2011 could be subtitled 'The year of Romance' for the Hulbert family. After the joy of Steven and Jena getting married in 2010 (and still in the blissful honeymoon stage a year later), Tim and Amy both now find themselves heading towards matrimony.

Amy & John have been together for 6 years. A holiday to Venice in April and a walk by the canal led to a proposal, an engagement ring - and a very excited daughter. Book a space in your diary for 16 September 2012. Amy now works for Boehringer Ingelheim - pharmaceutical firm just five minutes walk from our house. John has been promoted in his role at Bracknell Forest Council.

Tim was not to be outdone! Tim and Raquel have been together for two years and currently both work at Coworth Park Hotel in Sunninghill. One of the perks of this 5* establishment is the ability for staff to stay in partner hotels across the world. Thus December saw the two of them in Beverly Hills, LA - and a drive up into the mountains led to the Hulbert Romantic photo of the year. The joy on both their faces when I met them a few days later at Heathrow airport was unbelievable. Date not yet set for the wedding - which will probably be in Brazil - but the ring does look very pretty on Raquel's finger.

Romance too, even for the parents as Luisa and Victor celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a weekend in Devon. (Photos & Video) Following good tradition this involved some hiking, some good eating, and excellent friends, and a good deal of photography and laughter.

In October we took two weeks on Birker Fell in the Lake District. We rented a cottage there with our good friends, Alison & Jacobus Heyns.

Despite the poor weather we had a great holiday - including a successful climb of Hellvellyn and a great day of kayaking on Wast Water - the most remote of all the Lakes - but a stunning location. (See Videos of Birker Fell and the Wast Water Kayak - Stunning!)

When Luisa and Alison are together - you also get good food - including collecting the fresh laid free-range eggs for breakfast in the mornings - and Alison's artful way of changing porridge into oat-cakes!

Work wise Victor has been asked to serve a second 5 year term as Communication and Media Director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the UK & Ireland. While enjoying the whole job he has gained some particular satisfaction with his latest TV series, Viewpoint, an issues base discussion programme.

Luisa continues at Squirrels nursery and, in her spare time, invests a lot of effort into the garden and her crafts. She also did a charity climb of Snowdon in the summer - you can see her hilarious video report - but sadly she also fell and hurt her hip on the climb which has resulted in sciatica this autumn. She now has physiotherapy and hopes to be better soon.

2012 will see more changes for the family. While Amy will be moving to married bliss in her own home next September, Luisa's mother is coming to join us this January. We have just finished decorating the bedroom for her and are looking forward to her company.

Victor also has a short Christmas message based on the popular TV commercial, 'John Lewis and Christmas'.

There are also loads of photos of the year on Facebook.

Whatever the joys and challenges in your family and life, we wish you joy, peace and happiness for 2012.

God bless,

Victor & Luisa, Steven & Jena, Tim & Raquel, Amy & John.

Nostalgia:  2003 Christmas letter,  2005 Christmas letter, 2006 Christmas letter, 2007 Christmas letter & Slideshow. 2008 Christmas letter & Slideshow 2009 Christmas letter 2010 Christmas letter.