Christmas Letter

Greetings, mommas! I started a little tradition the first Christmas that we were married. I always loved receiving the picture Christmas cards from our friends and families, but I really wanted to know more about what was going on in their lives! So, I decided to let people know what was going on in our lives! Truly, I don't know how many people love receiving a replay of the McNamee's year, but it's a great way for us to reflect and review on the many blessings and challenges that came our way throughout the past months. I am fully aware that we did not create this tradition, but I wanted to share our letter to give you another glimpse of the real me, and to inspire some of you to share your stories with your loved ones. Be blessed, mommies!

Greetings from sunny and snowy Colorado! We pray that this letter finds each of you and your families healthy and happy, as you are all so dear to us. And after an appointment with Kindra's neurologist on Monday, we are blessed to announce the same! We are also totally healthy. You see, it has been a challenging year in the McNamee household...but the hidden blessings, spiritual growth, and binding together of a family would not have occurred without some serious faith-building experiences.

On December 14, 2011, the right side of Kindra's face completely stopped working. Vertigo, migraines, and intense jaw pain soon followed. 2012 held consultations with many doctors, multiple rounds of medication, physical therapy, CT scans, MRI scans, and chiropractors. No one could agree with the differing results, and many scary scenarios were mentioned, the most alarming being multiple sclerosis. But, after months of stress and uncertainty, the M.S. diagnosis has been disregarded, and Kindra has received a clean bill of health. It turns out that she had suffered from a rare syndrome that involves the cold sore virus attacking the nervous system. Her facial function has continued to improve, and she will receive yearly check-ups with her neurologist. Praise God for finally lifting this dark cloud! He is so good!

Caleb is a happy, rambunctious, feisty, talkative, athletic, outgoing, dancing, Thomas the Train-loving toddler! He fills our house with delight and joy on a daily basis. He celebrated his 1st birthday with a bouncy-ball party in July, attended by many of his friends and family! He loves playing with new friends at the Y and in the church nursery, and he really loves climbing on anything and everything. He sure keeps Mommy busy, but she loves it. Kindra has comfortably flourished in her role as a stay-at-home mom and has even started writing a spiritually encouraging blog for other mommies, filled with tips on how we make this life work (www.stay-at-homeforhim.blogspot.com). A devotional book may even be on the horizon!

The Lord has really been speaking to our hearts this year. We have both enjoyed new friendships with friends from church, attending retreats, leading a bible study, attending small group studies, and Kindra is now leading a spiritual group for young moms called Moms Connect. We have consistently prayed for deepening relationships in Colorado, and He has been faithful to energize past relationships and spark new ones.

Patrick has had to travel quite often this year, but ultimately we are grateful for a job with benefits that provides the opportunity for Kindra to stay home, and to have our needs and wants met. One perk of the job is traveling as a family on his trips! The three of us ventured to Virginia and Illionis over the summer, and we had a blast seeing our many precious friends. We also took an impromptu road trip to Kansas to escape the too-close-to-home wild fire in July! The fire never reached our town, but many homes were lost in Colorado Springs. It was a sad time for Colorado, but the faithfulness of God was evident for so many who were affected.

While Pugsley still resides at the McNamee home, Sophie was not able to stay. It seemed that toddlerdom and an anxious jack-russell do not mix, so she went to live with a sweet couple who could devote more love and attention to her. We miss her, but we know it was the right decision. Pugsley did want me to convey his frustration for not being included in our Christmas pictures :-)

Amongst the happenings of crazy life, we did manage to have some fun this year! Patrick has continued his beer-making hobby, and he is great at it! He competed, and did quite well, in a 24-hour mountain biking race, Kindra celebrated the big 3-0, we took a few weekend trips to the gorgeous CO mountains, and we continued to entertain friends and family at our home, including hosting an all-out Thanksgiving feast! We are blessed beyond measure, and we are so grateful for our lives.

Another life we are exceedingly grateful for is Kindra's Grandma, Gwendolyn Dill. She went to be with the Lord on March 13 after a long battle with ALS. She was an incredible woman who inspired others, namely Kindra, to be faithful wives and mothers. She is dearly missed, but we love God's faithfulness of bringing people like her into our lives. What a gift!

As we embark upon 2013, we pray that His faithfulness will pour into your lives, as it has into ours. We never know what each year will hold, but we do know that He will continue to lavishly bestow blessings onto His children and walk with us through the valleys. Only then are the mountaintops so much sweeter! Speaking of mountaintops, we are off to Cabo San Lucas for ten days! We will be reuniting with Patrick's extended family for Christmas and New Year's, and we will be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary! We are so grateful for each one of you, and we wish you a beautiful Christmas and New Year!

The McNamee Family

And the picture challenge continues...

Can't beat reindeer jammies and cartoons with Daddy!

The camo hat is super cute while he presses his face against the glass at Chili's!

And, it's not officially winter until someone is at the doctor's with an ear infection...

Hope you're having fun with the challenge! I'm a little behind, but we'll get caught up. Enjoy the organizational tip below. It's a goodie!

Tip #48

Ever hear an idea that makes your mommy heart leap for delight, only because it will make your life that much easier?! Or, you pull your hair out because that super amazing idea is ridiculously simple, and you should have thought of it earlier in mommyhood?! Well, check this out...all you fellow mommies tending to children with double ear infections :-( Hope this helps!