Christmas Letter 2010

It’s surprising that in under 5 minutes I can recap a year or two. My Christmas letters tend to be the same. This year we did some stuff, we had some good feelings, some bad feelings and lots neutral. So in detail, this year we had a daughter, named Ada, born June 9th, and growing fast. Owen just turned three and has the energy of a nuclear powered puppy bathed in a 5 hour energy drink. Laura has taken Ada in stride waking up at all hours to feed her, and still enjoying working part time. I have been teaching and doing contract work. The dogs are bored and just about die of excitement if someone throws them a faded crusty, stale tennis ball.

We’re still in Kalispell, MT living among the fervently free. We haven’t joined the Freemen yet but who knows what the future holds.

I’m still mixing it up playing hockey and racquetball. Laura is longing to ski and snowshoe but just makes it to the gym to be told by a fellow attending the aerobics class....’excuse me, I don’t know if it’s on purpose or not but you’ve really lost a lot of weight in the last few months.’ He was quite observant, but he missed the fact that there is now a baby on the outside rather than the inside.

After two and a half years in Montana, friendships are building but slowly and mostly with people that have also moved here from other places. Due to a lack of diversity in any other areas of culture, the civil unrest falls on the precipitous and significant differences between the “born here’s” and the “not’s”. Thankfully Kalispell is a growing community and we are grateful for all the “not’s” and a few “born here’s” that are becoming close friends.

So here we are at Christmas time. I’m glad for the hope the future holds where joy, fulfillment and satisfaction lie ahead in the steadfast promise of eternal life with God, without pain, sadness or hurt. Cheers to you on this holiday where Jesus came to give us hope of a brighter fuller tomorrow, when we will see friends and family that aren’t here with us anymore. There is hope and joy. Jesus is it.. Bob Andrews I miss you but can’t wait to talk again.

A parting remark:
all through the house nothing was stirring, not even a mouse...except crying, that’s Ada. Beckoning hollers from the bedroom beyond where Owen the self proclaimed dragon begs for release, while the dogs pile on the cedar pillow to lay entangled and entwined in each other’s arms and legs like wax statues. And clickety click, my keyboard whirs with Christmas delight while Laura catches a wink of sleep before the brink of life’s next flight is upon her. Ah, kids, Christmas, dogs and marriage, church, work, play and sleep. Ah yes, that sleep.

Good night and good day to you Christmas 2010.