It’s been a couple years since we typed up a newsletter. In 2011 we had one ready but never mailed it out. We were preparing to move and it wasn’t a priority. It’s here if you want to read it. Drew does an excellent job with them. He enjoys it. He is so creative and makes sure everything is perfect. Picks just the right pictures. He just doesn’t have the time. Every year I ask him to start before Thanksgiving and every year I’m nagging him by Christmas. This year we decided to accept who we are {procrastinators} and send Happy New Year cards instead. No newsletter. There is no pressure to get them out by a certain time. I’m aiming for the end of January.
Another reason for the delay this year is my internal struggle of the actual benefit of yearly newsletters. Especially with Facebook. Now that my mother-in-law has joined I feel that everyone I need to share with is right here. I share a lot through Facebook and try so hard not to brag. I try to find a good balance between bragging and being proud of my family and my own accomplishments. It’s not easy. Someone recently commented on the bragging nature of Christmas Letters. Trips, good grades, fancy new houses….but what about the babies, weddings, baptisms, and personal triumph? Why shouldn’t we share? I think about all the newsletters I’ve gotten over the years and I always looked forward to them. I love hearing about the trips, babies, and number of teeth lost. But now I have this guy in my head telling me that newsletters are bad and we shouldn’t be focused on all that we’ve accomplished. It’s not nice to brag. Here’s my thought: I think the people that don’t like newsletters are missing an important piece. The blessings. We share our trips and number of teeth lost because we are so happy to have been blessed with good friends to visit and a child that may have taken years to adopt. Should we change our wording? Probably. But we shouldn’t stop doing newsletters all-together. I’m hoping this compromise will be suitable. This year I am going to share my blessings with you. I’m not bragging.
I feel so honored to have been blessed with two beautiful children and a husband that continues to love me despite my refusal to do the dishes. This year we spent most of January through March sick in one way or another but when Spring came we were able to celebrate Sophia’s 5th birthday, spend a week at a North Carolina beach with my sister and her beautiful family, and a weekend on a Lake Michigan beach with my good friend Kelli and her family. All moments that I want to remember forever. Carefree fun. Sophia graduated from Preschool and we spent the summer playing outside, riding bikes, visiting Twigwicket {The Downs Family cottage}, and celebrating Isaiah’s 2nd birthday. This year we spent time on Mackinac Island with cousins, I visited friends in Georgia, and Drew took a week long sabbatical to North Carolina for a clergy wellness retreat. Drew and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary, Sophia started Kindergarten {Yikes!} and Isaiah is growing like a weed. He talks as much as his big sister and running is the only way he knows how to get from point A to point B. Drew works hard for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in St. Clair and I continue to stay at home with the kids. We visited the Detroit Zoo, Greenfield Village, and Sophia saw her favorite movie in 3-D, The Wizard of Oz. When I look back all I see are a lot of good memories. A year full of blessings. I loved every minute of 2013 and wouldn’t give any of it back.
I look forward to 2014 and hope that you do as well. May you be blessed with a happy, peaceful year full of adventure and good memories. Be sure to share them with me either on Facebook or at the end of the year with your Christmas Newsletter. I want to hear all about your adventures.
On behalf of the Downs Family,
Rose
Drew Downs
rosedowns
Downs Family 