December 2002

Dear Friends,                                                        

 

Ah…I am tired…weary…impatient and probably won’t win any contests today for “Best Parent”.  My children have morphed into angels as they sleep off the day that would’ve convinced me that they were anything but angels!  The Rathmell family has been struck with a bug that has made for some interesting moments around here.  Okinawa is akin to a scientist’s Petri dish, as it has all the right ingredients for bacteria to hang around for long periods of time.  This year, this particular bug hangs around for 3-5 weeks with lots of coughing, runny noses and cranky kids.  Ummm…

 

Thankfully, our year has not been much like the last couple of weeks.  In fact, I thought we were going to make it almost a year without anyone being really sick.  It doesn’t seem possible that we’re at the end of another year already.  Becoming a parent has really made me aware of the two extremes of time…it can speed by at times, while other days make me think nap time will never arrive. 

 

Speaking of kids, our big addition to the family has been Jack, our now 7 month old son.  Jack is Gods answer to Buddy’s parents when they would feel like I do today and beg Him to “bless’ Buddy with a son much like himself.  (Not sure how I got in on this deal)  God should have attached a note with him that said, “Anything that works with Adrianne will not work with me”.  All boy, he grunts, spits, burps (from both ends) and despises getting dressed.  He is much happier now that he has found semi-freedom in a walker.  He was chasing my friend in the kitchen yesterday…everywhere she went, he followed and rammed into her shins. 

 

Adrianne continues to be an adult in a 2 year old body.  We said the other day that we need to start writing things down that she says, because 1) we’ll forget them and 2) no one will believe us.  Having a verbal 2 year old is not always fun!  Why do parents want their kids to talk so quickly?   Today after about 45 minutes of a crying, punishment, whining vicious circle, I asked her, “What do you need?”  And she said, “I need to hold you”.  I was broken, wishing I could just freeze everything around me and give her 100% of me.  For the most part, I did, but there was another 2% having to hold my slippery son from falling off the recliner. 

 

What do you need?  I need to hold you.  As I lay with her as she fell asleep, I wondered how I have put God off as He has asked me what I need, especially as life has been hard these last couple of weeks.  As I talked to Him, I asked for His patience, His kindness, His goodness and wisdom.  I need Him to help me trust and love Him more. 

 

In the bigger picture, I would like Him to heal my Mom (who continues her struggle with bone cancer), to touch my Dad who fights pain everyday, to uplift my sister and brother in law who are learning French in West Africa and far away from family this Christmas.  We need Him to work out things in our ministry that present different and difficult circumstances as we long to reach kids for Christ in Okinawa.

 

Buddy’s family continues to do well health-wise.  His sister Julie came and visited this summer which was such an encouragement to us.  We loved having someone see our world first hand!  (Please come!)

 

Christmas in Okinawa is unique, not only because we’re away from family, but because Adrianne and I shopped for our Christmas tree in tank tops and shorts and left the tree place sweating like pigs.  We still are running our air conditioner occasionally.  I am always amazed when I see the US news and people are wearing coats and turtlenecks! 

 

I will close because I picked Christmas paper that doesn’t allow for much more information from the Rathmells.  (You know I could go on forever!)  Please know that we think of you all not just during the Christmas holidays, but so often throughout the year.