~ 2006 Gallagher Greetings ~
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Which means the time is here again! Time to write and receive letters from our friends throughout the years! We so enjoy hearing from you!!!
It has been an exciting year for us, as we have watched our newborn grow and change into a one-year-old. A year is incredibly short for so much change to take place!
The little coos and wobbly smiles turned oh so quickly into laughing and rolling over -- then a funny little crawl all his own....and finally real crawling in September! Patrick took his first steps in November and has begun to walk even more in December!
At one, Patrick is a blonde haired, blue eyed, all-boy little guy with a great sense of humor! He is so much fun! We have such a blast communicating with him his little laugh and huge grin are contagious. He is such a combination of rough / tough and soft /sweet one minute growling and screeching, then the next cuddling and talking soft. We have fallen in love with him for sure!
Becoming parents has been such an adventure! (one that's barely begun, I'm sure!) Patrick has added so much to our lives! So much responsibility, so much JOY, so much LOVE!
If you'd like to keep up-to-date with the events in little Sweet P's life, please take a look at his blog: www.life-with-patrick.blogspot.com
Our life has been turned rather upside down in 2006! As we approach 2007 we are looking at many changes. James began a search for a full time job around summertime. The Lord met that need with a temporary full time job at L3, right here in Greenville. That was a big adjustment for us, since we were used to a varied schedule of lessons from day to day. Since this job was only temporary, James was still in need of a permanent position. Again the Lord worked things out amazingly, and gave James a full time job working in the technical support of Weirs Furniture in Dallas.
The job is a huge blessing for many reasons, one being insurance. In the last year we have faced many health issues, beginning first with Patrick's birth and GBS, and then some gallbladder and teeth issues that I've been battling for awhile now. Patrick also had an allergic reaction in October, resulting in a trip to the ER. It appears that he is pretty allergic (to what we still are not sure) so that is an avenue we are going to have to research/treat as well. We are very grateful to God for meeting all our needs throughout this year, in many various and wonderful ways!
James has been keeping very busy. The beginning of the year he was teaching and performing as usual, but when the new jobs came, he had to cut back some. Currently he is teaching two evenings a week and a few hours on Saturday morning. It is a lot combined with a full time job, but it is good. He has been able to do a very few gigs as well, and hopes to be able to continue playing professionally as his schedule permits. I am very grateful to him for putting aside his love of violin and going out and doing whatever he needs to, to provide for his family.
Another very big change, is that we have moved!! We moved into an apartment in Garland on December 16th--with much help from family and friends!! (Thank you very much!!!) The drive to the new job was long (a little over an hour one way) so we felt like moving was the best thing to do for various reasons. Today is our 4th day in our new little home. It's very homey and cute, and I'm enjoying watching the neighbors! :) We are sad to have left so much that we love back in Greenville, but I'm sure that as time goes by Garland will become just as dear to us--and our friends from all over will remain dear to us wherever we go!
In November, we experienced a miscarriage of our second child. Our little "Jamie" was not quite 8 weeks old when the Lord took him/her home to Heaven. We are deeply saddened by the death of our tiny little baby...we only knew about little Jamie for a month, yet the news had already changed our life....now we face another change, yet we know that our loving God is guiding our lives as He sees fit.
A very happy thing has occurred in our extended family this year! My brother met a girl! Her name is Rachel Vande Hei, and she is from Wisconsin. She and Jedidiah met in May at a conference, and are engaged to be married December 30th! Rachel is a wonderful and sweet girl--she and Jedidiah are a great match, and we are very excited for them! James and I are looking very forward to the honor of being in their wedding party! It will be the first time I am in a wedding, except for my own of course!
The wedding will take place in Wisconsin, but my parents are planning a Texas reception for January 27th. Rachel and Jedidiah will be living in Tx while Jedidiah finishes up at language school--after that, who knows what! It is their desire to work where the Lord directs them with Muslim people.
I think that takes care of the major changes that have occurred in our year. Aside from all that, we have had some other things filling up our year as well.
We have enjoyed several trips this year! The first (and Patrick's 1st trip outside of Tx) was to Tennessee to visit our dear friends the Smiths. It was their first time to meet Patrick, and although a short visit, it was a wonderful time.
In April the three of us flew to Colorado. James had a gig there, and Paddy and I got to go along for fun! We enjoyed time in the hotel, as well as going to the Aquarium and Zoo!!
We also spent some time that month at a cabin with my parents. When I was a child my family would go to this cabin....I remember a birthday there, where I received a pink Fisher Price tea set....so it was very special to take my son there for the first time! We had a wonderfully fun and relaxing time together; playing putt putt, swimming, playing tennis and scrabble, watching a movie, going out in the paddle boats.....all those nice things!
In June we traveled to California for my cousin Jason and his fiance Carolyn's wedding. It was a very fun and sweet time, despite my having a small gallbladder attack on the way to the wedding! After the wedding, most of us went to a beach house in Morro Bay for a few days. We enjoyed the time there very much.
July 3rd came again, making it our second wedding anniversary! How our lives have changed since that day (now almost) 2 1/2 years ago! My love for James has grown stronger after these years, and I know I am very blessed with such a sweet husband and caring father for our baby. I love the life we three have together.
To celebrate the occasion, James took me back to the Bed and Breakfast where we spent part of our honeymoon. Grandpa and Grandma Gallagher (and the aunts and unlce!) watched Patrick, and did a fabulous job! We were very glad that Patrick did so well on his first night away from home, and it was great to spend some time alone. We are looking forward to going back again in 2007!
August found us house-sitting for a friend. We had a lovely little vacation at their beautiful home, and greatly enjoyed the use of their pool! After that we had about a day at home before we set off for String Camp in Austin. This year Patrick and I were able to make it as well, and we really enjoyed our time there. The Malones are very gracious hosts and hostesses' and string camp was wonderful! James really enjoyed conducting and working with the students there, as well as some games of volley-block in the evenings! ;)
We returned again to California in November. A very short trip to witness the marriage of my cousin Trisha to Gustavo. It was great to see all our relatives again, and we were very happy that Rachel got to come along as well, and meet her future relatives! She and Jedidiah were actually engaged while we were there in San Diego.
Amidst all the change and hustle bustle of this year, we have spent some very lovely "home-days" too.
Walks around our little neighborhood, date nights while Grandmerry Beeman stays with Patrick, shopping trips to Wal-Mart (It's so fun to have a baby to push around the store now!) playing uno and quick-draw scrabble together.....We are very thankful to God for His blessings, as well as His grace.
We don't know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future ~ and because of that we look forward to all that He has for us in 2007.
We hope that it will be a wonderful year for you, too, and that you will feel the Lord near you each day!
Merry Christmas!!!
Love,
James and Hope
and Patrick Gallagher
Finding comfort and JOY in each other
Making some wonderful memories....:)
