To my dearest family and friends,
It is with great eagerness that I begin writing my first adult Christmas letter! I debated going the e-mail route, thought about sending you a picture of me with my 482 Sunrise students, or just writing a little 2-3 sentence blurb in a Hallmark card. None of those seemed suiting for the joy in my heart and the love I feel for this season and the people I miss so much. So read on!
Twenty ten has been a year of growth, risks, and adventures. Nine months ago I was still a Michigan State Spartan learning to be a teacher and now I am teaching 482+ kiddos daily. The mentorship I received from my student teaching experience and love from the families I spent time with in East Lansing was pertinent to the success of living on my own. Nothing will ever replace the year of memories with the beautiful Burley family (right), the communities of Williamston and Bath, and my friends in Young Life and at Riverview Church.
Summer was filled with the comforts and familiarities of home. Saline friends and co-workers, Mom’s cooking, Dad’s golf advice, and many journal pages filled with prayers for a job with benefits. When it was clear that my path would venture out west, courage and excitement filled my heart. My four day trip in my fully loaded Ford Escape was an adventure I will never forget (picture when I entered AZ to the left). I am the girl who once had to spray my teddy bear with Mom’s perfume; moving across the country was not a plan that my homesick heart would have a trend of being successful at. Cincinnati, Nashville and Albuquerque were highlights on the trip and I’m eternally grateful for the protection of my little Escape.
With about 5 months of teaching under my belt I’ve learned more from my students then they have learned from me. I’ve had visits from tarantulas and rattlesnakes, learned how excited desert dwellers are for rain, keep Elmer’s glue on hand for run-ins with cacti, and removed the words grass, overcast, and fog from my vocabulary.
Without internet and cable, I’ve enjoyed spending time catching up on my horrible movie collection and realized that you don’t need weather.com in a state that is sunny 99.9% of the time. Walking outside to get oranges and grapefruit is common, running up ridiculously steep hills is not an option, and frequent house calls to my Arizona family helps me get through my hug cravings. I am residing in the comforts of my Aunt Lexy’s old snow bird place and continually grateful for the ways God provides.
I know absolutely nothing about what 2011 has in store but I do know better than to think that I am in control. God’s plan surpassed anything I could have imagined for 2010. I pray for patience and peace in your heart and hope for great blessings this Christmas season and into 2011. I challenge you to take risks and adventures of your own...knowing that if you want some sun, warm weather, or just some good laughs of watching a midwest girl survive the desert - my door is always open!
I pray for the hope of God’s message for the Christmas season and the grace and peace that come from believing in the story of Jesus. I hope that 2011 is nothing but good news and great joy for you and your family.
All my Love,
Lauren
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