This is the blog entry we alluded to in our mini mailing. We promised an update to those interested enough to type in our worldwide web log and here it is!

This has been one of the most eventful years of my life in so many respects. First of all, Aria Noelle Chism entered our family on May 28th beating her big bro and sis’s entrance into the world weights by several pounds (8lb.s 4 oz.s for the female readers out there who care about such details). Aria happened upon a bustling time in Chism history as we had just sold and moved out of our condo and moved into a rental home in San Diego with a bright blue baby room! Aria started off life needing only to be cuddled to be happy.  Since this was not possible all of the time, she was a little fussbudget. But after much (loving) older-sibling abuse, a drive across the country, and several months of bustling life, she has become the world’s easiest baby and we all just love squeezing her pudges and returning her wide smiles.

David signed off a fabulous eight years of service at Chism Brothers Painting. He made the monumental decision to move our little family all the way across the continent to his wife’s hometown, to start a new job, in a new house, in a new climate. It is evident that the Lord had really paved our way in so many respects as all the details of this big move fell gracefully into place.  David took his marketing prowess, family work ethic, sales and business savvy to Hallco Enterprizes, another medium-sized family painting business. Speaking of savvy, David has dusted off his three-point shot, and enjoys playing basketball with a great group of men every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 6 AM. Now that’s dedication to a good thing!

My country-girl’s heart is at home seeing wild turkeys and deer out the windows of our home. My mother’s heart is thrilled to be so safely off the rode with our adventurous little ones. While we deeply miss our dear family, friends, and church family in San Diego, we are much enjoying reconnecting with loved ones on the east coast. One of my joys is an in-home gym-membership/accountability package of my sweet sister, Heidi, showing up at my door each morning (before the kids are up) to exercise with me. I have so appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with my siblings in a way that was impossible before. David and I sure don’t mind the awesome free sitters either! ;)
Joel and Chalice are a fun duo. Their communication has really taken off this year. I never realized how many funny things I say until we got these cute parrots!  Joel is forever plotting his next venture with Chalice close behind. Now that he can peg his little sister, Joel is doubly ambitious with some of his mischief. They love reading books and our frequent trips to the library. Joel is an avid train enthusiast. Chalice is crazy about her little sister!

This year we welcomed three new family members into our extended family—a niece (Kathryn Jean Weld), a nephew (Randy Nathanael Beaty), and a new brother-in-law (Jesse Beaty). Some of our year’s highlights included David’s thirtieth birthday—woohoo! We took my first trip to Disneyland—just David and me—on our fourth anniversary. That was shortly after Aria was born and just before our trek across the country. It was sheer bliss to leave all those boxes behind and enjoy some magical time together in the land where dreams come true!  On our drive across the country, we stopped in Colorado and enjoyed visits to three good friends’ homes. We got back to Maryland in time to watch the autumn foliage change followed by not nearly enough winter snowfall. David purchased his first riding lawn-mower and looks like a natural on it.

Thanks so much for sharing in this journey of life with us! We love you and pray God’s empowering strength to you this new year: “Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength…Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28,29,31

With love,
David, Joli, Joel, Chalice, and Aria Chism