Dear Friends and Family,
I hope this letter finds everyone doing well, and that your Christmas was both wonderful and filled with family and/or friends. I’m taking the easy way out this year by emailing, and due to the fact that my Christmas cards were taken from my house on December 15, during a small break-in, it made it a little more difficult to follow through with actually sending out my annual letter in a card. This year has been very interesting and full of changes and I just want to say that I am very blessed and thankful for the true meaning of this season that God sent his son to earth.
My brother and sister-in-law moved to Ireland in September. You can catch-up with them and see what’s been going on at The March Gang. The beginning of the year was spent preparing and getting everything ready for them to move. It was an interesting adjustment, but it’s awesome what they are getting to do. And I will be able to travel there in March 2009 to visit, which I’m very excited about.
I tried selling my house this year, but with the economy doing what it did…it didn’t work out. But God knows best sometimes, and I’m glad that I’m still living in my home. I had a roommate for a couple of months, she moved out around the middle of this month. The experience of a roommate after living alone for about six years was very interesting and eye opening, and proved that you never actually know someone until you get them under your roof.
We had our annual Christmas at Our House the first week of December. We went nine nights this year, serving at least 350 a night and our largest group was 361. It was a great year!
My parents went to Ireland for Christmas. I was able to ‘watch’ my family open gifts via Skype, it was bright and early (4:00 am) but well worth it. I then spent the Holiday with Tara’s family, which was fun and a great way to be with ‘family’ that understood the fact that mine was in Ireland. The rest of the day was spent catching up on movies and some book reading. It was a great Holiday!
Throughout this year, as stated above, many changes have taken place. But throughout it all, God has been there. He has been my strength, my solace, and my peace. Regardless of the fact that we sometimes lose sight of Him and do our own thing, He still loves us. This time of year is a time to sit back and reflect on the gift that was given to us in the form of a baby. He became the lamb that would take our sins and die for us.
It has been a very different year and I am looking forward to what 2009 has to offer.
May God bless each and everyone of you this Holiday Season.
ERM