2018 Merry Christmas Letter!

Merry Christmas from the Merry Family! 

Christmas 2018

Friends and Family, 

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….” 

This has been a year of refining focus for our family. It feels like it’s been a year of greater struggle than joy – but struggle with a purpose toward a specific goal. As life has gotten busier, it’s been easier to identify the things we’ve needlessly taken up. I suppose it’s kind of like a runner getting ready for the big race who chooses to give up on the joys of cheesecake so he could experience the greater joy of racing well. We’ve set aside some pursuits that just don’t matter as much in favor of things which last, like friendships and family and God's call on our family. The verse in Hebrews 12:1 about laying aside every weight so that we may run the race has been meaningful to us as we are re-evaluating everything to make ready for Joseph's arrival and focus on what matters. 

As we have made a total of four trips to Uganda this year, we are reminded of how big the world is, how privileged we are in a developed nation and how much we take our home life for granted. Our work with Home of Hope specifically has sharpened the focus of what Jesus called us to do – loving the least of these (Matthew 25). It’s been a joy to see God doing His work in this way. 

Here’s an update on each of us: 

Maggie (14) – Maggie has now made two trips to Uganda, this year again on a medical mission trip. She is growing into a wonderful young lady. At the time of this writing, she is getting ready for her role as Daddy Warbucks in the play “Annie” (they were short on boys but she's awesome!). She loves her time with friends and at school, but also loves quiet days at home. She is such a delight to us. All through her roller coaster of early teen emotions, she shares her heart, makes good decisions and wants to obey God with everything in her. We are so proud of her. 

Silas (11) – One of the biggest changes for Silas is moving up into Logic class at co-op. He has handled the challenge well and is still getting use to the heavier load. He will be playing his last year of Upward basketball, which he has long enjoyed. Silas got to go on his first week of camp with our church earlier this year, which was a big highlight. He loved the worship. He's taken on some responsibility with Vivien and she responds so quickly when he is nearby. We love to see their relationship. He was also involved in "Annie" though not as an actor. He has found a new interest in running the sound board (by himself for the show) and definitely wants to do more! He has a talent for it and people kept remarking that they couldn't believe he was only 11. 

Lucie (8) – aka “Happy Sunshine” seems to be growing taller than all the rest. She and Iva, also known as “the Ladies” are best buddies. Lucie’s sensitive nature and eagerness to serve Vivien has made her think more about medicine in her future. She loves cheerleading at the Upward games and going to AWANA and also had two parts in "Annie" as an orphan and as Drake the butler. She loved it! Lucie has also grown into a great reader! Lucie's is our social butterfly and makes new friends quickly and easily, while keeping old ones close.

Iva (6) – Iva continues to be the glue that holds many different personalities together. She is laid-back and witty. Here one-liners keep us all laughing. Iva loves to snuggle up on the couch with a pile of books until they are all gone. She also loved "Annie". As she walked off the stage after the final applause she burst into tears because it was over! Iva loves her co-op class and all the fun things they are learning and this year she will be joining Upwards doing basketball. If she shows any promise, her height could certainly clinch the deal as she is 6 years old and in size 5 1/2 women's shoes. 

Vivien (4) – Miss Viv continues to thrive and give smiles to all. Thanks to all the work she gets at school and therapy, her head control and core have gotten so much stronger. This fall, we applied for some assistance through DDA and have been able to have some ladies come a couple days week to help with Vivien’s care. The extra “hands on” time has given Vivien even more exercise throughout the day. And while Vivien is a happy, easy girl, caring for her can be time consuming. We didn't realize how great of an amount it was until we saw how much more we were able to get done on the days when someone else is helping. We are thankful that she now has more people to love and be loved by in her life and we are thankful for the genuine loved showed to her though these ladies. She is growing well, although we have been battling some vomiting and GI issues. We joke that she is helping us hone our laundry skills. But have recently changed her formula to a more whole food blend and are hopeful this will help her. But she is otherwise healthy and happy. 

Molly - If there is one thing that would describe this year it has been full.... but also good. She still loves the same things - fun with the kids, dates nights with her man, traveling, blogging, writing and speaking when she can. She is truly loving that the oldest kids are getting into the teen and pre-teen years and all that it entails. She still doesn't love cooking or teaching homeschool or running, but does all these things because she loves the benefits that correspond with those things - family time, getting to have her kids at home and sanity, health and time with God. She is grateful for learning how to ask for and receive help this year and learning her limitations. She helped lead a Women of the Word Bible study group at church and has continued her work with the anti-trafficking organization REST although both of those things have come to a close this fall in preparing for the arrival of Joseph. All the travel to Uganda and other places this year has been both a challenge and a highlight as she has gotten to know and understand Joseph better, know his needs and personality, as well as taken short visits to few amazing places in Europe as a bonus on the way (pictures in the previous post). 

Todd – Once again, Todd’s highlight was spending three weeks with Maggie in Uganda. Their time together with friends and family was so good. He feels so blessed to be able to spend that time with her, helping others. He loves his job at Medic One and is grateful for his colleagues. One of the many highlights for him at home is doing school with the kids. This year has been especially enjoyable as he has been spending most of his time working with Maggie and Silas. He is also excited to be working on the board of Home of Hope, the home where we are adopting Joseph from, helping with fundraising and helping to meet the vision Edith has for expansion and helping kids who have no other place to turn. 

Joseph – We are still in a waiting process for a court date for Joseph. Every time we think we will be able to apply for a date there has been a delay including the sad death of our lawyer and confusing paperwork having to do with Josephs chosen birthday because of his abandonment. Once we get the court date we are hopeful for a judgment that Joseph will be ours and then we apply to the US side and should have another 1-3 months. We continue to get so close. We trust God that it will happen eventually. During our visits to Uganda we have gotten to know Joseph a bit better. He is such a happy boy and we have been amazed by how much he seems to understand what is going on, despite his inability to talk or walk or even lift his head. Edith has told him that we are going to be his parents and he is very upset when we go home, which makes us more eager to speed the process. In our visits to the doctor there we are also understanding more of his physical limitations and help that can be given him in the US as well as the potential he has to improve physically and in communication. Please pray with us that this process can be sped up. 

Books – Todd loves to listen to audio books. Some of his favorites this year were: 

Martin Luther by Eric Metaxas, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman , Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray, What’s Best Next by Matthew Perman , Simplicity Parenting by Kim Brooking Payne and Lisa Ross, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, Getting the Love you Want by Harville Hendrix 

Books Molly has Enjoyed: 

Everybody Always by Bob Goff, Love Lives Here by Maria Goff, You and Me Forever by Francis and Lisa Chan, Adamant by Lisa Bevere, Killing Kryptonite by John Bevere , The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines, Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren, People to be Loved Why Homosexuality is not Just an Issue by Preston Sprinkle, 7 Women by Eric Metataxis, Unashamed and Unstoppable by Christine Caine, Scary Close and A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller, Daring to Hope by Katie Majors Davis

We are hopeful as we look forward to the new year. Because of the stress of so much travel and the workload that it has added to our family with Todd having to work more trades for travel, we are looking forward to just "living" for a while. Thinking about getting to know Joseph and his needs without the need to pick up and fly to Uganda sounds attractive. However, remembering what our first year with Vivien was like, we also are aware of the work it will take to get to know him and understand how to care for him well. We know there will be a learning curve especially this first year. Pray for us as we wait to bring him home, and pray for us as we learn what we need to learn to help him - and the rest of our family- to thrive. Pray that we will continue to "lay aside every weight" of the things that don't matter so that we can focus and prioritize on the things that do. 

We are praying for YOU as well that God will bless you in the coming year and give you joy and peace throughout. We celebrate His birth and are thankful and grateful for what He has done and will do! 

Merry Christmas! 

Love, 

The Merry Family

2018 Merry Christmas Photos

Way too many photos - and in quite random order.  We love our kids, family and friends.  If we know you at all - you may find yourself in some of these.  Feel free to click on the pictures to enlarge.  Merry Christmas!