Christmas 2020

     Feast of the Epiphany, Jan 3 2021

Dear family and friends,

Well, we’ve spent the whole Christmas break trying to write a Family Christmas Letter and it’s just impossible. As everyone knows, 2020 was a ridiculously dreadful year, and we are very glad to be looking at it in the rear-view mirror – even though we know there’s nothing magical about hanging a new calendar and there are sure to be hard times ahead as well as behind.

But we are also very aware of the blessings we enjoy, and do not want to overlook them.

We are grateful that, thus far, our immediate family have all stayed clear of the Covid (unless of course that’s what laid Tom out for a week at the end of February – all the symptoms but none of the rest of us got sick, so it seems unlikely). Oh – and Isaac, who was in Korea at the time of the outbreak and was miserably sick, along with all the other Marines on the base there, just about 40 miles from Daegu.

We are grateful that Isaac’s return from the Pacific was only slightly delayed by the virus. It is a joy to have him back, both for his live stand-up routines and his hard work at the sawmill.

We are grateful that the mill has been busy throughout the year, and that, as it is pretty much all outdoors, we have been able to carry on without too much risk to our team - even Tom’s dad.

We are grateful for Luis’ continued growth throughout this year, and for his presence here in our home and at the mill. It’s not easy to live with your in-laws!

We are grateful for Zoom and Facetime and all those techo-things that have enabled us to see and hear Aaron and Amanda in South Carolina and Becky, Windsor and Willow in Vermont. We pray and hope we will be able to see and hug them before this year is done. We are grateful for the blessing of the camp on the lake, which provided an opportunity for a couple of real-life visits with the Vermont contingent over the summer. We are grateful to have had Rachel and Steve and Isaac and Judy and their kids in our “bubble.” So many grandparents have been so alone.

We are grateful for our grandchildren, and the chance to be a part of their lives and watch in amazement as they grow from babies and preschoolers to capable, confident kids. We are amazed and astounded at how well they have adapted to the ever-changing-forms of school (James in second grade, Windsor in first grade, Sam and Nova in kindergarten, and Willow in preschool – how did this happen so fast?)

We are grateful for the blessings of a safe home, a big backyard, a secure food supply, and decent medical care. We pray for all those who are not as richly blessed as we have been.

We are grateful for our church, which has welcomed us back to (socially-distanced and carefully masked) worship while offering as well a chance to “gather” virtually, and above all we are grateful for the faith we share with so many of you, for a Heavenly Father who grounds us in hope and fills us with love.

Finally, we are grateful for all of you – whether we see you often or if this annual missive is our only contact, you are an important part of our lives. May 2021 be a better year for all the world.

“God Bless Us, Every One!”