Merry Christmas 2016

Merry Christmas, friends. It's that time of year again where we yet again reflect on the goodness of the year as well as the parts of the year that refine us through challenge. What a year it's been. Yet we are thankful. Here's a short list of our gratitude:

Family
Old friends
New friends
Our new neighbors (my parents!!)
Healthy bodies
Amazing kiddos
Homeschool
A new puppy
70th birthdays
80th birthdays
15-year anniversaries
Sanibel Island
The Rivi
White Pine Wilderness Academy
Classical Conversations
Trees ("they give us oxygen")
Camping
Leaf piles
A cozy house
Puzzles
Taco Tuesday
A great hairstylist
Good music by good people
Modern medicine
Hope in Jesus
Mr. Rogers
Good books
Lingering evenings
Arista wine
Super moons
Butler Bulldogs
Red shoes
Airplanes that keep us connected
Razor scooters
Helpers

We lost our beloved Maxine the Wonderdog suddenly this past February. Losing Maxine was hard for many reasons and without her, there was a gaping hole in our family, having spent all 15 years of our married life together with a dog. This November, we welcomed Gus the Wonderdog with much enthusiasm and ample cuddling.

With all that has transpired in the world around us, we look to the future with hope knowing that we are all connected and that we all have the ability to be helpers and to look for the helpers.

As we move forward with hope, we are challenged by the words of St. Francis of Assisi, that we may not seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. We pray we can always be instruments of peace, sowing love where there is hatred, sowing faith where there is doubt, sowing hope where there is despair, sowing light where there is darkness, and sowing joy where there is sadness. May we all be challenged to live a life worthy of this call.

Godspeed,
K & MB