We didn’t really do cards (or pictures or a letter) to mail this year. Life has been …. unexpected … this past year, and we have had to wisely choose to let go of some chores, some traditions, some ideas, and some ways we spend our resources of time, energy, and money in order to focus on absolute priorities. None of this means we love less , nor does it mean we have no time to think of others, hold you in our hearts, and pray God’s blessings, provisions, healing, peace, love and joy for so so many whom we hold dear.

If you follow me or any of the family at all, you know we’ve grown in numbers this last year, with Noah marrying Legend, and Michael visiting Jenna every couple of weeks. Taylor drives down for many weekends throughout the year, as well. Tom’s mom often joins us and sometimes we are blessed with visits from our dearest friends and family.

We are making new traditions and growing closer as a family with adult children. Each of us is working hard for every dollar we earn , and when we have downtime we try to squeeze as much life out of it as possible.

My heart is filled with gratitude for God’s love this Christmas Day , with an amazement for the ways He works and moves in my life and the lives of my precious family. His graciousness, merciful provisions and presence are the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. I have reflected on and celebrated all He is to me in this month of Advent, and I long for His love to pour out more freely from me in the year ahead.

I pray you and your family have had a joy filled Christmas. If you haven’t , if you’ve struggled with grief and loss or just been frustrated with consumerism and our culture, I hope for greater peace for you in the days to come.

May God bless and keep you and shine His face upon you, and give you peace.