To the Remnant,
Day #393 since the outbreak – We have been quarantined at a small
resistance camp with 4 small children for 266 days. Winter coming quickly, outpost running low on
morale and TP. Sending this letter on
all channels in hopes there are still some left who have not been infected. Don’t risk a scouting party—Zoom call will
do.
Merry 2020, friends and family!
In some seriousness, I write to report a cheerful and healthy year, despite
being extroverts in this new introverted regime. Many large quivers like our own can confirm
that quarantine has been a blessing, with “forced family fun” being a
government mandate rather than a parental one.
We have had much more time together to witness each other’s growth and to
slow down life.
Before transitioning from family van to “work van”, our Toyota Sienna
took us on one final voyage—our solitary vacation, to the beaches of North
Carolina in July for extended family time, full of sand, swimming and
sangria. Even the smallest walks and trips
around town this summer became doubly-appreciated for their rarity.
The status quo continues—I’m working at Timken/“The Bedroom” (my
work from home office mostly since March).
Erin, however, has leaned hard into homeschooling our eldest two in 1st
grade and Kindergarten with great success.
She leads a Bible study, teaches a parenting class at the pregnancy
center, and is effectively a virtual realtor-in-training, having helped house
hunt for half a dozen couples.
We still volunteer with our church’s youth group and worship band
whenever possible/existing (much has changed lately for Parkside Green Church,
as expected). This year has been a boom
for both the real estate acquisition department and the Woods to Home
woodworking division of the Joseph household, what with 3 new rental properties
and over 70 custom furniture orders.
Summer the Curly had us all betting on the walking milestone, and
she fell in at a respectable 2nd place among the siblings after 15
good months of preparation. She’s easily
the cutest baby ever, ehm just like the others, but specifically the easiest
baby as well. Walking, talking a bit, eating
dirt, sucking on windows, and not causing too much mischief that hasn’t
balanced itself out in hilariousness.
Ezra the Charming joined the brigade of vagabonds traipsing our
yard daily, mud or shine. His grand accomplishment
of the year was major surgery in August, which fixed his hearing issues and
spurred fast speech progress. He started
preschool recently, a happy change for all—big bus, new friends, specialized
teaching, one less kid around during homeschooling for Mama.
Sophia the Bay So is slowly losing that name as she turns into a
big 5-year-old and opens her first Dad checking account.
She wears dress up clothes 24/7 and has
developed astounding art skills under the rigorous tutelage of her big
sis.
We skipped Sophia to Kindergarten,
thanks to her top-notch brain, and she is now learning to read short words and
add short numbers.
Now that Elia is set
on grave digging, So says she’s taking up the torch to become the next doctor.
Elia the Maestro, now excels as a reader and writes more
prolifically than I. She is taking piano lessons and giving art
lessons and wearing a tiara every day, not because she’s a princess but because
it holds her hair back and is practical (win for Dad). A new board game lover, she is eager to join
the local chess club when possible, loves Sushi Go!, and rolls Yahtzees at a
probability-defying frequency (win for Mom).
So in spite of whatever ills your 2020 hath wrought, I encourage
you to look to the remnant joys, the inCOVIDables.
When all else fails, call to mind: “The
steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they
are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
Merry
Christmas!
From our quarantine to yours,
The Josephs
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