The Christmas Letter

It's Christmas morning, by just a few minutes.  Santa has come and gone and I've finished watching Its a Wonderful Life.  The house is quiet and I ought to get to sleep myself, as the girls will be awake with the first light of morning, I have no doubt.  Still, a quick moment for an annual Christmas message.

This December must go on record as being the most stressful for our family.  Dave studied for his Spanish exam, worried over it, and passed it.  Immediately thereafter, we began to tear down the house and quickly ship it to Venezuela.  We've been in hotels and families' homes for over a week now.  We've said too many good-byes, gotten too little sleep and eaten precious little vegetables this month.  Sophia and Annika have both had fevers over the past few days, and little Annika woke up with night terrors this evening.  Dave still can't kick the cough and exhaustion that he's been carrying since before his exam.  Lilly is acting out in her own way, although the presence of her extended family has calmed her considerably.  Over the past 5 days, we've logged about 1,200 miles.  Over the next 4 days we expect to log another 2,000 more.  It has been and continues to be a stressful month.

But the blessings surrounding us continue to astound me.  We have already been connected to 6 people at our new home - four of whom have been assigned as volunteers to help us out, meeting us at the airport, taking us to the grocery store, introducing us around.  Another two people we already have some level of relationship with and will feel as if we're meeting up with friends when we see them again.  Such a blessing!  Our home is being set up, and we hear its lovely with all new furniture.  The weather in Caracas is always pleasant and the vistas are said to be beautiful.  The school has a very strong reputation and the embassy community seems happy and vibrant.  We have so much to look forward to.

And thank goodness for that, because the blessings from this past 18 months in Arlington make it hard to leave.  Dave enjoyed his job working on Human Rights and Democracy issues with China for his first position with the State Department.  The girls and I enjoyed his hours once he began studying Spanish full-time.  We benefited from fabulous schools, teachers and friends.  We were lucky enough to land on a lovely block, and to feel at home amongst our neighbors right away.  We were blessed to land immediately at a truly incredible church, and to build relationships that we look forward to extending when we eventually return.  Lilly and Sophia played soccer, sang in the church choir and spent a lot of time swimming in the backyard or climbing trees in the front.  Annika spent most of her time charming the socks off of everyone she met, and tagging along with her sisters.  Dave and I get so much joy out of watching them interact with each other and their peers, and seeing them learn and grow - each of them astound me.  And watching their resilience and positive attitudes through the changes of the past month has been truly inspiring.

Rampant crime and gun usage make us nervous about moving to Caracas, and the popularity of express kidnappings terrify us.  But the recent events in Newtown, Connecticut remind us that our safety has never been guaranteed and the only true resource we have is prayer.  I've been praying the common benediction from Numbers over my children every night lately,

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

It has been particularly apt for us during this season, but seems the right way to end this post as well.  We covet your prayers, we miss each of you, and we look forward to the journey ahead of us.

And today, we celebrate Christmas together with our family.  Truly it is a Merry Christmas!