My hope for you this season is that your days are filled with love and that you are able to take some time to relax and just to “be”. I encourage you to avoid the rush as much as possible and to savor the smiles of your loved ones.
Take time to give extra hugs and pay extra compliments. Also carve out time to reach out to those whom you won’t be with face to face. Never miss an opportunity to say I love you.
I wanted to share our Christmas letter (written by my hubby) and a more current family photo. We actually sent out our 2013 photo this year, as an attempt to keep things green (or because of mail mishaps last year). But if we were to print off pictures this year, this one might have made the cut. (Getting a great picture of the five of us still proves to be quite the challenge.)
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Muito Bom Dia from Portugal e Bom Natal! The last two years have been such an amazing adventure but as we are writing this, we all agreed that what we have learned the most about is….PATIENCE!
(P)ortugal has been around for over 850 years. They have done things “their way” for years and we have had to learn to adapt in ways that we never could have imagined.
(A)dventures and trips! Over the past two years, we have travelled throughout Portugal, Italy, Spain, Scotland, France and Morocco. Each trip has been incredible and we’re grateful for the life-changing experiences.
(T)ime to hang. We are living in a rental home so there is not much weekend work to be done around the house. We fill our free time playing at the beach, getting lost, eating seafood and just being a “family”.
(I)nternational Church. We attend a church with over 20 nations represented. It is so different from what we are used to, but the love of God is a universal concept that transcends language and borders.
(E)ncouraged by our loved ones. The emails, FaceTime, care packages, cards, visits and friendships have been HUGE blessings to us as while we live so far away!
(N)ever a dull moment. Ainsley is President of the Middle-School and she swims on the Nato Swim team. Connor is busy with sports (including body boarding) and Berkley is our non-stop action girl, who continues to try new activities from soccer to gymnastics.
(C)ourage to do the small things. It takes courage when you don’t speak the language or understand the cultural differences as well as you wish you did. Not to mention the panic attacks experienced when trying to park.
(E)mbraced and cared for. We are very thankful for the lovely people whom we have met that will impact us forever due to their kindness and friendship. The friends we have made here in Portugal have helped us in so many ways. We have come to appreciate that life can always be reduced to relationships, which matter most no matter where you are.
Love ~ David, Morgan, Ainsley (13), Connor (11) and Berkley (8)
I’ll be back next week with a recap of the Monthly Goal Challenge (organizing our computers), some announcements about the plans for MWM in 2015 (including a GIVEAWAY) and a yearly recap.
TELL ME: Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Do you want to make 2015 your BEST year yet? Join the Goal Challenge (21 pages of printables) and you’ll have all the tools in place to get your goals organized for the year. For all of the details and to sign up go right over HERE!
