Sending and receiving Christmas cards is one of my favorite parts about the season. There is something very special about opening one, thinking about the sender, and then placing it in the house as part of the Christmas decorations. One tradition is prayer over the Christmas card. After the holidays are over, I place the cards in a box and then we pray over each family or friend who sent the card.
This year, I helped my father send out his Christmas cards as well. He carefully wrote each one, including some kind of reference to my mother. It was strange not to see my mother’s name beside his greeting and reminded me of her absence.
Some people have given up on Christmas cards and say that Facebook is the only way to send greetings, but I disagree. Receiving and sending Christmas cards is a personal way to reconnect with friends and family.
I decided to include our family Christmas letter here rather than in the card. It is another way for us to remember this journey.
December 2019
Dear friends and family,
We want to wish you a wonderful holiday season as you celebrate Christmas and the new year- 2020. 2019 was a year of blessings despite the challenges. An acrostic poem sums it up:
M any changes occurred in our family. Chloe is spending a semester abroad in Dublin and hopes to return on December 22. Caden started his college experience as a Purdue freshman. Corey switched high schools and is attending Grand Rapids South Christian. Michelle left her teaching position at Lafayette Christian and is now a substitute teacher employed by Edustaff.
E ntertained by our labrador, Kenai, named after Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.
R ewarding times with family include Sunday dinners. Yum!
R econnecting with Michigan friends is definitely a blessing!
Y ou may be wondering what we are actually doing in Michigan. You can read about it at Michelle’s blog: chelleren.travel.blog
C hloe is a junior at Purdue, majoring in dietetics with the eventual goal of being a physician’s assistant, Caden is majoring in biochemistry with the goal of being a surgeon, and Corey, age 16, recently received his driver’s license.
Happy moment of 2019 included Caden’s high school graduation and being able to have his open house in an outside tent even though it rained buckets in the morning!
R ealized that we have been moving and decluttering since May– Michelle’s classroom, Chloe’s various apartments, Caden’s dorm, a move to MI, and many moves for my parents in various health care facilities
Incredible to see how God orchestrated this entire year so we could help Michelle’s aging parents
Sad to say goodbye to my mother on September 9 and my brother’s father-in-law on October 28
Thankful to find a rental right near South Christian High School. We love living right near the school!
Mitch’s job status is a change of duty which means that he will be at MI State for several months this year.
A dditional address– 1891 76th Street Caledonia, MI 49316– through July 2020
Saido training is something Michelle decided to do after her mom passed away. She tries to volunteer at Waterford once a week where patients with dementia receive this type of brain therapy.
At times, we marvel at how this journey evolves. But why do we? The King of the World shows His ways repeatedly. We just need to look and believe. All glory to Him.
A Journey Worth Remembering 