It is hard for me to believe that this little guy is already 5 years old.

We had a huge birthday party for him on Sunday, but I have yet to get the pictures up. He had so much fun with all his friends. It is a funny thing, him being 5, it's been really hard for me to realize he is growing up. No longer is it just a matter of me just caring for him, but teaching him so much too now. He is smart, yet there is so much he doesn't know yet. Like how to relate with groups of friends. Who would have known that kindergartners have "girlfriends", or that there is intense peer pressure at this age. How am I ever going to handle his teen years if I have to deal with this stuff now? He is no longer my baby, but he is still my precious gift from God, and with His help, Ryan will grow up to be a respectful, God-fearing man. (I pray).

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Seasons Greetings to all our friends!

Well, I suppose I haven't been so great at keeping this blog up to date, thanks, Marcy for the nudge to update. I've been keeping most of my stuff on Facebook and, frankly, just haven't had the time to put this all up, but thanks to Christmas vacation, now I've done it. I didn't send out Christmas cards, this year, so I'll share somethings about us now.

Our year has been a very blessed one without out any real tragedies or sadness, for which we are very thankful. We started the year in India visiting Cherag's family. It is hard to believe that the trip was really a year ago, we still talk about and miss our family very much. Ryan turned four in June, which we got to celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa. Being four, we got to enroll Ryan in Kindergarten in the fall. He loves it very much and has been asking me everyday since the start of Christmas break when he can go back again. His biggest "accomplishment" this year is that back in October, Ryan asked Jesus to live in his heart. It was such a precious moment, one I will cherish forever, and I am so thankful to God that Ryan is now truly a "little king who has Christ in his heart." (the meaning of his name).

Cherag has had big year in way of his career. He has taken some bigger responsibilities and is in a managing position for his company now. If, you don't know, he works for a small business owner who has IT and recruiting work. Cherag really loves IT and anything related to building and working with computers, but has accepted the challenge of "head hunting" as well. We thank God for this blessing and the fact that this change has brought us one step closer to having our own home.

We've been living with Cherag's parents for over a year now, and it has been going great. Ryan loves being close to his Papa and Granny. And we have enjoyed being with them as well. I am still driving a school bus, but tried my very best to change that through the summer. But, the Lord know best and saw fit to keep me where I am for now. It works out great. I am home in time to put Ryan on the bus in the mornings, and of course, he rides with me in the afternoon.
As a side "job" I've taken up cake decorating and have a few returning clients. I've also started hosting children's cake decorating birthday parties. It's been fun and something I've found out I really enjoy doing.

We are so thankful that this year has brought us so much closer as a family and closer to God. We are thankful for our little boy, who shows an obvious love for God and others. We couldn't feel more blessed going into this new year. All the best to your families in the start of 2009.

Love,

Shyrna, Cherag & Ryan

Sunshine & Lollipop

Well, we finally did it. Ryan and I convinced everyone in the house to let us get a pet bigger than fish. We named them Sunshine and Lollipop. Very fitting for their colours. They are only 3 months old, so they are just babies, but big babies. They are living in Ryan's room for now. We'll see how that goes. And, boy, can they sing!

So, what do you think? Pretty good for the first try by himself. We had been practicing the A for a while now, and were starting to work on Y, when all of the sudden, this morning at breakfast, he decided to write out his whole name and this was the result! I am so proud of my little boy. This will be a special treasure to always keep!

What a lovely Mother's Day this year. For the first time, Ryan really knew what the day was about and made me feel extra special with lots of hugs, kisses and "Happy Mother's Day's". He had so much fun. He was telling everyone "Happy Mother's Day" at church. And, I mean everyone, until he caught on that all the mom's were wearing corsages. Then he said it to only people he saw with flowers. In Sunday school, my little two's and three's made beautiful cards for their moms. We had fun making them.

For the message, Pastor spoke on what three things mother's want and used three Biblical examples. I thought the message was beautiful and felt quite uplifted at the end.

What do mother's really want?

1. To be listened to (ex. Lois and Eunice - Timothy's grandmother and mother) Timothy listened and heeded to their words, and look at the influence he has had on the world.

2. To see redemptive value to what they do (ex. Hannah) She wanted to have a baby so badly that it was her only focus. But why? To have a baby and only give him right back? She wanted more than anything to have a son who could possibly be the Messiah. Although Samuel is not in the royal line, he was one of the greatest prophets and he annointed King David, who is an ancestor of Jesus Christ.

3. To know that the pain leads to promise (ex. Mary the mother of Jesus) The most beloved of all women, chosen to bear the Son of God. She was given the promise that her son would be the Messiah. It was perhaps the only thing that allowed her to survive the pain of watching him be crucified.

As mother's today, we may not have such extreme circumstances, but I believe that we do want these things, especially to be seen in our children. We want to know that they listen and believe what we teach them, that they do have a grand purpose in life and that all the pain we have gone through and will go through at each stage of their lives is worth it. We want the name of Jesus to be honoured and glorified in all we do, and we want that reflected in our children.

Celebrate love and mother's all year long!