Hard to believe another year has come and gone. This year was very eventful for us. We have seen firsthand how God answers
prayers.
In February we received a phone call from our Social Worker
regarding a newborn baby (well 2 weeks old) that needed a foster home. It was also revealed that she was a
foster/adopt child and that is why we were a match. They were placing her with us, knowing that
we could adopt her, too!!! We have chosen
to name her Hannah Lynn. So thankful
that this happened during Jim’s slow months and he was allowed to take time off
and be home as we all settled in with the new adjustment of having a newborn
baby in the house. It was an adjustment for me to be a stay-at-home-Mom of two
while he was gone on fires. Thomas is
such a great helper and he loves being the BIG brother!! I know it was an adjustment for Jim,
too.
Fire season was an average season with Jim traveling mostly
in California to fires, and one fire assignment in Idaho. Although this season was average it was also
a tragic one. The loss of 19 Granite
Mountain Hotshots on the Yarnell fire in Arizona, hit pretty close to home, with
Jim being a Hotshot Superintendent. The
other thing that made this fatality hit close to home was the discovery and use
of a Hotshots Prayer that I wrote 11 years ago.
I had posted it back in 2007 on my Wildland Firefighter Wives blog and
was tearful when I heard the Mayor of Prescott Arizona read the prayer on
TV. My prayer had become known and read
on local and national TV, posted on websites, published in newspaper articles and
even read by the lone survivor at the memorial for the 19 Hotshots. I was so
honored that a prayer written from my heart over a decade ago had a huge impact
on people’s lives during their time of grieving. Jim was selected to do an
interview with Ann Curry (Dateline NBC) in regards to Wildland fires and
climate change. While talking with the
producers, they discovered that I wrote the Hotshot Prayer. Ann wanted to interview me on what it’s like
to be married to a Hotshot as well as my prayer. We aren’t sure when it’ll be aired, but
should be between January and the early summer months. We will post it on our blog when we have a
date.
Thomas started Pre-K, two days a week this year. We chose to send him to the Ramona Lutheran
Christian Day School, which has been a great program for him and he’s enjoying
all his new friendships. He even got to
sing in the Christmas program as part of the Shepherds choir. We’ve also joined the Ramona Christian Family
Schools homeschool group, as we’re beginning our homeschool journey. He has a passion for airplanes, math and
loves to be active. He got a big boy
bike for his birthday and he’s having fun riding it with no training
wheels. He’s only 5 but looks like he’s
8. He is such an amazing BIG
brother. He loves to help feed Hannah
and play with her on the floor. He calls
it “his brother time!” We just returned from our annual Knott’s Berry Farm
Christmas trip, where we learned that Thomas has a passion for fast rollercoasters!!
He also enjoyed a special visit from Snoopy,
who tucked him in bed at the hotel. While
visiting Santa, Thomas was surprised when Santa pulled the letter out of his coat
that Thomas had written and mailed to the North Pole. It was such
a magical moment!! He is such a joy to our family and we love being his
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We are enjoying our crazy and sometimes busy lives as parents
of two little ones. But looking back through the years at all that God has done
for us, we are so thankful for this journey we’re on!! Our prayer is that your
family will have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year, too!! Remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!!!
Merry
Christmas ~
Jim, Trish, Thomas & Hannah
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