Tuesday, December 13, 2011

the Christmas letter



Merry Christmas, loved ones –

When I reflect on the past months, merry is one of the last words that comes to my mind.  In January we – along with the rest of B.J.’s family – were shocked to learn that his dad had filed for divorce.  The ensuing legal process lasted through September.  Dad’s actions are like a shadow that stretches long over the past year.

In spite of that, B.J.’s third year of teaching at Trinity ended, and his fourth – and best ever, he says – is well underway.  He completed a term as deacon and began a term on the grade school board.  He once again spent the summer working at Jim’s Camper with other jobs on the side – hogs, mechanic work, you name it.  He took off only one day this entire summer – a sultry July day that was spent at Lake Pahoja with my family and ended with sleeping in our little pop-up camper through a mighty thunderstorm.

Our generous Leah is now 7, in the first grade, and lacking front teeth.  She relishes keeping all of her Kindergarten classmates in line at school and her siblings in line at home.  Late one August night, Leah was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, which was exacerbated by her asthma.  The next morning she was airlifted to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, where she spent several days.  She recovered in time for the first day of the school year and now receives a double daily dose of an inhaled steroid that helps keep the asthma attacks at bay.

Willem, just 5, is like a bear.  He hibernates for long periods of time in the basement – not sleeping, definitely not sleeping.  In fact, the child has an aversion to sleep, or to sitting still in general, for that matter.  No, he hibernates in the basement building intricate LEGO machines, buildings, pirate islands, you name it.  Will’s favorite days are the Saturdays when his Daddy is around – he follows B.J. for hours without any thought of lunch or coming inside.  “Busy helpin’ Dad,” he says.

Though only three, sweet Marie is the first of our children able to get up during the night to go potty and help herself to a sip of water without needing to issue a report at our bedside.  She spends hours at the little table in the kitchen, intently coloring or drawing. She has two favorite expressions, both of which she says in a tone of voice that makes one feel as if his or her back has been run down a cheese grater: I’m hungry and I don’t know what to do.

Nathan can charm just about anybody with his deep blue eyes and toothy grin.  He is aptly nicknamed Little Man: though he turned one year in July he shows no intention of walking anytime soon, and he's content with a 4-word vocabulary: Mama, Dad, ball, and car.  

I’m left.  Well, the rest of the family is usually fed, clothed, smiling, know their memory work, are learning how to count to 20, like books, and are generally where they need to be almost on time…that’s me, behind the scenes.  And occasionally I read, write, photograph, and post to my blog, sarahssundries.blogspot.com.  My favorite times of the day are the early mornings when I’m doing those things, or the late evenings, when our children are sleeping with quiet hearts and full tummies, and B.J. and I are cuddling on the couch, sipping tea and chatting.

As I look back over the past year, I must confess that we have come to know more fully than ever the love of the Father who never forsakes.  And so, for everything that has been: Thanks, Lord! and to everything that will be: Yes!

Our kids’ favorite ABC Bible verse cd is playing, track H:

"Happy is the people whose God is the Lord, happy is the people whose God is Lord!  La la la-la la la la-la!  Psalm 144:15!"
  
May your Christmas be that kind of merry.

With love,
B.J. & Sarah
Leah, Willem, Marie & Nathan

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