I feel like I haven’t been keeping doing a good job of keeping up with my blogging (or much else) recently. I hate to say it because I sound like a broken record, but life’s been crazy. The end of the year is always a hectic time. We are scrambling to finish our year-end projects for clients while, at the same time, visiting with them and writing proposals for next year’s projects. New client development doesn’t stop. Then there are annual employee reviews to do. The holidays are quickly coming up on the calendar, which means annual meeting time and some extra "to-dos" to the list. There are kids activities, church activities, and community theatre responsibilities.

Yikes.

So, in an effort to catch everyone up, here’s the latest:

• Taylor is enjoying YWAM out in Colorado Springs. She’s learning a lot, growing a lot and experiencing the joys and struggles of community like never before. Her team will be heading out in mid-December and she’ll be in the field until late February. She’s still raising the last of her support (you may see a letter this week), but is getting very close to her goal. Her plans for next year have changed. She’s applied to Grandview College and is looking at studying elementary art education/art therapy starting in fall 2009. If you haven’t visited her blog, you can keep up with her here.
• Madison is busy with her junior year. She’s been spending a lot of time taking photos for the PHS yearbook and newspaper. She’s working for the local florist one evening and week and Saturdays. She continues singing with a worship team at church and is deeply involved with youth activities and small group activities at church. She also has a major part in USP’s "Cheaper by the Dozen" and is spending a lot of evenings at the theatre. She’s saving money for a car (for those family members wondering what she wants for Christmas).
• Wendy has been busy in her work for the group. Year end reports mean more work for her as she loads data into web-based reports. She’s also producing "Cheaper by the Dozen" and trying to keep up with her responsibilites as Treasurer for USP. Our costume shop manager has been fighting cancer, so Wendy has stepped up to take on added responsibilities at the shop. She’s been working on a new database for USP, as well (one of those long-standing, never-ending projects).
• I already told you about work. I’ve got a bit part in the play and am designing lights (which I know nothing about – so am having to learn a lot). I’ve also been trying to find time to work on my manuscript. USP is producing my play, "Letters from Pella," next May. So, I have rewrites to do on that, as well. I’m headed to Montana for a couple of days this week.

Hope this finds you all well!