Merry Christmas! Wishing every one a lovely, warm Christmas surrounded by people you love and presents you love marginally more!

And for those who are having a rotten holiday, those that are by themselves or surrounded by people yet still feel thoroughly alone, you are seen and you are loved. I pray that this holiday marks the beginning of pleasant surprises for you! Right now your dreams may seem unrealistic and far-fetched, but they are no less valid for being so!

I was looking at photos from last Christmas. At this time last year, we had barely made it back from the hospital with Kaito in our arms after 65 difficult days in an incubator. We were new parents, terrified of making a mistake and reversing all the careful work of the doctors. So the air in our home last Christmas was tentatively happy but fraught with tension and fear. A year later, we are so happy and excited to have this strong, courageous, intelligent one year old! What an absolute difference a year can make!

So, if you are going through a horrid time, keep going. I mean, you can’t stop now. Just remember that there is always room to be surprised. There is still so much life to see, don’t give up. Not yet. Look for anything, any thing at all you can hold on to, to keep from drowning. Hold it like you’re Rose grasping the broken door from the Titanic. Because, like her, that may be all you’ve got sis! BUT in all this, know that things will get better. How do I know? Well, if you remember the reason for this season…is a God that is so invested in you that He sent His most precious being to die for you, you’d rest easy too.