Mery Christmas!

It’s been one year since we last sent this letter. Three hundred and sixty five days. That’s what I was thinking this morning as I thought about you, life, and this letter. I know each day has been good for us. I hope they have been for you too. So much has happened in our lives that I’m glad now to share with you.

You may recall we were on the cusp of a small move this time a year ago. That’s right; remember that crazy idea about moving from Texas to Minnesota in the dead of winter? Well, we did it. We packed it all up and drove northbound on I-35 1,200 miles to Bloomington, MN. It was cold, and I felt a bit lonely that first day, much more so than I would have guessed, and then I saw your faces. Of all the BTUs the heater in our apartment produced that day, what really warmed me was seeing your pictures on my refrigerator again. It’s very good for a person to have friends in this world, and it’s very good for me to have you. I felt full thinking of you all that day, but little did I know that my life was about to get even fuller!

I began working for QBP in January. So far it’s been great. I began dabbling in different areas of the company almost immediately and now I’m finally settled (at least for a while!) into a sales position. I’m responsible for three states – Florida, Arizona, and Missouri. I’ll work mostly from the office in Minnesota, but will have the chance to travel about 8-10 weeks a year. I’m very proud to announce that I’ve kept up commuting to work by bicycle, even in the Minnesota winter. In fact, I rode to work on days as cold as -10 degrees!

Rachel began working part-time shortly after we arrived. Through a new friend, she was introduced to a local financial advisor who did most of her work from a home office. Rachel and Jerusha began spending half-days at Maureen’s house, where Rachel worked assisting Maureen with financial planning and Jerusha played with Maureen’s daughter Maddie. Maddie is now 12 months old and she and Ru really love each other. We’ve also become good friends with Maureen and her husband Brian. Rachel stopped working for Maureen in October, for reasons we’ll get to later.

In March, we took what felt like a big step, and bought a new car. That’s right – a new car. The Cavalier doesn’t get much action these days, because we love our new Mazda 5. But even though we knew we were in good shape to buy the car, I can’t imagine how I’m going to feel signing the line on a mortgage!

Once the snow melted, we spent lots of time swimming with new friends in the apartment pool, visiting farmer’s markets, hiking and camping at state parks, walking and playing on super-cool playgrounds in city parks, and generally enjoying to watch as our daughter grows up laughing and full of energy. And then we began watching something else grow too - Rachel’s belly! That’s right, if you didn’t know, we found out Rachel was pregnant again shortly after we moved. Isaiah David Burdette was born November 16^th, 2007. He weighed 10lbs and was 22 inches long. Both he and Rachel are doing very well. You can see in the included photo that while Ru has kept her light hair and very blue eyes, Isaiah is having nothing to do with that. The Sawilowsky genes are finally showing themselves in this child. He has dark brown eyes and a full head of black hair!

We’ve been very well taken care of these last weeks by many new friends. People have brought us meals from our church small group, a local MOPS group, and a book group that Rachel’s a part of. And there have been other offers we’ve had to turn down! Having someone bring you a meal is a relatively common thing, I suppose. But being the new family in town and being so well cared for really shows God’s blessing.

I’ve been very mindful of God’s blessing this Advent season. I know that all these good things we have are ours because God is such that he comes into and inhabits this world he created. Rachel, Ru, Isaiah and I all hope you know this too this Advent season. Please keep in touch, and I hope our picture on your refrigerator or mantel brings you just some of the joy that yours brought to me almost a year ago.

Love,

The Burdettes