Our Honest Christmas Letter

       I can't help but think of the Dunbar Family when I think of Christmas letters. The Dunbar Family that I'm referring to is from an episode on This American Life. Julia Sweeney reads an annual Christmas letter from the Dunbars.... It's a very funny episode if you enjoy sarcasm or dark humor. Here's an audio clip from the episode I'm referring to: 

The other type of Christmas letter that comes to mind is the infamous BRAG LETTER. You know the type; we've all read them... and by the end of the letter you can't help but wonder what planet they are from, because no one else you know has that much to brag about.

We are going to attempt to land our Christmas letter somewhere in between the dysfunctional "Dunbar's" and the nauseating "Mr. and Mrs. Brag". Here goes nothin'....

Dear Family, Friends, and Random Strangers that Read this Blog,                            

                  This is our first ever Christmas letter! I'm not the biggest fan of letters of this breed but we thought we'd do things a bit different this year. We are, however,  big Dave Ramsey fans and in true Dave Ramsey fashion we are cinching the "purse strings" in every way possible as we pay off our debt (we're down to just 35K!!!). So instead of sending 300-400 Christmas cards via snail mail, we are delivering 400+ "Christmas Letters" via email (or via other social media mediums). There are a few little old ladies that will be an exception to this new-state-of-the-art way of doing business. So consider yourself young and cutting-edge if you aren't an exception!

      Young or old.. snail mail or email... family, friend, or stranger.... our gift... our prayer... for *YOU* this Christmas remains the same...

HOPE

May you have the HOPE of being reunited with your loved ones that passed away this year or years past. May you look forward to a time when our bodies will be made anew... free of age, injury, or disease.  

*Hebrews 11:1, NKJV. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

*Romans 8:24-25, NKJV. "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."

Romans 5:3-5, NKJV. "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

*

I Thessalonians 4:13-14

, NKJV. " But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.^"

Titus 1:2, NKJV. "in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,"

Titus 2:13, KJV. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"

FAITH

Take that leap of FAITH (you know, the one you've been too scared to take)! This too, is our prayer for *YOU*! We promise you won't regret it. May your eyes remain focused on our loving Saviour... because walking on water isn't over rated... and this world.... yeah it's soooo over rated.

Hebrews 11:1, TLB. "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."

LOVE

"...And the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor 13:13). Often times it is in our best interest to simply LET GO, but love is something you want to get a hold of and grasp firmly. The beauty of love is that it is in constant pursuit of *YOU* but it can only catch you if you let it. So our prayer is that you let love catch and carry you... then once caught, hold on tight and *NEVER EVER* let go. By the way God is love (1 John). >>>Try replacing the word love with God in this paragraph.<<< LET LOVE TAKE OVER... YOU!

We wish you a CRAZY-HAPPY-JOYFUL-FUN-LOVE_FEST-JOLLY-MERRY Christmas... after all Birthdays are meant to be celebrated!!!

God is love,

Vanessa and Ryan