Christmas Letter 2018

Dear Friends and Family,
Merry Christmas 2018! This year's letter is coming to you on Christmas Day from our home in Orchard Park, NY. We had a different Christmas season this year and it ended up being the first Christmas morning we've ever woken up in our own home with just our little family of three. Our tradition has always been to gather with Jamie's family a few days before Christmas and to celebrate with Heather's family on Christmas Eve in Eldred, Pa. Jamie's parents come down to Eldred and join us, as well. We usually spend the night with Eli's "Oma and Papa" and open our gifts, including Santa's, on Christmas morning with them. Heather's sister, Kelley, and her family join in for the festivities, too. This year, Kelley and Rick's new daughter, six month old Maisy, needed a surgery right before Christmas to correct an ectopic ureter, so our family's plans changed a bit. Heather's parents are in Matamoras, PA with Kelley and the family who are unable to travel with Maisy. We will be headed down to the Eldred area tonight to celebrate Christmas with Heather's Uncle Tom, Aunt Karen, and Cousin Mark and family. We will also stay in Eldred a few days with Oma and Papa, when they get back home. Lots of love and family gatherings sprinkled throughout the week, but this morning has been quiet, slow and sweet. I was worried it would feel empty and lonely, but it has been a surprisingly beautiful day of lingering and loving.
I received the most amazing and unexpected gift this morning, in my son's reaction to the Christmas tree and presents. Eli slept in until 7:30am and woke us up, happy and excited to start the morning. He beat me downstairs and I heard him exclaim, "Presents!!!" Then, he turned around, came back to the bottom of the stairs and looked right at me..."But, Christmas isn't just about presents. It's about love. I love you, mama!" He gave me a huge hug before running over to check out the tree. When I reminded him that it was time to light the Christ candle in our advent wreath, he happily left the tree, called for his Daddy to come to the wreath and spent the next few minutes with us, patiently and attentively worshipping our King, Jesus. We read a few verses from our bible, sang Silent Night, and said a prayer. Then it was present time! But, Eli wasn't done gifting us. I pointed out the "Santa Gift" front and center under the tree, knowing it was one he had been waiting for. He picked it up, but paused when something else caught his eye. He set the gift back down and instead went and picked up a large decorated envelope that he had brought home from school last week. He had set it off to the side of the tree and told us we couldn't open it until Christmas morning. He held it and looked at it for a minute and then said, "You can go first, Mama and Daddy. I made this for you." Jamie and I both teared up before we even opened it and read the beautiful little book he had made and colored for us. This child amazes me. Every day. God rewarded our struggle and wait with so much more than we could've imagined for ourselves. Eli has been the hands and feet of Jesus in our lives in the way he loves us and reminds us, daily, of what matters most.

2018 has been a good year...A year of stretching, growing and exploring new paths. We've settled into our new home, although it is far from finished, and found some peace in living amidst the "mess" of our fixer-upper project. We are making friends in our new town and connecting with some really nice families who have kids Eli's age. We also have found a home in our church, Hamburg Wesleyan, which was re-named this year as "Watermark Wesleyan." The Watermark community has been a source of great joy, comfort, support and friendship for us this year as we have become involved with the Music/Worship team and our bible study groups. Heather was baptized at Watermark in November and we are both starting a theology course offered through Asbury University that will meet weekly at our church in 2019. Our faith is becoming the center of our family life and we are very excited to see where God will lead us as we head into a new year.

Highlights of 2018 include a 20th Anniversary trip for Heather and Jamie to Mexico, a family vacation to the Adirondacks, and Eli starting Kindergarten at South Davis Elementary. Eli is thriving in school and has a great enthusiasm for learning. His teacher, Mr. Calaiacovo, is pure magic! He is a beautiful, loving, life-long learner of a teacher who truly sees our son, challenges him and encourages him to be the best version of himself. We couldn't ask for a better teacher for Eli and we feel so blessed that this man is in Eli's life.

Jamie is still enjoying his work at Lindbergh Elementary where he just finished directing the musical, "Winnie the Pooh, Kids!" He also is finding meaning in his work on the Trauma Informed Care team in his building. He is seeking new ways to connect with and support the children he works with daily and is passionate about making a difference in this community. Heather is happy and grateful to be in her second year at Ellicott Elementary where she's also building relationships with staff, students and family. After taking a year to "ease in" and get to know the community, she's excited to start digging into the work of designing sequential learning experiences and K-5 curriculum for the music program.

On the home front, 2018 saw a pretty major bedroom make-over project for Eli, a new floor in the kitchen (goodbye carpet!), and the removal of over a dozen shrubs/overgrown landscaping from the front of the house. We also finally opened all of the boxes from our move and started settling into "Mama's room," a sort of study area off the kitchen where Heather does her reading, praying, yoga, and journaling. There's also space in there for Eli's homework/arts and crafts table. The room needs much in the way of decorating: a new floor, reorganization, etc. But, it is now a workable space and it has been a blessing to us this fall.

We want to thank all of you who sent us beautiful cards and pictures this year. It is always a treat to open those envelopes and be reminded of a friendship or family connection. We are so blessed by the people in our lives! After 20 years of sending Christmas cards and hard copies of our annual letter, this is our first year of going "digital." It feels like a bit of a loss to Heather, who has a sentimental attachment to the feel of paper in hand, still reads real books, and still supports "snail mail." But, financially, it makes more sense for us to share our annual updates this way. We don't have to put a limit on our Christmas Card list and we can share as many pictures and words as we like! We hope that although it isn't addressed personally to you, that you'll still feel our love and gratitude for your friendship and our family's sincere wish that the joy and peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, will fill your hearts and your homes this Christmas season and into the New Year.

Merry Christmas!
Heather, Jamie and Eli Holden