bohle family christmas letter.

I love the Christmas season. That is largely due to wonderful childhood traditions and memories. I love the hustle and bustle of the season. I love baking Christmas treats and buying the perfect gift for those on our shopping list. I love Christmas parties with friends and family.

This Christmas season has been one very different from years past. It’s been a quiet and peaceful season. One with little shopping and few attended parties. We’ve laid pretty low this Christmas season with the anticipated arrival of Baby Bohle. As I’ve found myself “upset” that I didn’t have more occupying me through the month of December, I’ve been reminded that this is probably how the Advent season should be spent. Spent in a state of reflection, peacefulness, quiet, yet great anticipation for the birth of our Savior.

All that to say, I am still upholding family traditions. And one of those being our annual Christmas letter. Some think it’s a silly tradition (namely, Chris), but I have fun writing it! 🙂 Last year I got creative and did a top 10 list. This year I thought I’d continue the theme of being creative and wrote it from a different perspective. Can you figure out who wrote this year’s letter?

Dear Family and Friends,

“There seems to be a lot of anticipation this Christmas season. I keep seeing twinkles of Christmas lights, catching scents of balsam and getting tastes of sweet cookie treats. My mom and dad are preparing for something “big”, and I can’t quite figure it out. Maybe it’s my arrival? I wonder if this is how Jesus felt during the final days before he was born? Did he know something great was about to happen? 

My mom and dad tell me that this has been quite a year for them—one with a lot of changes and excitement. I’ve only been a part of it for the past 9 months though. They say they started the year living in the Chicagoland area. Their winter was full of anticipation for an end of one season of life and the beginning of another. Little did they know that I was going to be a big part of that. My dad (people also refer to him as Chris) began searching for new jobs. I guess they used to live in a dorm full of first-year college students. That sounds like a lot of babysitters to me!   

Before they knew about me, they decided to move from Trinity Christian College to Hope College in Holland, MI. Dad got a job there as the Associate Director of Student Life. Two days after they made their decision to take the job, I surprised them by letting them know that I was on my way.  My expected day of arrival is Christmas Day( mom tells me there are a lot of Christmas babies in her family)! I thought their reactions were pretty funny: surprised, shocked, and excited.

After my mom, or Amanda, found out about me, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be a full time teacher AND a mom to a rowdy little newborn. That’s when she accepted a part-time preschool job at Holland Christian Schools. She says that she has learned a lot of patience in her new job and really loves what she does.

 I’ve been a part of some other really exciting things this year too. There was one time when I was rocked to sleep by the sound of pounding footsteps while mom ran a half marathon. I guess dad ran it too. But he was way too far ahead of mom and I to experience it with us. Then another time this summer, they were in CO visiting some friends. This was the first time I hiked an 11,000-foot mountain.  I think it might be awhile before I do it again. After hiking the mountain I was laying ocean-side in FL while mom and dad visited family.

 Now that all three of us are settled in Holland, I can’t wait to meet dad’s college students, mom’s preschoolers, family, their new and old friends and go to their new church. My parents really seem to love Holland, so I am excited to experience it with them. They keep talking about how faithful God has been to them this year. 

 In a few days or weeks, I will be able to experience the love of Christ that they talk about so often. I can’t believe that I will be sharing this season of Christmas celebration with Jesus. I feel pretty special.

 If you would like to come and meet me and see mom and dad’s new place, please do! I hear there are some great beaches in Holland that I’ll get to visit this summer and something called, Tulip Time? I hope you come join me.”

 May you experience the excitement of Jesus’ birth this Christmas season. Rejoice in the greatest gift ever given to us—His salvation.

Please do let us know if you are ever in West Michigan.  We would love to see you.

With Christ’s Love,
Chris, Amanda and Baby Bohle
(Written from the perspective of Baby Bohle!)

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Our first Holland Christmas tree. It’s a little stumpy, but we’ve come to love it.

I love having a mantel to decorate.