Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Starflower

Happy Holidays from the Elliotts!

Life has been busier than words can express – as evidenced by the fact that we never even got around to doing an online card last December. And with the economy taking a bite out of everyone, we chose this year to let our online card be our ONLY card. So if you’re accustomed to receiving something in the mail from us each Christmas, please accept our apologies and let this internet greeting suffice!

We’ve put this together to update you on our family. You can give it a quick glance and just check out the pictures on the main page and then head off if you like. However, take note that there are hyperlinks all throughout the text, and each link takes you to a photo. You’re more than welcome to explore the pictures buried within! And we’d really like it if you’d leave a comment at the end and let us know that you dropped by.

Lela and I celebrated our
22nd wedding anniversary this past August, and our children continue to grow and keep us busy. Here’s a very quick run-down on each family member –

Isaac

Starflower

Isaac is now 10 years old and in the 4th grade at Buford Academy. He’s still full of energy and curiosity, and he is a virtual encyclopedia when it comes to natural sciences – and Pokemon, of course. Here are some of his favorite activities of 2008:

**
Fencing at the Georgia Renaissance Festival

**Going to see the
Atlanta Braves with the family

**
Celebrating his birthday at Medieval Times with his siblings
(More pictures from that party
here and here and here.)

**
Hanging out and having fun!

Seth

Starflower

Seth is 8 now and a 2nd grader. Like his brother, he attends
Buford Academy. He is particularly blessed to have the same incredible teacher, Amy Klem, for the second year in a row. (I should mention that Seth didn’t fail first grade – she moved up a grade!) Here are some highlights from Seth’s year:

**Taking piano lessons and
playing for his sister to sing.

**Going to
Ciudad de Angeles children’s home in Cozumel, Mexico in July with his dad.

**Reading the 1st five “Harry Potter” novels.

**
Hanging out with Annie, his little sister and very best buddy.

Annie

Starflower

Annie is right on the verge of turning five years old (her birthday is at the end of January), and she keeps our house pretty lively. She is definitely bringing a little girl
attitude to the family (as evidenced here). Here’s a quick look at her year:

**Being the
family princess whenever the opportunity presents itself.

**
Taking ballet lessons

**Going to kindergarten in
Mrs. Manley’s class at Greater Atlanta Christian.

**Singing constantly! (You’ll see what I mean in a minute.)

**Loving her extended family like her
Papa and Ma Elliott.

Lela

Starflower

Lela works harder than anyone in the family, juggling the demands of home while expanding her practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor. (Check out her
professional website and share it with anyone in the Atlanta area who might benefit from her services.)

Matt

Starflower

Matt
turned 45 this year and still works as minister of worship and small groups at Campus Church in Norcross. He took another trip (with his friend, Eddie White) to Brno, Czech Republic in March to visit the church and his friends there.

Matt and Lela are both ridiculously serious about Facebook! If you’re on facebook and we’re not friends yet, check out
Matt’s page and Lela’s page and add us to your friend list. It’s a great way to stay in touch with old friends. (Okay, and Matt has a Myspace page as well – strictly as a facebook backup, though…)

We hope your holiday season is something special this year. Enjoy your friends and loved ones, and have a great 2009.

And now let Annie remind you what the Elliotts celebrate this time of year:





Thanks for stopping by! Remember to leave a comment and let us know that you were here.

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40 comments:

  1. How sweet!! I couldn't view the pic at the top, said it had been moved or deleted, but the rest was delightful!! Seth has read FIVE of the HP books and he is in the second grade?! Wow.
    Merry Christmas, Matt, from the Hood's in Prattville!!

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  3. What a beautiful family!
    Merry Christmas to You All!
    Jerry and Naomi Pinney
    Pensacola

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  4. Thanks for putting this together! What a wonderful family :) much love- Cheryl

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  5. i am not OK with how big annie is!!...she is a baby in a stroller and i will accept nothing else...we miss campus and all of you all there...we wish you the merriest of Christmas...

    tannis

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  6. Merry Christmas to the Elliott's
    from Craig and Lee

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  7. And a Merry Christmas right back atcha ... Rob, Clarissa, Julianne, Joey, Abbie, and Chloe Cox!!

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  8. Merry Christmas to the best neighbors we've ever had!!! Stay safe traveling and enjoy your time with family and at Last Hour :)

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  9. That video is the cutest thing! you should play it tonight at the church! Merry Christmas to all of you!

    Babette

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  10. Hi
    What a nice thoughtful thing to do..to post a card of such quality on the internet.
    Thanks for thinking of us.

    We had Christmas last night because it's hard to coordinate everyone's schedules..
    We were blessed to have each one at home this year. Our grand daughter is 9 now.About 5 ft..hard to believe.
    Hope you have the merriest of Christmases..

    anita and charlie stewart

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  11. Love the card!! The pictures are great! The Wiggs family hopes your family has a very Merry Christmas!

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  12. That was great! I enjoyed digging into all the links. :)
    Have a wonderful Christmas and hope to see you soon.

    crystal sandow

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  13. That was such a joy to read and watch. Your family looks and seems so happy. If you and Lela bring half the love you showed me in highschool to your children...then they are the luckiest kids in the world. Hope you have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful, prosperous New Year.

    Mady Cummins - Oklahoma City

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  15. Matt and Lela,
    Thanks for including the Presley's in your
    online Christmas card. Your children are just
    precious. You will turn around once and they\
    will be 22 and 19 (just ask us!!) Hannah is
    getting a degree in early childhood education
    and Luke is heading to USA in Mobile to get an
    eventual masters in community counseling. May
    God bless you and yours in the next year. May
    you embrace His grace and walk in the assurance
    of Him. Love to all, Phillip, Joni, Hannah
    and Luke presley

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  16. This has to be the most creative and best email card we've ever received. Great job and thanks for all the pics and great narrative. We feel as is we've just had a visit!!!! Have a happy and safe Christmas. We love you and miss you even more!

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  17. Okay, now when I send out our online Christmas card, everyone will think I copied you. :-)

    Thanks for including us. You'll be getting a "card" from us soon.

    The Earley's

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  18. Matt and Lela:
    Greetings from your Little Rock friends (it still feels like a dream).....So good to hear the Elliott's are thriving and doing well. Your children are precious - Isaac has gotten so tall, Seth is a cutie and Annie has the same mischievious grin as you, Matt :) We pray this next year will be full of fun, grace and peace!
    Much love, Mike and Jeannie

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  19. so good to see what your family is up to these days. i am so glad to hear you are doing well. you are such sweet, dear people and i will be eternally grateful for the impact you had in my life. blessings on the new year!

    peace,
    megan dooley

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  20. Beautiful family...inside and out. Our best to all. Love, the Holts

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  21. Love you all! Thanks for sending. Happy memories of lunches after church in ATL...maybe again one day. Keep spreading the love and God's Love, too! Tam

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  22. Hi guys! Merry Christmas to your family as well. Great to see your pics to remind me how fast time flies! Wow!

    Hope your kids get everything they asked for from the big man in red.

    Scott and Emily

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  23. Matt and Lela,

    What great pictures! We sure love you guys. We are on our way to Rwanda, arriving Dec 28. We will be looking forward to your visit!

    Merry Christmas from Marty and Louise and the 4Ts

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  24. Really enjoyed the pics and info! Priceless!! Everything was great . . . . except for dising the Vols!! May God richly bless the Elliot Family in 2009! May you experience joy and wonder beyond your wildest thoughts and dreams!
    Homer & Judy Flatt

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  25. Thanks for the E-card!! The pictures are great! Hope ya'll have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy being together with family. Give all your munchkins hugs from us!
    Randy, Lou Ann, and kids

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  26. Your family is so beautiful, you all look great! The kids are so big! I can't believe they are all in school already! I hope you guys had a great Christmas. Thanks for the update!

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  27. This was wonderful!!! (Annie stole the show!) I'm glad y'all are doing well, and I hope you had a fabulous Christmas! Happy New Year!!

    Jennifer & Steven Nutt

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  28. I love my Elliotts! Happy 2009!

    Love, Capes

    "...we've only just begun..."

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  29. What a lovely Christmas greeting! I am so happy to see you are all so healthy and happy. Keep having fun!

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  30. Hey Elliot Gang, looks like you all have had a great year. May the next one be even better. See you soon!

    Your bud,

    Wells

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  31. jen compton was here. 1-27-08

    love seeing your happy, vibrant family all year long. you guys are a riot and i love your energy!

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  32. You have a wonderful family!! I want to tell you although the way life is, we don't get to see each other very often, you all continue to be in my heart and prayers every day. I
    hope that God enriches each and everyone of you this coming year and
    throughout your life.

    God so loved the world that he sent he only son, Jesus, to save us all
    from our sins. To you, I send my love, stories and prayers.

    In the new year, I challenge myself and all of us when faced with
    daily challenges to go back to the basics of "What would Jesus do?"

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  33. Matt and Lela,
    We enjoyed your holiday card so very much! You have a beautiful family! We miss you guys. Come to Florida Soon!
    Enjoy these days, they fly by quickly!

    Happy Holidays!
    The Matthews
    Danny, Debi, Kristin and Melanie

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  34. Good Sunday morn,
    Matt, Lela and family. Good to see your family and hear of your updates. Matt, seems only a few days ago, you were here at Univ Church of Christ, Tuscaloosa, as a student. time has flown by, I know you are a blessing to the people you serve.

    Anna Rebecca and her two children, Jon, 8 and Elle 6, are living with us. She & Bob completed a divorce action on 12-22. Anna & the children have been with use since July. Not a good situation, but they will survive. Pray for them.

    Kristin has tempral lobe dementia, treated as depression for 4-5 years before an accurate diagnosis was made. She goes to an adult day care center near DCH at the Easter Seals bldg 5 days a week. Excellent place.

    Drew is in B'ham, self employed tile, carpet, hard wood floors and jack of all trades installer.

    I retired as a Fed Probation officer in April 04, but returned to work as a social worker at Indian Rivers MHC, in Tuscaloosa in NOv 04. I work with crisis teams, write most all of the probate court petitions for committing someone from Tusc Co to Bryce or other state facilities. hard work, but I am ususally not bored.

    A blessing to you and your family. Phillip & Kristin Morris

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  35. we love you Elliott's! We hope you guys had a Merry Christmas and hope we get to spend time with all the kids soon! Love you.

    Taran & Jessie

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  36. Matt & Lela-

    This was even better than a card in the mail. I agree with everyone else...Annie stole the show. It was so good to hear from you and to know that you are all doing well. Matt- you are definitely technologically savvy. I don't even have a Facebook account....but will be working to change that in the new year. Aimee has been encouraging me to do so since July. Good to hear from you.

    Love- Sharina 'Shavino'

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  37. a late merry christmas to the elliott family! what a wonderful update and the kiddos are getting so big! you have beautiful family!
    Love,
    The Waltons (Amanda, Justin and Hannah :)

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  38. Marvelous card! Thanks for sharing with us. Hope you all had a very merry Christmas and wonderful New Year! Danny, Melissa and Mary Eloise

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  39. Thank you so much for including us in your beautiful Holiday card. We enjoyed all the photos and the two singing clips especially! It has been such fun to watch your family grow and change over the years. We feel honored to be your friends! Phil, Donna, Harrison and Laura Waldron

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  40. What a beautiful family. You guys have a genuine warmth and affection for one another that transcends words and permeates each photo! The kids are so adorable. I absolutely love the stair-step pictures…cute, cute, cute!

    Congratulations on 22 years together. May God bless you with 22 more!

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