Merry Christmas Letter 2023

Merry Christmas! 2023

Merry Christmas, Family and Friends! It seems each year, Christmas comes a bit earlier. Maybe it’s commercialization, or covid. Either way, we love this season of rest, time with family and reflecting back on the year.

“She shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” Matthew 1:21

We know this year has been both a blessing and a challenge for many. Still, we have much to be thankful for. Our world seems to be getting more and more restless. As Augustine said “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” So much in life is taking the restlessness we feel back to Him.

Here’s an update on our clan, starting with the youngest…

Vivien (9 years old) is now in the third grade at Kennydale Elementary. Both she and Joseph moved schools this year and we are thankful for her paraeducator who moved with her. Vivien’s awareness of others seems to have blossomed this year. We have found her much more aware of her surroundings and eager to give smiles to anyone walking by. Her love for balloons is in full swing. As she has gotten stronger, we find that they are lasting only a day or so before they are so beat up and deflated! We are thankful for her caregivers that really do love and care for her so well.

Joseph (10 years old) has really gotten tall this past year! He loves to ride the bus to school, go for walks and be in the middle of any crowd. This past year, he went to Seaside and Wild Waves, spent a few days at Maggie Lake, went to the zoo, took field trips around the city, and had plenty of other adventures. He got to go to an early Seahawks game and his friend Bryan Mone from the Seahawks invited him to Spring training. Earlier this year, Joseph had a baclofen pump installed, which has significantly helped out with his spastic movements. He is more relaxed and seems to be more comfortable as well. He has been “talking” with his eye gaze computer and though he is still learning, he figured out how to make jokes to get others to laugh!

Iva (11 years old) continues to be happiest at home. While she is often found reading books, she has also become quite versed in the world of “Star Stables” where players ride their horses around a whole other world, have races and even do dressage (a formal style of horse riding). In real life, she has also been helping care for and ride a friend’s horse named Stitch. We are thankful for the kindness of her sweet friend who shares Stitch with her every other Wednesday! Iva also stepped up into Logic class at our co-op and has been “finding her voice” with her classmates in debates and discussions. Shs is turning into a blossoming writer. In addition, she begged to join Maggie, and Silas in pro-life work and so she and Molly have started volunteering with them and Iva loves it.  She has passed Molly up height wise even though she is 11 so she is going to be a tall girl!

Lucie (13 years old) is most often seen with her dog “Sophie” following her around. Lucie has proved to be an amazing Dog Mom and is eager to tell anyone just how fantastic Sophie is. Lucie’s favorite weekly activity is co-op, where she loves the discussions and time with friends. She is in popular demand as a babysitter, loves her time with babies and kids and works every week in the nursery at church. She has also done some dog-sitting. In November, Lucie got to experience Uganda for the first time with Todd and Maggie! It really was an amazing trip together and though it was a bit stressful, I (Todd) really am thankful we could experience it together. I love seeing the kids experience a whole new world and a very different culture. Those trips really are eye-opening for us all.

Silas (16 years old) just bought his first truck! He has been working hard at both Highlands Community Church and Chick-fil-a. He’s excited about his new sense of freedom. He also just started Running Start at Bellevue College. He has a full load of classwork and seems to be balancing it well with his time at work. He's still very involved in evangelism and pro-life work and recently got to visit and hold one of the babies that they helped save. This summer we tried to take our boat out as much as we could and Silas especially has skilz on the boat tube.

Maggie (19 years old) just got engaged! We are excited for both she and Ethan, as they have been friends since the fourth grade. Seeing their relationship grow to this point has been a joy. They are looking forward to getting married next year. Maggie continues to be very involved in evangelism and the pro-life movement and recently got the news that one of the babies they helped save was born on her birthday. It was a beautiful birthday present. She loves spending time with friends. She is working full time at Backflows Northwest. She has finished Running Start at Bellevue and gotten her AA.

Ethan (Maggie’s fiancé) has known our family since he was young and we have watched him grow into a strong, wise man who loves Jesus. He also works full time at Backflows Northwest and is in the fire academy and volunteering with hopes to become a firefighter. He loves the outdoors, hiking, playing guitar, healthy food and Maggie! He is also passionate about pro-life work.  We are so thankful he will become a part of our family next year and are excited for their life together.

Molly is loving the teenage phase of parenting and our house is usually hopping with their friends. The secret to getting your teenagers to do things with you is to invite their friends everywhere. Molly has done quite a bit of hiking, both with Todd and with the teens and enjoys traveling anytime she can. Sedona with Todd was a huge highlight as well as the beaches of the Olympic Peninsula, Colchuck Lake and Mount Storm King. With the teens she enjoyed, Sage Hills Loop in wildflower season, Deception Pass, Mt. Elinor, Hurricane Ridge, Fort Worden and Fort Casey. Her sister Anna invited her on a trip in May and she enjoyed the beauty of Cabo and reconnecting with her. Photography is her hobby and joy on these trips, and she still loves reading, writing and journaling as often as she can. American Heritage Girls, Co-op, doctor’s appointments, scheduling, managing caregiving, caring for Joseph and Vivien and driving kids around keeps her busy. She also loves connecting with her d-group girls every Sunday night at church.

I (Todd) really enjoyed time away with Molly in Sedona, Arizona in February. The scenery was beautiful and we did some great hikes. This year, family time at Maggie Lake was especially good, as we had a good chunk of time there and I was able to do some projects with my Dad. Silas and I had a great camping trip over the summer, and I loved the time with Maggie and Lucie in Uganda. I’m very thankful for the time we have with the kids. I am still working at King County Medic One, and keeping busy on the boards of Home of Hope and His HIS co-op.

Thank you for taking the time to “catch up” with us. We love getting your letters and hearing updates from you all.  Molly's facebook or instagram have a lot more photos so feel free to browse through our year.

Jesus came to bring the kingdom of heaven to us here on earth by his death and resurrection when we see our sin for what it is and choose to follow HIm. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We love pursuing these things and have been thinking about and meditating on the truth that all three need to go together for true fulfillment, with the help of the Holy Spirit. True life is found in pursuing these things and not placing one above another. The pursuit of happiness or joy is not fully found without living righteously in the Holy Spirit. But trying to be righteous without accessing joy and peace leads to burnout and discouragement.

Jesus came to bring LIFE. We are so thankful for the Holy Spirit’s help as we pursue a beautiful life of righteousness, peace and joy at Christmas. We feel so grateful for the life He has given us. Our prayer is that you experience this too!

Blessings to your family,

The Merrys