The Dreaded Christmas "E-Letter" (Merry Christmas Just the Same!)

December 20, 2012

Dear Friends:

Warmest regards from the Else’s! We pray that this Advent season finds you well. Yes, Christmas greetings of this kind are rather lame. However, time and energy (or a lack thereof) demands this less intensive form of a family update.

Isaiah is now five years old and doing exceptionally well in Kindergarten (top of his class!). He has superhuman speed and strength, and continues to dominate in Memory (the game). He is also an exceptionally good break-dancer, and aspires to become a super hero or football player. Hiking in Colorado this summer we found that there is, indeed, a pronounced difference when one is born at altitude. We are very proud of him!

Annie is seven and excelling in first grade (remarkably she, too, is at the top of her class!). Annie is intelligent, witty, and does a fantastic song and dance medley of popular show tunes. She was Zuzu Bailey in our church’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life. Annie is one of those people who seem to do all things well. We love this sweet, funny little girl and are so proud of her!

Sophie is ten years old, in fourth grade, and participates in…everything! She excels in school, violin, crafts, and theater (she played young Mary Hatch in It’s a Wonderful Life). Sophie has found a new interest in pandas, Nez Perce culture, and One Direction. The highlights of Sophie’s year were hiking in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and seeing Wilco live. The biggest highlight of the year for all of us was when Sophie made her Profession of Faith. She is a joy, and we are so proud of her!

Ian is twelve years old and is, natch, top of his sixth grade class. Ian rocks the house…all rock, all the time. His favorite bands are U2, My Morning Jacket, and Matt Redman, and can play his bass along with them all. Along with mad bass guitar skillz, Ian is also excelling in percussion, piano, and vocals. Several football games, vacation to Colorado, swimming, Wilco in concert, and reading The Lord of the Rings were highlights. We are so proud of this artistic, thoughtful, and brilliant young man!

Baby G was an Else for nearly two months this fall, and it was our joy to care for him through Safe Families for Children. We are rejoicing because he now has a family of his own…what a great Christmas for him and for his new mom and dad!

Julie continues to serve, bless, lead, manage, and administer as Chief Operating Officer at Else International, Inc. This is a complex position that demands great proficiency in myriad disciplines—training, hospitality, scheduling, transportation, supply chain management, and development. Mostly, she just loves and blesses in abundance. Highlights of Julie’s year were traveling to Colorado, caring for several kids via Safe Families for Children, assisting in worship at church, and getting back to Iowa for a little Okoboji action and Tulip Time.

I continue to find great joy in serving Faith Community Church in West Chicago as Co-pastor. We love Chicagoland. Racing wasn’t quite as intense this year, but I did do the Wisconsin Marathon, Steelhead Ironman 70.3, and served as a pacer with the Nike Pace Team at the Chicago Marathon. Missing seminary, I also started doctoral studies at Western Theological Seminary. Family vacation to Steamboat Springs, a mountain climbing expedition to Boulder, and many trips downtown brought joy amidst the busy-ness. Life is good.

We thank God for you, and pray you will fall more deeply in love with Jesus Christ this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!

Love,

Travis & Juliana