2011 Christmas Letter

If you don't receive our Christmas letter by mail, here it is below for you to read a summary of our year:

Dear friends and family,

Here is our annual update and chronicle of the happenings in the Vines’ family! I tried to condense, but ya’ll should know by now, I’m just wordy. There is a lot to cover for our family of 6! We are thankful to update everyone this year with the news that we did not have a repeat of the many losses our family suffered in the previous 13 months. Though we have grieved and missed my grandfathers and James’ parents over this last year, we have also grown through those struggles. It is true that “God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18), because we have felt His presence strengthening us in ways we never have before. Our precious loved ones have supported us and counselors at The Amelia Center have offered guidance to us and our children through this most difficult season of our lives. We are grateful for the wisdom and encouragement of others who have gone before us in similar experiences.

Despite some painful times, other things in life stayed familiar thankfully. Isaac (12) again played flag football, enjoying a fun season, and showing obvious improvement in coordination and concentration. He loves building awesome creations with Legos, and continues to excel at football, Band Hero, and other games on the Playstation as well. Abigail (9 ½) continued with Irish dance for part of the year, then tried ice skating for a time this fall and learned quickly. She is an avid reader and talented at crafting/drawing. I continue to home school Isaac and Abigail, and Elijah has joined us some this year also, and enjoys doing school work like the big kids. We continue to participate in our once-a-week home school cooperative, learning history and fine arts with other moms sharing teaching responsibilities of each other’s kids on Tuesdays. Elijah (4) is in the kindergarten class at co-op this year, which he LOVES. At home, E adores using his imagination, wrestling with Isaac, and eagerly helps me with cooking and gardening. Owen (22 months) is a very busy, silly, talkative little fellow. I’ve never known an almost two year old to seriously try to hammer, clean, and entertain as much as Owen. We are really blessed by the varied personalities, gifts, and abilities in our children, who teach US so much.

Isaac had hopefully his last surgery for further club feet repair this spring. He had to stay overnight in the hospital, but recovered quicker than from any procedure he has had done. He’s growing a great deal, and we will know in a few months if issues tiptoeing and potential hyperextension of his knees is corrected for good.

We dearly love our faith family at The Church at Shelby Crossings and celebrated 10 years as a church early this year. God has continued blessing us through the teaching, worship time, and fellowship of that body of believers. James helps with the slides during worship services, and I still coordinate meals for families within our church and the Panera bread donation ministry. We look forward to leading a small group in the new year for folks who are interested in learning more about adoption – couples who want to support or pursue adoption, and also the perspective of how God adopted us as His children.

Speaking of adoption, in September we had the pleasure of attending a conference in the Nashville area that gave us great insight into parenting children from “hard places,” which means foster and adopted children much of the time. We needed the expertise shared with us to know how to better parent Isaac and also to relay information to many others who are on the same journey as adoptive parents.  We are so grateful for the wisdom of others that will hopefully bless many as we apply and share what we learn.

James will begin his last semester in January to complete his BS degree in Nursing from UAB. I’m so proud of his dedication to these online courses, while juggling full-time work and being the best husband and father I know. The furthering of his degree is sensible, since Children’s Hospital partially reimburse employees who return to school, and may increase his job opportunities in the future. For now, he still greatly enjoys working on Children’s Critical Care Transport Team. Transports by flight are his favorite, and the kids love to brag on their Daddy who “works on the helicopter”! 

Please note that our cards have a new return address on the envelope. That is our biggest news of 2011! In late April, God began orchestrating events that led to renting our Helena home of 11 years to a dear long-time friend, a quick search for homes in our same county, and then a nearly miraculous closing and moving in by June 7. We are amazed at a home with more room for our family, and three acres including lots of woods, which make me so very happy. To say we are awed by His goodness to us is an understatement.  You can see photos of the house, as well as our new flock of chickens added this fall, plus plenty of cute kiddos, on our blog. 

We trust you realize this season of Christmas is all based on the birth of a Baby, born to a young unwed mom, with an earthly father who adopted Him as his own. His perfect life of loving others and sacrificing Himself on our behalf is the reason we celebrate and give thanks. Without the Hope of eternity with Him, life would not be worth living. If you do not have a personal understanding of Jesus’ love, please ask us how we do. There’s really nothing more important we could ever talk about and we love you enough to be sure you know too. 

Thankful for the Hope of Christmas, and sending love to you, Jennifer