Sometimes a reminder is just what we need.

When I decided to do our Christmas letter online this year, I thought that I would surely keep up with updates and the adventures we find ourselves in from time to time. Well, time got away from me and so did the idea of being a "blogger."

Anyway, today as Ian and I were driving home from getting my tires rotated we heard "our song" once again, and as I drove down the road just sobbing, I just felt like I needed to share-because we all are somewhere on this journey and maybe there is someone that just might need a little encouragement today.

Let me give you a little back story: When we found out we were pregnant with Ian we were pretty confident that Andy would not be up for a deployment and then about 6 weeks into the pregnancy that changed. As I'm learning in this military life-things change, all the time, several times. Nothing is for sure happening until it is actually, well, happening! The deployment was scheduled to be in D.C. We were actually pretty excited. Addison and I would go and get an apartment and we would have the baby there and it would work because our family was within driving distance. That was MY plan! HA!

The possibility of the deployment happening in D.C. went away, the funds were cut and there weren't slots available for a deployment there. But, Andy had already been selected to go, and screened so he was on the go ahead list for somewhere else. The boss he had at the time wasn't exceptionally helpful and not very interested in getting Andy swapped for a different time slot. Well, the deployment was an on-again off-again thing for several months. Stressful, very stressful. Finally, it was looking like a for sure thing, but with the new boss coming in he didn't see why Andy had to go at that moment. We found out I was going to have to have a c-section because Ian was breech and I was running low on fluid. There was no option of him flipping or being flipped. Andy's boss switched some things around so he would be selected at a later date. We were so thankful that Andy was going to be able to be there for this delivery.

The day came, I went into labor and I took my i-pod into the operating room. I asked the doctors if they minded if I blared my music-they didn't, so I did. Music has always soothed and calmed me. As I am laying there, I was trying to remain calm and was jamming to some praise and worship. How Great is our God, by Chris Tomlin came on-and as they pulled Ian out of my belly it hit the chorus. I will never, for as long as I live, forget that moment. To see my newborn lifted above that little blue curtain so I could lay eyes on him for the first time, holding my husband's hand (who was supposed to be a million miles away), all the while being reminded loud and clear: "How Great is our God, sing with me: How Great is our God, all will see How Great, How Great is our God!"

Talk about hearing His voice loud and clear! I just laid there and cried and cried and cried, realizing that God was so much bigger than any plan I had, that all along he knew that we were going to be okay, that he knew ahead of time that Andy would be there and I really didn't need to worry. Powerful.

I'd heard the song a few times and it just transported me right back to that operating room and that overwhelming sense of thankfulness.

Fast forward a few months to October 5. The day Ian went into the hospital with ruptured ear drums and severe dehydration. October 6, we found out about his heart defect. October 7-we went home late in the evening. Since Andy's mom had come, Andy and I just felt like we needed to be in church that Sunday morning. We went. What was the worship team singing that day? You got it! Message received-He's so got this.

The day of Ian's surgery in Ohio, it came on the radio on our way to the hospital! So, I'm guessing you've figured out why it's "our song"! For those that know me, you know I am a top-notch worry-wart. The day of  surgery, I was so calm, I could really feel God's presence with us for the first time in my life and knowing how many  people were praying for us was so overwhelming!

So my point in writing this all down is just to say that sometimes we hear Him loud and clear, sometimes our circumstances really suck and we can't hear him at all or choose to block him out--either way He is there, and He is Great--greater than any problem, situation, or circumstance we might be facing.

"Name above all Names, worthy of all praise, my heart will sing how Great is our God!"

 How Great is Our God --give it a listen!

Merry Christmas!

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." -Isaiah 40:28-31

To say the least 2011 has been a very trying year for the Richey family.
We are excited to be traveling home for Christmas this year!

In January, Matt and his new wife, Kirstin came to meet Ian and have a visit. It was a lot of fun! Mom was still there from her Christmas trip so it was really good to just have everybody under one roof for a little while. The really fun part was all of Matt's girls can really gang up on him and give him a hard way to go on just about everything! :) We enjoyed cooking together-which is always fun-but sometimes three strong willed women in the kitchen, whew! The sad part is-I haven't seen them since! Matt and Kirstin moved to Maine for the summer and it seems like our time in Ohio kept missing each other. I am anxious to see them, and I can't wait to see their reaction to how big the monkeys are!

In the spring we started to prepare for our PCS (permanent change of station) to Arizona. This actually turned out to be a lot more difficult than we had imagined just 2.5 years earlier. We had really grown to love Utah, met some great life-long friends, and were feeling quite at home. Not to mention a good friend of mine from home and her husband were PCSing in, what timing! We often joke if we will feel the same about Arizona; so far, the answer to that is NO! Andy and I had originally wanted to buy a house in Arizona, we came down for a weekend and looked at too many houses and came up empty handed. We mistakenly didn't leave anytime to look at rentals so, when the kids and I were home for our annual fair trip back to Ohio Andy would have to house hunt alone and find us a place to lay our heads. He did a great job! On August 5th the kids and I met him here in Arizona after being apart for about 2.5 weeks. Our stuff was delayed getting out of storage so we camped out in the new house-Addison got a kick out of that and with all the open space Ian finally felt motivated to crawl! Our house even has a patch of grass-which is quite the feat here! The climate, culture, and landscape is so different here but we are adjusting. Slowly, but surely. I can't say a whole lot of positive things for Arizona, but I will say that it has the most gorgeous skies I have ever seen. The sunsets are truly magnificent.

Addison started preschool in September. She loves it and is such a big girl. She goes two days a week; Tuesday and Thursday. Her teacher has the patience of Job, for sure! She has made a best friend; Madison. Can't you just see it: Addison and Madison. They are a pair. Addi has gone to her house a few times for play dates and when we get back I'm sure Madison will spend her fair share of time at our house too! Addi does pretty well at school. She is definitely my strong willed child and will even tell you, "I want to do what I want to do"--we are trying to reign that in. She has had a lot of adjusting this year. She loves going to school and in the mornings she will often get up and grab some paper from the printer and sit and do her "work" for an hour or so. She loves creating, cutting, gluing, coloring. She also absolutely loves helping out in the kitchen, which I love. I always think back to working with my mom in the kitchen and I know that these are memories she will have for the rest of her life.

Ian is getting so big. He turned a year on November 5th. We had a little party for him here-he quite thoroughly enjoyed his birthday cake!He is a good boy-a bit ornery, but I'll take it. He will on occasion walk up to you and give your thigh a hug and the very moment you think "awwww," you feel this sharp little dagger in your leg. Yep, he's a biter. The moment you scream, he cracks up. Then, of course, you can't help but laugh. It really is a lost cause. I guess we'll deal with it until he gets someone else's kid. :) We've battled ear infections to no avail this year. He will be getting tubes in his ears in January-I really can't wait for this!On October 5 he had a double eardrum rupture that landed us in the hospital for bad dehydration and the ear infection. While we were there it was discovered that Ian has a coarctation of the aorta. The only reason they found it was because of his dehydration. A coarctation is the narrowing of the aorta-causing your heart to work harder. The left side of his heart is already showing signs of enlargement. We were encouraged to have surgery before Christmas. As you can imagine, we were quite shocked. We immediately began researching and found a world-renowned surgeon in Columbus. We began praying and searching for options to get us home for the surgery. The outpouring of love and support from our friends, family, and our new church here has been so encouraging. Ian's surgery is Tuesday, December 13th at 7:30 am EST, so if you read this before hand-we would really appreciate your prayers that day.

Andy has been so busy at work, which is good for his experience, but stinks for us! He has had some interesting cases. It's amazing the things people think they can get away with....and what's even more amazing is that sometimes they actually do! Andy still is enjoying being on the prosecuting side of life, but he thinks that there is a possibility of him going to the "other side" during our time here. That will be interesting. But then again, maybe the little criminals will think twice when their attorney thinks maximum jail time is appropriate!

As for me-well, I'm trying to keep this place running as smoothly as possible. I'm still trying to settle into the new house and life as we know it. With all that's been going on I feel like the majority of my time is spent behind the wheel of my car and on the phone to different doctors. I just read that verse the other day during my devotions and I think I've read it 1000 more times since. I'm waiting for my renewed strength, but I know it will come....in the meantime, I'm putting my hope in the Lord, because life is just too hairy not to!

We wish you the Merriest Christmas, and here's to a great 2012!

With Love,
Andrew, Stephanie, Addison, Ian and Chip