Julie Chen Photography

Merry Christmas to you & yours!

I hope you have a wonderful celebration that is full of the love of Christ & wonder of His miracle.

This is our lame card this year. Gone digital. Enjoy. Kind of started as a “gift to myself” … one thing off my plate to NOT do cards this year, but boy do I regret it. We have sent a card & letter to our friends & family for the last 16 years of our marriage & this is the first year I honestly just feel burned out. {I was literally still creating cards for photo clients THIS WEEK!} I have learned a lot for next year though & will certainly make changes. We still decorated, painted, made homemade gifts, shopped {which is literal torture for me}, sang Christmas songs {my favorite!}, and read Christmas devotionals with the kiddos. I had started reading The Greatest Gift, but even set that down in the midst of the “busy” season. {Please note: I am not asking for pity here, & know I clearly made my own bed to lie on.} I have thoroughly enjoyed the many cards we’ve received, especially the ones from my own photography clients! hee hee! so fun to see the final fruits of my work!

This Christmas has also been a heavier one in my heart. This past weekend at church, the pastor spoke of wishing others a “blessed” Christmas full of peace & joy which is found in Christ, rather than a “merry” one, noting not everyone is in a “merry” season of their life. I sat in worship bawling like a baby for my friend with stage 3 breast cancer, another friends whose mom is battling cancer, another friend suffering from anxiety, and the family I just photographed whose 2 year old son is terminally ill & this will most likely be his last Christmas with them here on earth. Ugh. Sorry to be a downer, but that is what’s been on my heart. I need to keep my eyes & heart on Jesus, knowing He is love and show love & compassion to my hurting friends.

This is our Christmas card from last year. I was honestly tempted to use it again this year, as really nothing has changed. We are in year 2 of Sam doing double duty of teacher & ICU nurse {more on that later: a miracle has occurred!!!!}. He has started leading worship again this year at our church and makes the best rice krispie treats you’ll ever eat every week at our small group we host in our home. He also does all business & accounting type work {you know, the math stuff I hate} to keep my business going. He is the BEST hubby & daddy-bear anyone could ever ask for & I love him soooo much.

I am wearing the different hats of creatively leading Life Verse Design, designing books for Tyndale House Publishers, doing family photography, coaching soccer for my girls, leading bible studies and loving on my kiddos & hubby {my favorite of all}.

My Favorite Little Mister is still obsessed with piano & cello, making it his goal in life to be a future Piano Guy. He reads & soaks up information like no one I know. He can catch any bug out there & cared for Jade our praying mantis for over a month before she laid her eggs & died. He is still passionate about everything owls and creates the coolest Lego models you will ever see! His heart came up with the fundraiser we just did for our church & he truly leads his sisters with kindness and a great example to follow. He is also asking some deep questions about God & faith that challenges me & I love it.

Sunshine Girl is all about reading & soccer & learning. She also rocks the piano & is singing around the house more & more. Her highlight of the year Daddy taking her on a date to the Comic Convention (comicon) in which she dressed up as Cat Woman & was in awe of meeting so many super hero fans, just like her! {she is the only girl at school who carries an Avengers lunchbox} She also has the most tender, giving heart in the world. Her school recently had a book fair & she asked for $35 to be taken out of her bank account so that she could buy a book for each of us. When I asked her what book she wanted, she said she did not have enough money & it’s ok cuz she’d rather give to us! Oh & she is also obsessed with Nancy Drew.

Pumpkin-Poos is my big kindergartener this year! {half day only, folks} I really do not know what I will do without my shadow next year {gulp}. She is still obsessed with dogs & that is ALL she wants for Christmas {too bad I am allergic & will never have a dog in my home to add to the work!} She is going to be disappointed & her 31 stuffed dogs will have to do. She started soccer this year & got 2 goals! So fast & cute but does NOT want to be told what to do by her mama. Can you tell she is my little spit fire? But also full of compassion & will make the best mommy someday. I love to watch her take care of her baby dolls. She is so sweet wrapping them, holding them & reading to them. Her constant passion in life is playing school or puppies. OH & the new obsession with her is Taylor Swift! So funny to hear her sing TS songs {right now she is literally belting out “we will NEVER EVER get back together”}. She is getting some cd’s for Christmas & already has a microphone & we’ve signed up the girls for hip hop dance come January so our Chen family after dinner dance parties will be rocking soon! {poor big brother who cannot stand Taylor Swift! HA!}

Well, that is all for now. I am going to go relax with the family now! Merry Christmas & love to you!

Grace & Peace,

Julie