Merry Christmas from the Morehouses!

 We are grateful to the Lord for our growing family, good health, and many opportunities for service in our church and community. We have enjoyed this year skiing, both downhill and cross country; canoe camping in the Adirondacks with our oldest grand, Zoya; a family reunion in Texas of Susan’s 1^st cousins; and many restful visits to our family cabin in the Southern Tier.

Bill continues full time as Executive/Medical Director and family physician - including delivering about 30 babies a year - at His Branches, supported by his wonderful wife, staff, and Board (www.hisbranches.org). He also enjoys sharing books with Susan by reading them out loud to each other evenings, engaging in outdoor activities together, learning new tricks about web design on the computer, and being Grampy to our 4 grandkids, which is a lot of fun for both!

Susan is playing her harp in a wide variety of settings, both paid and volunteer. She also continues to head up the Arnett Block Association, which hosted our annual Block Party (500+) in August and helped with a very successful Gun Buyback (243 street guns collected) in September.  She organizes a “Story Time” at the local library with about 25 children each week and a Music Series once a month. Susan also has enjoyed the friendship of her father and helping him with tasks as he needs it. A fun new hobby is identifying local birds and their calls. Above all, being Nana is the sweetest part of her day.

A quick update about our kids:

Sarah and Carl are still working hard in their jobs while preparing for the arrival of twin boys in February! Susan hopes to help out when they come. We are all pretty excited!

Nathan and Kari are enjoying their great kids, Coral (4) and Jasper (1½), while running a lab at Pitt and being part of a great Pittsburgh community. Coral is taking dance lessons and has begun preschool. She particularly enjoys “breakfast dates” with her Papa, a family tradition passed on.

Johanna and Asa, are keeping up with Asa’s night work schedule; Zoya’s (10) school, tennis and swim team activities; and Anya just being a chatterbox 2 year old. They have made their 19^th Century home in Palmyra very cozy and comfortable.

Joel is busy with being music director at a large church in Auburn, NY; Christian Ed director for 3 parishes; assistant conductor of a community choir, and completing his permanent teaching certification exams. Way to go, Joel!

Life is abundant and full! The Lord gives us rest and peace through it all as we enjoy the “quiet waters” when He provides them.

May your Christmas be filled with HOPE this year. We appreciate each of you, dear family and friends, and hope to see you in the New Year. In the meantime, check out our pictures online at www.nadegave.com/2013.

“Hold fast to Christ. For you he became temporal, so that you might partake of eternity.”

Augustine