Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Shafers
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from LM and Jeremy Shafer,
Wow, it has been a year! And this one is ending with so much gratitude in our hearts. Not because everything is peachy, but because we made it. We will celebrate 2 years of marriage on December 4th; the day after Jeremy celebrates his 44th birthday. This center photo paints a beautiful sunny afternoon, with us all dolled up. (Thank you Dana Johnson for the Christmas card photo shoot. You are our favorite realtor.) But this photo doesn't tell the whole story.
We have no desire to paint our lives as picture perfect, nor ourselves. This has been a year of risk, learning, grief in many forms and trust. We never planned on both quitting our jobs and starting new things in 2023, yet we found ourselves hungry for a simpler life. A simpler life with less miles, less hours and less stress. A simpler life with more time together and with those we cherish.
LM went on Sabbatical the day after Easter and Jeremy changed jobs soon after. We enjoyed time in the Outer Banks with family in May and began to explore finding ways for LM to be rid of many health issues. We were committed to wholeness and healing, whatever it would cost. Little did we know it would be more than money, it would strip us of the security found in having a church home as a married couple and shrink the circle around us. Turns out, this is what we needed but it wasn't without heartache and tears. We ended up with a pretty amazing small circle of friends; the kind who carry you to Jesus at 3am. And let's not forget all of our amazing neighbors.
For several years, we spent our Sunday mornings serving together and then we were serving in the same building but not together. Now, we go to early service at a local church and then go pick up our grand daughter to spend the day with her. This has been a beautiful surprise. Look at her smile. This is our simpler life right now.
Jeremy is doing very well at his new job. It has been 6+ months and he survived his first inventory and audit. We have had all of his employees over for lunch and LM enjoys stopping by to see Jeremy at work and joke around with the staff.
LM works part time in the afternoons and devotes the rest of her creativity to Think Pink Inc, a ministry for girls.
Jeremy's parents came down for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed having our dear friends over to join us. Our little home was full and peaceful. Most of us cried when it came time for giving thanks. We watched movies, hung Christmas lights, ate cookies and enjoyed being together.
We had no idea what this year would hold and probably would have avoided it at all costs if we only knew the valleys we would walk through. But in those valleys, we stripped away what was unnecessary and found that we could do hard things together; empowered by the Holy Spirit and strengthened in our faith.
For many who will read this unconventional Christmas letter, we wanted to share about the real journey we are on. The one with Christ that has many highs and lows. The journey that takes us in a direction we would never have imagined. It is the one that brings us closer to healing and wholeness found in Christ Jesus.
That little baby Jesus born many years ago, is the same Jesus who grew up and lived a life worthy of our attention. He lived, sacrificed himself and gave us the gift of the Spirit to help us make it through this crazy existence. It isn't just a story to make us feel better to to convict us. Jesus is the real deal. This Christmas, we lean in to Him and enjoy our simpler life. So from our home to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
PS. Yes, we still have 3 cats and a dog. We will post some fun holiday picts on social media of them. Chalupe is now almost 19 pounds and has plenty of time left to grow more. Rico is heading towards 16 years old. Wesley is well, Wesley. And Susanna is still the cross eyed princess of the house.
PSS. Reach out if you need to talk or need some prayer. Friends, we are not on this journey of life alone. If any part of our story resinates with you, let take and support each other.
Wow, it has been a year! And this one is ending with so much gratitude in our hearts. Not because everything is peachy, but because we made it. We will celebrate 2 years of marriage on December 4th; the day after Jeremy celebrates his 44th birthday. This center photo paints a beautiful sunny afternoon, with us all dolled up. (Thank you Dana Johnson for the Christmas card photo shoot. You are our favorite realtor.) But this photo doesn't tell the whole story.
We have no desire to paint our lives as picture perfect, nor ourselves. This has been a year of risk, learning, grief in many forms and trust. We never planned on both quitting our jobs and starting new things in 2023, yet we found ourselves hungry for a simpler life. A simpler life with less miles, less hours and less stress. A simpler life with more time together and with those we cherish.
LM went on Sabbatical the day after Easter and Jeremy changed jobs soon after. We enjoyed time in the Outer Banks with family in May and began to explore finding ways for LM to be rid of many health issues. We were committed to wholeness and healing, whatever it would cost. Little did we know it would be more than money, it would strip us of the security found in having a church home as a married couple and shrink the circle around us. Turns out, this is what we needed but it wasn't without heartache and tears. We ended up with a pretty amazing small circle of friends; the kind who carry you to Jesus at 3am. And let's not forget all of our amazing neighbors.
For several years, we spent our Sunday mornings serving together and then we were serving in the same building but not together. Now, we go to early service at a local church and then go pick up our grand daughter to spend the day with her. This has been a beautiful surprise. Look at her smile. This is our simpler life right now.
Jeremy is doing very well at his new job. It has been 6+ months and he survived his first inventory and audit. We have had all of his employees over for lunch and LM enjoys stopping by to see Jeremy at work and joke around with the staff.
LM works part time in the afternoons and devotes the rest of her creativity to Think Pink Inc, a ministry for girls.
Jeremy's parents came down for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed having our dear friends over to join us. Our little home was full and peaceful. Most of us cried when it came time for giving thanks. We watched movies, hung Christmas lights, ate cookies and enjoyed being together.
We had no idea what this year would hold and probably would have avoided it at all costs if we only knew the valleys we would walk through. But in those valleys, we stripped away what was unnecessary and found that we could do hard things together; empowered by the Holy Spirit and strengthened in our faith.
For many who will read this unconventional Christmas letter, we wanted to share about the real journey we are on. The one with Christ that has many highs and lows. The journey that takes us in a direction we would never have imagined. It is the one that brings us closer to healing and wholeness found in Christ Jesus.
That little baby Jesus born many years ago, is the same Jesus who grew up and lived a life worthy of our attention. He lived, sacrificed himself and gave us the gift of the Spirit to help us make it through this crazy existence. It isn't just a story to make us feel better to to convict us. Jesus is the real deal. This Christmas, we lean in to Him and enjoy our simpler life. So from our home to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
PS. Yes, we still have 3 cats and a dog. We will post some fun holiday picts on social media of them. Chalupe is now almost 19 pounds and has plenty of time left to grow more. Rico is heading towards 16 years old. Wesley is well, Wesley. And Susanna is still the cross eyed princess of the house.
PSS. Reach out if you need to talk or need some prayer. Friends, we are not on this journey of life alone. If any part of our story resinates with you, let take and support each other.
