Christmas Letters

I haven't sent out my Christmas letter yet. I'm waiting, hoping that I will be able to put in all the particulars about the new member of the family. That doesn't seem likely. Daughter is out Christmas shopping with a friend.

I have received a number of Christmas cards already. I love them, and hope it is a tradition that doesn't diminish. I'm surprised to have received any this year, as I haven't sent any yet, nor did I last year.

One card came with a note from Lynne. Lynne is a woman that The Husband God Gave Me worked with for many many years. She has three sons of her own, but always took the time to care about THGGM, in much the way a mother would. At Daughter's wedding reception nearly two years ago, Lynne and her husband sat at the table with us. THGGM's mother didn't even come.

Jean is another friend, whom I dearly miss. I learned much from her. Jean's two sons were adopted as young boys. Both died in their early 40's. One of AIDS, one was found murdered. Jean and her husband move around a lot. I can't even remember how many countries they have called home. One that I do remember is Iran. Now they live in the mountains in the south. Jean likes to teach people deep stuff and suffers that so many people just don't want to learn. We hit it off on that point alone.

My friend Jan I rarely see, but at one time we were neighbors. How wonderful to catch up on her life! If you need to be encouraged, she's the person to know. And if you want a recipe for anything ooey and gooey, she's good for that too.

Debbie is a friend who travels all around the world also. She survived the cyclone that hit Bangladesh, and last year in January traveled to the tsunami's hardest hit areas. One of my favorite ever memories is listening to her recite lines from Monty Python while we picked wild raspberries one hot summer afternoon in Michigan's upper peninsula. I also will never forget how she demanded a bed for me on a 'college tour' that we took some kids on. I can still hear her saying 'This woman is PREGNANT and she is NOT going to sleep on the floor!' She told me that night that where she grew up - all visitors are treated like honored guests, which wasn't the case at this particular Bible Institute. I remember her saying that there were a few things they could learn from the Muslims she knows. Anyway, after I miscarried, she told me she held the school responsible.

Another card came from a kid I went through all 12 grades of school with. His goal was to retire at 45, and it looks like he did it. I haven't even decided what I want to DO yet. Anyway, he was always a really nice guy and I could not be happier for him and his wife.

My friend Anne who lives in Maine will be spending her first Christmas day ever without her youngest son at home. He is invited to celebrate with my family, since he lives around here now. I wish she could come to!

I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of several more of these letters. I DO hope they come. From my friend Julie, who is a wonderful writer and has a very interesting life. Karen, who had her hopes dashed when the baby they planned to adopt in September was kept by the urging of the grandmother - the same grandmother who approached them in the first place to adopt this child. Kathy, who now lives in Chile but used to live in the apartment below us. She showed me such great kindness during Oldest Son's first illness that I wish she had been around so I could return the favor. And Sandy, who was my maid of honor and with her husband recently gave up a nice life in the Chicago area to move the family to Newberry, Michigan to pastor a church there.

Not one of these friends would consider themselves influential. But they are. That's the beauty of it. It isn't what they do, it's who they are. Or, better yet, WHOSE they are.