Merry Christmas 2018

As 2018 comes to a close, I think about the story that God has been writing for us the last year and half. It is a story of struggle, sadness, and pain, but he is not finished writing it. It is also a story of bravery, growth and faith. This has been a year of healing. A year of learning the new normal. A year of finding out who we are without Justin. A year of learning what it means to be single again, of learning what it is to parent alone. A year of giving up control and leaning on God and our friends and family.

We have also found Joy and Hope in this year.

Chloe will turn eight in January. She started 2nd grade this year, and is doing well at school. She gets great joy from playing with her friends. They make up the most elaborate pretend games and spread dress up all over the house. Chloe’s story includes kitties, playing soccer, dance class and being with Mom. Macy will turn 14 in February. She started 8th grade, and is having a much better school year. She likes hanging out with her friends, watching anime, drawing, and listening to music. I am looking forward to moving past the middle school years. :) She keeps me on my toes with her creativity and larger than life emotions. Sydney just turned 16 in September. She started 10th grade, and is also doing well at school. She has fallen in love this year with choir. She has always loved music, but is really enjoying choir and applied music this year. She also finds joy in her scheduled driving test to get her license on Dec. 18th, and making her own money working at Jimmy Johns. She loves hanging with her friends, doing art, make up and youtube.

The story of my job has been a journey of faith this past year. I have found a lot of joy in my work at Grace College. It has been a real gift to be surrounded by fellow employees who lift me up. It is a joy to go to work most days, and even when it isn’t, it is still good because we work it out together. I enjoy what I do and I enjoy who I spend my days with.

I have also found joy this year in so many new friends. I have enjoyed starting a workout program with a coworker. I have enjoyed multiple bible study groups this year. It has been a year of joy for me in people who God has placed in my story.

We wrote a new chapter in our story with our first trip as a family of four in April to St. Louis where we spent four days exploring the city and having so much fun. We also traveled back to Kansas in June for Harvest. It as hard to go back but also good. We enjoy our time with Justin’s family and it is healing to be with them.

We have so much to be thankful for. I think back to a year ago and so much was still difficult. I couldn’t wait for 2017 to be over. 2018 has also been hard in different ways. But the hard has been outweighed by the good. I am not thankful for the hard times we have gone through in the last year and half, but I am thankful in them. I am thankful for the ways God continues to provide, through jobs, finances, church, friends, family and more.

We continue to miss Justin, and always will. We are thankful for so many good memories and the love we shared. There is an empty chair at our table and a hole in our hearts.

I look forward to 2019, not to be rid of 2018, but to see what is going to be written in our story this new year. How will we grow, learn and follow God this year? I am eternally grateful for a baby who changed everything. I remember this Christmas season all that has been given and sacrificed for us. I wait for God to bring our story to completion.

I hope your Christmas season is merry and bright.

Crystal, Sydney, Macy and Chloe Leighty