(Happy Advent) leading to a Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!

Hello Friends & Family,


Well, there is a fresh blanket of snow on the ground as I type this blog, so I thought it fitting to post my Christmas letter! :) Here goes:

Dear Friends & Family,
Greetings from the brand new Phillips Household!! As you all know, we were married on June 14 and now settled into our roles as husband and wife.

Our wedding was perfect. All of Amanda’s family came from North Dakota for the wedding and much of Aaron’s family joined us from Colorado, Kansas. Many of our friends that came to the wedding currently live in Colorado and we were blessed with all the love from all family and friends. One special friend, Katie (Amanda's Maid of Honor) flew in from Minneapolis with her boyfriend, Nick. Katie did everythin in her power to make sure that Amanda and Aaron had the perfect wedding. She flew in to Colorado on a few occasions before the "bid day" just to have some fun "hang out" time. She planned Bridal Showers and Bachelorette Parties all the way from Minneapolis and even flew in for Amanda's b-day in Jan to help finish up dress shopping and other "wedding stuff". She really is a God-send and we were so blessed to have a friend like Katie!! The wedding was a fun-filled day with a honeymoon in Mexico which we left for on the 18th of June and stayed for 7 days. It is so hard to believe that it has been 6 months to-the-day since the day of our wedding as this letter is being typed. Where does time go?!

Aaron is keeping busy with his business. He had a minor set back with his back. Thankfully, the Dr has agreed to watch this for a year and treat with Physical Therapy. If his back is not better in 12 mos, then he will need surgery. We pray this does not happen. He started his own business “AP-Rentals & Repairs, LLC”. He still does warranty work on homes and also helps out his dad as well. Even more so, Aaron will begin taking on an entire new role in January, 2009. Aaron will be going college taking up Radiology Tech. With the economy the way it is, he finds Radiology Tech to be a very secure area of work. He will do very well with this since he is so good with people and just genuinely caring. The program will take about 2 years and this is an adventure long in the works! We are both very excited for this journey that God wants us to take. He will continue to help his dad while he attends school.

Amanda is still with UAP however, things are ever changing for her with the company. Last December (2007) UAP was bought out by Agrium and through these last 12 months since the announcement, Amanda’s job has been up-in-the-air. It was finally announced in October that her position is being eliminated. However, thanks to her wonderful colleagues at UAP, she was able to transition into a brand new role with the company as an Inventory Accountant. She is very excited about this new challenge and welcomes this opportunity. Amanda’s health (Sjogren’s) has been a roller coaster all year long with many rounds of prednisone and chemo to keep things under control. This is nothing new to us, so we continue to go through the motions and Fully Rely on God to get us through each flare-up.

We look back on 2008 with a variety of emotions and events from weddings, to health, to job changes and school. We cannot wait to see what 2009 brings and whatever happens we know is God’s Glory so we must do His Will and keep smiling!! We pray that you find yourselves doing the same thing remembering this time of year what life is really all about. How Mary must have felt as she gave birth to the Savior of all. We think of those who eternally celebrate Christmas with Jesus each year as they are no longer on this earth. We rejoice with the hope that we will see them again because of the birth of Our Savior! May God Bless You All and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Amanda & Aaron


Aaron and I are staying put in Colorado this year for Christmas. We are spending our first Christmas as a married couple alone...just the two of us and I find a sense of peace and calm with knowing that.

Well, it's time for church so I better wrap this up. Take care and hope this finds everyone having a very Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Amanda