We write this letter yet again from Virginia. Tim’s job is such that we should be here for
the next THREE years! Virginia has now
overtaken West Virginia as the state we’ve lived in the longest.
We took a lot of little trips this year. We returned to New England this spring for my
cousin’s wedding and managed to sneak in a trip to Boston and Gillette Stadium
too. We went to Michigan in May to
celebrate our niece’s graduation from medical school. July came and with it Tim’s sister, Heidi and
her daughter Jazzy. We had fun going to
Monticello and to D.C. for Independence Day.
In August, we all went to WV to watch the Patriots in a
pre-season practice against the New Orleans Saints…yes, the Saints practice in
WV. What fun! We saw Brady, Belichick, the Gronk….SO much
fun! In September we celebrated Nana
Mewes’ 80th birthday and surprised her with two of her children
coming in for the party. We also went on
a field trip to Ft. McHenry this year and really enjoyed that as well.
The three older kids are in youth group together and
have had chances to serve the homeless by washing the transportation vans,
doing laundry at a shelter, and helping kids with crafts at our church’s annual
Advent party.
Peter has been asked to be a leader in both his youth
group and the youth worship team.
Leading the worship team will also involve leading worship in front of
the whole church once a month! In July,
he and Jonathan spent a week in WV for the National Guard camp. Peter’s stay wasn’t your typical camp
experience. More like Marine boot
camp.
Jonathan has started a pottery class and is really
enjoying both the class and meeting new people.
His pet rats, Francesca and Jennifer, are simply adorable and so sociable. We all enjoy playing with them and feeding
them their favorite – sunflower seeds!
Caroline continues riding horses once a week. She learned to canter, which she said was not
as hard as she had thought. She’s trying
to figure out how to spend even more time at the barn!
Victoria is in fourth grade this year. She has always helped in the kitchen, but
this year she made a batch of chocolate chip cookies ALL BY HERSELF, as well as
the pecan pie for Thanksgiving (with only a little help).
This year has not been without its low points. Every year has them and we’re certainly NOT
immune. This letter is meant to be a
recap of the highlights, but I don’t want anyone to think our life is rosy all
the time, or that yours should be either.
I know there are those who have suffered great loss this year, those who
are struggling with health issues, those who are in dire financial
straits. I want you to know that there
is someone who is always there for you.
Jesus, the babe in the manger, did more than come to make a cute
nativity scene. He came to live a
perfect, sinless life to make atonement for our imperfect, sinful ones. Won’t you trust in His sacrifice this year? Make this a year in which the greatest gift
of all, God’s love sent down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, is
accepted by you. You’ll spend eternity
in heaven and have the Holy Spirit living within you to guide you along this
crazy road we call life.
We love you, we miss you, we love hearing from
you. Blessings to you this Christmas.
Love, The Mewes family
