in Atlanta with family, brought home a black labrador puppy with us on New Year's Eve. Greg has been busy with work-traveling to Copenhagen, Denmark and the Fluor office in Gliwice, Poland and got to go to Sweden sight-seeing for a day and took a train trip to visit a famous castle in Denmark. I have really enjoyed re-connecting with friends here, getting to know some new ones, and getting involved at kids' new schools.

Now on to what people read blogs for-pictures!

Our new house! This picture was taken in February during one of our teeny little snows!

Yeah for cousins!!!! The Elliott ones below-we were excited to get to be part of the annual Christmas cookie decorating again!