Miller Family Christmas Card 2020
As I imagine it was for many, 2020 was marked by a wide range of disappointments, discouragements, and sadness for us—cancelled trips, summer camps, and events, fewer opportunities to gather with friends and family, difficult decisions in our church body, brokenness over racial tensions, concern over increased polarization, grief over the despair and hopelessness felt by friends, and frustration with working from home amidst the chaos of a young household. But, these things have also brought growth. So, we are learning to “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:3-5). This hope is not wishful thinking, like saying “Hopefully, things will get better.” But rather, it is a confident expectation, “which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” (Titus 1:2).
Our hope is this: No matter how bad (or good) things get, we know God is with us and His beautiful end to the story is already written. We can, therefore, endure whatever ups and downs life brings because God promises to be with us! He strengthens, helps, and upholds us. He is the lifter of our heads! Through Jesus, our loving God has ultimately secured for us an eternal home with Him. Even though we are dirty, unworthy, and entangled in sin, our holy God humbled himself so low to come to us as a baby, to live as a child of a family without riches or status, to walk out a perfect life, to teach and preach God’s truth, and then to die an underserved death in order to pay the penalty for our sins. This holiday season, regardless of our circumstances, we celebrate under the covering of this abiding hope--holding fast to it, without wavering, because “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
Though we know God is faithful, Luke felt the weight of discouragement more heavily this year and found it difficult at times to cling to hope. This affected his usual joyful and confident outlook and led him to seek professional counseling. He was grateful for the relationship formed, the help provided, and the open door for future care and counsel as it becomes needed. Being a fireman with the Boise City Fire Department and training with the men and women he is blessed to serve alongside continues to be one of his greatest joys. Though intensely challenging, especially in this season, he’s also thankful for the opportunity his leadership role within our Table Rock Church body has given him to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and to help others grow in their faith as well. Between work, church, relationships, and our family, Luke’s days are very full, but God has given sweet times of refreshment through more laid-back evenings at home, a fishing excursion with his brother, a few wood working projects in our garage, and a belated 40th birthday/18th anniversary Stanley get-away that Luke and I were able to enjoy in August. The kids and I give thanks to God always for him, remembering the “work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope” he is able to model for us because of the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ in his heart (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
As for me, the pandemic’s effect on our home life has done much to reveal how often I displace my hope—turning my eyes from the true peace and rest found only in Jesus and believing the lie that getting through my never-ending internal checklist is the better way to find the peace and rest I long for. With the kids home more and sharing our workspace, my desire to be productive is challenged daily. My response, unfortunately, is often far from the patience and gentleness I want to display. Yet, I’m grateful for how God has used this season to shed light on the darkness of my sin and the ways it hurts both me and my loved ones. I’m also thankful for all He is doing to strip away my tendencies to be stressed, impatient, harsh, or frustrated and instead choose to put on His peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. There have been many sweet moments in this season. And, the Lord has continued to give me the time I need to serve our TripleCord Real Estate agents and clients well, even amidst a crazy fast-paced real estate market. Supporting Luke in his church leadership role, writing and speaking about our great God, and spending time investing in the lives of our kids, extended family, church body, and friends have also brought me great joy this year. In everything, God has been a “sure and steadfast anchor for my soul” (Hebrews 6:19).
Hadley will turn 13 in January! She was discouraged by not getting to finish her last year at Liberty Elementary or the start of her first year at Les Bois Junior High in-person and has felt stress over a more rigorous school schedule and the challenge of meeting new friends. Being able to go to school outside on our back patio with blankets, snacks, and pajama pants was a bonus though . Her joys have been hanging out with her siblings, watching the fish in her new tank, making videos, creating things, jumping in cold water, playing her ukulele, reading, and soaking in the benefits of a later bedtime. She also started babysitting this year, which has been great for us too! She is a mature, kind, and responsible young woman who has faced the challenges of this season with grace and a smile—reminding us that “those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Taylor will be 11 in March and is in the 5th grade. During quarantine, she, Hadley, and some dear family friends started making “News at 7” videos. Taylor comes alive in them, amazing us with her witty humor and delighting us with a great deal of laughs. Though she misses being with people, the more laid-back routine afforded by online learning and extended time at home has been a blessing—easing the anxiety and stress our sometimes hectic pre-COVID schedule put on her. She still loves playing the piano and has even tapped into her innate teaching skills to teach some of her siblings to play. Other joys for her have been writing plays and poetry, video chatting, playing violin, reminiscing over camp stories, and gazing at the stars during late night visits on the patio. Recently inspired by Bob Ross, she plans to add oil painting to her repertoire as well . Taylor has blossomed much in her identity in Jesus, and confidently states, “For what do I wait, Lord? My hope is in you” (Psalm 39:7).
Hutch turns 9 on the 21st of this month and is in the 3rd grade. He takes after his dad with his joyful and smiley disposition and is always generous with his hugs. At his request, he and Brooks started sharing a room, and he has been a model big brother in all the positive ways (and maybe a few negative ways too ). Hutch’s main disappointments were not getting to play baseball nor attend his first summer at Camp Perkins. But, he has been content to play catch with us, hang out with his siblings, spend time with friends, read, play the Wii, swim, jump on the trampoline, and be continuously curious. Sometimes, his curiosity gets him in trouble, as he often chooses to see what will happen for himself rather than trust our, “Don’t do that!” Although he doesn’t always trust our word, he has a strong and growing trust in the Lord, and we love watching “the God of hope fill him with all joy and peace in believing, so by the power of the Spirit he abounds in hope” (Romans 15:13).
Ellie will be 7 in March and loves 1st grade. Navigating the technology of online school was difficult for her and us, especially as she was just learning to read and write and required extra help, time, and attention on almost everything she did. But, her love for learning and for her teachers and friends kept her motivated. This fall, when her eyesight started to get “glitchy” (as she put it), she got glasses. They look absolutely adorable on her, and she’s thankful for the ability to see much better too. This past year, some of her favorite things have been playing with friends, more time with siblings, learning to read, participating in Girl Scouts, painting, drawing, swimming, being an excellent mother to her dolls, and spending time with her grandparents. We cherish her desire to learn and her passion to do all things well. We especially treasure what she is learning about God and her growing trust in His deep love for her. “You, O Lord, are my hope, my trust from my youth” (Psalm 71:5).
Brooks is 2 ½ and relishes being at Mama Jo’s with his friends. His language has been slower to develop, but it certainly hasn’t kept him from being an incredible storyteller. He’s continually talking and replaying events with a grand mixture of words, facial expressions, actions, and sounds. We absolutely love listening to him and seeing the joy on his face when we piece together what he’s saying. Always up for an adventure, he responds with an excited, “Me!” anytime we ask if anyone wants to do something. But, when he gets into things he shouldn’t or does something wrong and we ask who did it, he frequently points his finger at his brother and responds, “Hutch!” . Of all of us, Brooks seems to have ridden out this strange season with the most smiles—basking in extra time at home playing with his siblings, whom he adores. We love watching him grow and trusting in the plans the Lord has for his life--“plans for good and not for evil, plans for a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Due to COVID, we weren’t able to enjoy the Grand Canyon and Lake Havasu City with my parents over Spring Break, nor did we get to go to Georgia to see Brook’s birth family or have my brother and Luke’s brother and their families make their planned visits to Idaho. Despite these and other discouragements, we remain grateful for the provision and undeserved kindness the Lord has lavished on our family. Amidst everything, He gave us the gift of more time together, a slower paced schedule, a new appreciation for walks, a relaxing “friendcation” in Island Park, our annual camping trip to Challis with my parents, a staff reunion at Camp Perkins, the continued joy of having Luke’s parents living across the street, and the added bonus of my parents buying a home just two doors down, which they will move into in the spring! Because the kids didn’t get to go to traditional summer camp at Perkins this year, Luke and I revived our old camp counselor skills and hosted “Camp-COVID” in our backyard for our three older children and a few of their friends. Our theme verse for the camp was: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). What a fitting verse for all of us in this season and a sweet reminder to our souls!
This Christmas, we praise Jesus for coming, living, dying, rising, and securing for us a lasting hope “that can never perish, spoil, or fade” (or be thwarted by a global pandemic) (1 Peter 1:4). We pray He would strengthen our spirits so we can “rejoice in that hope, be patient in tribulation, and remain constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). We love you and are thankful for the gift of you in our lives!
Hopeful in Jesus--Luke, Katie, Hadley, Taylor, Hutch, Ellie & Brooks