I started this year by reading the
biographies of Maya Angelou and finished it by designing a multi-media art
exhibit that would honor her legacy as an artist and a person. Why would I do
such a thing, you may ask? Read on friend, but it bears witness as to why I
feel important to start our Christmas Letter with lines from her poem, Woman Work.
Shine on me, sunshine ~ Rain on me, rain ~ Fall
softly, dewdrop ~ And cool my brow again.
We
thoroughly enjoyed all the endless fun that three children and countless
blessings bring, but I think a theme this year has been perseverance. Life is
not a sprint, it’s a marathon and the strength we gain by pursuing what is
right amidst constant challenges brings a deep joy that I just don’t think can
be found any other way. Part of that joy is you-walking this path with us-we
couldn’t do it alone, nor are we meant to.
Evelyn
has had her own share of difficulties this year. She was diagnosed with a
sesame allergy (that is anaphylactic) on top of her nut allergies, and also
faced more than one struggle at school and dance. And, let’s face it, she’s
getting older, closer to THAT age, and although I am in denial, it has started
to present new hurdles as well. Through it all, in typical Evelyn fashion, she found
joy. I’m so grateful that she has a strong foundation in which she feels loved
and safe. I know it will guide her always. Oh, also, she won the school
spelling bee, was asked to join our studio’s dance team, became a much stronger
swimmer, won the interschool speech meet for her grade, tested three grades
above her level, organized a lemonade stand to benefit hurricane victims, and
performed countless times on stage. So it wasn’t all hard. Well, she also broke
her arm. Yes, again!
Cecilia.
Cici feels life very deeply, a beautiful and obstinate characteristic! She
faced a big transition this year as she started first grade-which meant she
would be in school all day for the first time-and her best little buddy from
kindergarten would no longer be in her class-which meant a great deal of
heartache. At the same time, this little mama’s girl had to deal with her mama
suddenly being gone all day on the weekends, a reality that she very much
resented! But with a little time, some slightly odd decisions to start meowing
a lot, and quite a bit of extra snuggles from both daddy and mommy, she has
come through like a champ. Her lowest grade at school is a 97 (!), she was
chosen to sing a solo in the school Christmas program, she has danced and performed
all year and talk about perseverance-when this kid is given a challenge-whether
it’s working on better manners or mastering chapter books, she rises to the
occasion!
Oh
Max! Little Maxi bulldozed through his own set of obstacles this year. He
decided that talking was a great way to communicate and blew through major
milestones in speech therapy, leaving both his therapist and myself
delightfully surprised! He is eating better (FINALLY!) and plays happily with
other children now too. He is learning shapes, letters, and a lot of self-care.
But, the funnest (and funniest) change in Max is he now likes candy. We all
realized this as a family when Max found his sisters’ bag of candy corn (used
as bribery, I mean rewards, while Miss Chelle was shooting these amazing
photos) and proceeded to put the entire bag into his mouth at once! His sisters
did not find it nearly as funny as I did.
Life
is funny sometimes too, isn’t it? At Christmas last year if you had told me
that I would end this year by going back to school and pursuing a new career, I
would have laughed out loud. But that is
exactly what happened! I just finished my first quarter, back at my alma mater,
University of Washington. I’m adding a minor to my BA degree. My hope is to
move toward a career in the museum industry, helping the community to engage
with art, and to that end I’ve taken a position with Visitor Services at the
Tacoma Art Museum. It’s only one class at a time and one or two shifts a week,
but I’m in love. Bard has been amazing, taking on all sorts of extra work
around the house, while still working a million hours at his own job. Even with
all that he still finds time for meaningful moments-reading bedtime stories to
the kids and protesting the actions against immigrants who want to create their
own stories in our country.
Storm, blow me from here ~ With your fiercest wind
Let me float across the sky ~ Til I can rest again
At
the end of the year, I can say this, we have fought the good fight, we have
finished the race, we have kept the faith. And we will do it all again next
year, as a family, as a community. For joy.
