2011 has come and is almost gone and once again I find myself sitting down to write my Christmas letter. This has been a big year with many changes as I finally have a job. Yes, all of that school has finally come to a close and I find myself as an inpatient psychiatrist at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids Michigan caring for chronic psychotic patients. What can I say, everyday is an adventure at work…and yes, many days can be described as being “crazy.”
Bekah, Titus, and I enjoyed the first half of the year in Chicago, trying to get to all the sites before we moved to the quieter suburb life of West Michigan. Thinking back to 12 years ago as a cocky high school senior who thought he knew everything there was to know, I never would have imagined that I would end up back in Michigan, but we are thankful for how God has directed us.
While we miss Chicago and the people we were honored to live, work, and worship with we do enjoy a front and back yard (which I am oddly very proud of my green grass), quiet nights, our own driveway in which we always have a parking spot, and many of the neighbors we have met. I have also learned that when buying a house there is always something that needs to be fixed and that I should double the amount of time and triple to cost that it takes to finish any project.
I was able to take a month off before starting work in which we undertook a momentous 15 day road trip: MichiganàIndianaàOhioàKentuckyàTennesseeà North CarolinaàVirginiaà MarylandàDelawareàPennsylvaniaàNew Jerseyà New YorkàConnecticutà Rhode IslandàMassachusettsàNew HampshireàMaine àVermontàOntario CanadaàMichigan. We stayed with several family and friends resulting in only having 3 nights in a hotel. Except for record-breaking temps, it was an amazing trip…I just hope Titus remembers something about it.
Bekah has adjusted amazingly well to our move as she is meeting new friends and getting involved in various Church and community activities. She has done an amazing job of transforming our house into a home with her own personal touch and being patient with my lack of carpentry skills. She is staying home with Titus who seems to be the most curious and energetic boy that we have met.
Titus continues to grow both physically as he is eating like a teenager and learns more and more words everyday, even copying what we say…needless to say it keeps me on my toes. His grandparents spoil him excessively, which is what they say grandparents are supposed to do not offering any room for discussion. As you can see he has a cast on his arm as he has already had surgery on his finger after cutting his tendon at a local coffee shop. The cast goes all the way up his arm to keep his finger immobilized, so it looks worse than it actually is. Still he has managed to file off most of the corners of our furniture at home with his cast.
I am running out of room, the only thing left to say is that we continued to be amazed at the holiness and grace of Jesus who has lead us through another year as He continues to mold and perfect us through all the different life events.
