Dear Friends,
It’s that time
of year again when the holiday cards start trickling in and I think “Well,
Christmas letter, it’s now or never!” So, welcome to a re-cap of our year. Buckle
in, hold on tight and keep all arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.
We’ve never been
known as change sort of people. Dan
and I live in the state we were born in and the house we bought twelve years
ago when we got married. We go to the same church I went to in 5th
grade and Dan still regularly wears a pair of sandals he owned in 9th
grade. But, God seems to be a pretty big fan of changing things up a bit.
As a family we had more than a few new
adventures this year. We rang in the New Year having just found out days
earlier that our dishwasher had been slowly and steadily killing our kitchen. The
next five months turned into possibly the toughest of our whole lives in so
many ways. And, that’s really saying a lot.
But we also learned more in those five months than we have in our whole
lives. I learned how to touch up baseboards and just how many things can be
cooked in a toaster oven in my bedroom. Dan learned about dry walling and
cabinet installation (with the help of some experts). And we all felt a love
that passes all logic as our friends showed up over and over to help us rip out
flooring and install plumbing. And now we have a downstairs that we hardly recognize
but absolutely love and enjoy.
In July, Make-a-Wish and all the
donors they represent, gave our family the trip of a lifetime to Oahu to
fulfill Moses’ wish to swim with a dolphin and a shark. Be careful what you
wish for because they made sure he got BOTH of those wishes. And not just that
but immeasurably more. We rode in a limo, stayed in a room at the Sheraton with
a view of Diamondhead and Waikiki Beach, and ate like kings. We will never,
ever forget it.
As
a family we also had the opportunity to attend the second annual Pediatric Melanoma
Summit, put together by Melanoma Research Foundation at Great Wolf Lodge in
Texas. We heard from encouraging and engaging speakers, reunited with friends
from last year that we’ve kept close with through the magic of Facebook, but
also met new and inspiring warriors and families. We’re so grateful this worked
out for us again this year.
Individually we’ve had a lot of firsts as
well. Daniel joined Little League for the very first time this year and had a
really nice start. The hectic schedule of a baseball family took me by surprise
a bit but it really filled Daniel’s cup and gave him something that was all
him, in the midst of a year where quite a bit of our life needed to revolve
around Moses and his melanoma treatment. This fall Daniel joined chess club and
it suited him well. He was born to strategize! I’ve also seen his faith blossom in a very new
way these past few months and there’s something about watching this new change
that makes my heart soar even more than seeing my baby hit the baseball into
the outfield.
Moses has experienced a lot of unusual
firsts so far in his childhood. First hospital stays, surgeries, PET scans and
picc line. Not firsts I would wish on
any child. But, this year we finally got to experience some great lasts, like his LAST interferon injection. And some really, really awesome firsts. First time swimming independently and jumping off the diving board. First time swimming with sharks! First day of preschool and soccer practice. He even had his first bowl of cheerios! I’ve been savoring all firsts in a way I never even knew to before.
I, Christy, have dabbled in firsts too. In
February I became an Independent Consultant for Thirty-One Gifts. I’ve enjoyed
getting to connect with other women at home parties while earning some money to
put towards the remodel. Recently I’ve also become a regular substitute at the school
Moses attends. I’m excited to have an opportunity doing a job I have such fond
memories of and also to get to work around the hours the boys are in school.
Dan is still employed at Banner Baywood as
a nuclear medicine tech (I told you we don’t change a lot!). He coordinates the
nuclear medicine department and enjoys the team he works with. They kept him
extremely busy last spring, with some employees on medical leave and a lot of
changes going on at once. And, even
though it was rough at times, we could see God’s hand in the increased hours
during a pretty stressful time of replacing our kitchen.
I’d love to look back at this all, say “Phew! We made it!” and kick up my feet with a great
book and a cup of tea. But the thing
about life is that it’s not over until it’s over. I have no idea what changes are around the
bend but I’m excited as I read the words from Isaiah 43:13, “Behold, I will do
a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make
a way in the wilderness, and rivers
in the desert.” And I’m excited
to hear what that means for you! What is
your new thing this year?
With much love and a
Merry Christmas,
Dan, Christy, Daniel
and Moses Williams
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