2018.

2018. I don’t know that this year has been more busy than any other (although I can’t really remember the whole year) but sometimes certain types of busyness are more exhausting than others. The theme for this year has been advocacy. On so many levels we have spent our time and energy advocating for our children, for representation within their schools, for growth in our church community, and for the oppressed in our own city and country. It’s an odd mingling of discouragement and empowerment and a beautiful way to see both God and people at work, making a difference in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

I was blessed to work with artists from the homeless community this summer and was struck once again by how we so often look at people differently if they are not what society tells us is the ideal we should all strive for. The actors wore masks, because we do not see people for who they really are, but by embracing community they were able to remove each other’s masks and be seen; loved and valued. This year I hope we have seen each person stripped from their place in politics, religion, chaos and controversy and just embraced him or her as being made in the very image of God. Intrinsically valuable.

Evelyn has often been a leader for us in this area, seeing a person of need outside the grocery store and asking if we could buy him something to drink. Attending protests at the Immigrant Detention Center with Bard and chanting for freedom and human decency to win out over hate and fear. She has done all the worldly successful things as well-good grades, performing with her dance team and in theatre productions, piano recitals and even a camp for girls interested in government-where she was elected a Senator! But as she races toward middle school and all things grown up, I am confident that it is her ability to see the other as her own, to fight for humanity, and to lead with love which will define her story.

Speaking of fighting, that brings me to my middle child! Oh Cecilia. This one will not rest until the entire world is fair, so she has a long battle ahead of her but is fortunately blessed with the spirit to match the challenge. Cici surpasses many academic goals, piano lesson benchmarks, and competitions easily. But she is also performing with the dance team this year, and is in the more advanced dance classes-producing a lesson in perseverance & humility. We’re walking through some anxiety issues together and it has given our family the opportunity to learn how stress affects each of us and finding the right balance in our lives.

And then there was Max. This year was a BIG year in the life of Max. We fought our school district to have him repeat preschool another year instead of having him start kindergarten as a very young five-year old. And won. It was a huge accomplishment and one that meant Max could continue to be in the place that is the very best for his growth. And in just a few short months we have already seen tremendous achievements from him, hitting benchmarks in December that his teachers thought would take him until June to accomplish. Good job Maxi, you just keep proving those experts wrong, we believe in you!

It’s always a bit odd to look back over the year and try to determine what was meaningful to our family and how we’ve grown together. We experienced all the usual- swimming lessons, family trips, doctors’ visits (and more doctors’ visits), school events, bike rides, and birthdays. While fun and often important, none of those activities really define us as a family. The real moments from the year are when we sat on our family’s back porch while visiting them in Boston. When we made it a priority every Saturday to share a special breakfast with each other before splitting ways for a crazy day. When we ate pizza with a group of church friends, working together to help a school on the East Side honor its teachers. When we brought cookies to our teachers on strike and showed up again and again at rallies and protests to speak on behalf of those our government tries to oppress. And moment after countless moment, we are reminded of how our community carries us through life’s trials and triumphs. We are not alone. We are together, with you, ready for a new year, to love in little ways that bring about big changes and to share a very needed light that pierces the darkness and brings hope to us all.

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers. Look heavenward and speak the word aloud. Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud. Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves, And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation: Peace, My Brother. Peace, My Sister. Peace, My Soul. ~ Maya Angelou