2018 Christmas Letter
We hope your 2018 was filled with joy!
Most of you have followed with us on our journey, but we wanted to share some of the highlights. It is because of the support of so many of you that this year has been prosperous and filled with hope. We are truly blessed. Thank you!
It’s been a year of firsts in grieving the loss of our son, Eddie. It has certainly given us new vigor and reliance on our faith, and determination to stay focused on our priorities. God continues to reveal himself to us through humility, study, prayer, God-incidents, and others. He speaks to our hearts that He hasn’t abandoned us and is with us in the sorrow as well as the joy. He challenges us to live the life He has planned for us, to find joy in every day, and to trust in Him. God lifts us up and gives us what we need, even when we fail. We constantly feel the presence of Heaven watching over us, with Eddie as our advocate.
There have been plenty of #Adventures4Eddie. The kind that calls for no excuses, trying new things and going on a whim. At the same time, allowing plenty of time to just rest or have nothing going on. We spend as much time as we can with our friends and family, hosting parties and attending others, as well as many field trips and fun days have transpired. It really has lifted our spirits to know you continue to pray for us and invite us into your adventures. There is still so many we are just getting to know, and we look forward to our time together.
In January we moved. We’ve slowly been making it home with many helpers, but has so much more work to be done. We took a grief retreat at Faith’s Lodge. The kids touched the waterfall at Gooseberry Falls. They all braved extreme heights at the Great Wolf Lodge waterpark in WI. The road trip to Florida was momentous with stops at The Ark Encounter in KY, a swim in the Atlantic Ocean, Legoland, and the shrine, leaving painted rocks for others to find along the way. The trip was so relaxing, we came home and learned we were pregnant! Noah Edward is due Jan 2019. Everyone is very excited. There is rarely a dull moment here. Tom & Melissa celebrated 16 years of marriage! Tom’s work has been steady, including all summer fixing and setting up the State Fair. We began our 13th year of homeschooling. Mikayla began driving and volunteers on the church CORE team. Stanley caught his first fish at EFC, and is preparing for Confirmation. Sabrina has began babysitting and increased her time learning in the kitchen. Jonathan is generous with his time and talents, encouraging us to remember to take time to play. Molly wants to learn everything, and is chatty as a teenager. David keeps us in constant suspense and likes hanging with the boys.
May God bless you with a Merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year!
