7/23/2019 2015 Advent & Christmas Letter

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December 2015“Where there is no love, put love. And there will be love.” – St. John of the Cross

Dear family and friends,

We pray that your family is blessed during this Advent Season of preparation for our Lord’s coming! May the love of ourdear Savior fill your hearts this Christmas! We send joy-filled greetings from a new temporary address –  just when we

thought we were settled in our new home, the Lord had a surprise in store for us!

Highlights from 2015: After another full year  —   which included the birth of John Paul

Irenaeus, our 10

th

  wedding anniversary, 2 family camping trips, various Packer-relatedactivities, and new business (Simple Saints) and homeschooling (Catholic School House Co-

op in Green Bay, WI) ventures  —   the Lord invited us on a new adventure. The Diocese ofBurlington, VT, unexpectedly approached Phil this past fall and subsequently invited him to

 become their Director of Catechesis and Evangelization. Hearing God’s call in this offer, on

Dec. 1st our family left our beloved community in Green Bay, WI and with two 12 hour daysof driving (and a joyful but much too  brief stop at the Solomon’s home in Ohio), arrived in

Burlington, Vermont. We’ve been here a couple weeks and “so far, so good!” 

The Children:  William, age 9, participated in a Summer Robotics camp and loved it. Hecontinues to impress with his creative building projects using any materials he can get his handson. He began serving Mass this year and running regularly with Dad — he ran in the Packer 1K

fun run and took part in the Thanksgiving “Turkey Trot” 2 mile run. Miriam , age 7, made heracting debut as a Nun in the “Sound of Music” last spring. On November 12th, she made her 1st Reconciliation and she’s preparing for her 1

st Communion this spring. Miriam is a wonderful

 big sister and she is eagerly expanding her culinary skills. She’s also a first-rate reader.

Luke , age 5, continues to amaze us with his great memory. He’s mastered most of the memory

work for Catholic Schoolhouse, his Latin prayers, and is beginning to read quite well. Hisfavorite subject is math and he is almost done with his kindergarten math book. Luke’s thoughtful, gentle nature is a gift. Thomas , age 3, is destined for leadership with his strong

 personality. During the invocation of patron saints, he’s been known to say, “Saint Me.” He’salways looking for ways to be helpful, and has taken to referring to his siblings as “my

friends.”  He enjoys doing his schoolwork and often vies for the teacher’s attention duringschool hours. John Paul I renaeus   was born on April 10, 2015. He’s a very mildand happy baby. He loves being with his siblings and often saves his best smile

for his sister Miriam. It won’t be long before he’s up and running as he’s working hard on becoming mobile.

Phil  and Patty  celebrated 10 years of marriage in May. We continue to do our best to respond to the opportunities anddoors the Lord opens for us within the context of our vocation to marriage and family. It was a busy year for Patty who

volunteered as a Catechist in the Credo Faith Formation program, helped to form and was part of the Catholic SchoolHouse Homeschooling Co-op in Green Bay, started her own business painting Saint Peg dolls, and then packed all our

 belongings for the move while managing the house, caring for 5 children, homeschooling and trying to keep the houselooking nice for showings  –   yes things were a bit crazy.   Phil continued his work for the Diocese of Green Bay

working with young adults, men’s ministry (including helping to plan a huge men’s conference to take place in 2016) , andthe RCIA leaders through November. It was a tremendous blessing to be a part of so many lives in Green Bay andWisconsin. He carries all those blessings forward to his new role in the Diocese of Burlington.

We’ve been so richly blessed! We remain grateful for all who have touched our lives over the years. Each of you on ourChristmas card list have played a tremendous role in sharing the Lord’s love and goodness with us and we thank you for

your prayers and witness! We thank God and thank each one of you for your friendship, kindness, example and loveKnow that it is appreciated!

Merry Christmas and May God bless your family in the New Year!Phil, Patty, William, Miriam, Luke, Thomas & John Paul Lawson