Thompson Christmas Card 2017

Parker and I have marveled at the monumental year we have had. 2017 was a year of change, a year of good and bad, a year of growth and bittersweet memories. It was a year where we discovered which pieces of us are permenant and which are transient. A year that made us look back and look forward probably more than we ever have. 

Let's start with the best part: On February 15th at 8:28am, Esther Diane Thompson entered the world and won our hearts. One of the first words that comes to mind is "sweet." She is just the sweetest little bundle! Once Esther was born, I left the world of High School Biology teaching and decided to stay home. I was really nervous about it at first but I can honestly say that I LOVE it! 


 



We spent the spring soaking up precious moments with family. Parker took a legendary fishing trip with some of the Thompson men to Grandpa John's old stomping grounds. We also took short weekend trips to St. Louis and Chicago to make some memories with our families. In May, Parker graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria and became Dr. Thompson! It was such a proud day! 
On June 1st (our 4th anniversary), our little family boarded a plane headed for Honolulu, Hawaii. It was and continues to be our greatest adventure to date. Parker has been placed at Tripler Army Medical Center for his residency in Pediatrics. We will be here for 3 years and then the Army will send us somewhere else! I will never forget that feeling of landing in Honolulu that first day. We were tired and hungry and already missing home. We had a little baby and a few suitcases of belongings and no idea where we would live, who we would meet, and what our new lives were going to look like. But even in the midst of those uncertain times, I was so sure of God's presence. 

Although we lived in a hotel for the first 6 weeks, we still managed to explore Hawaii a bit! We took a weekend trip to the Big Island and loved seeing Volcano National Park. We are convinced that Esther is "practically perfect in every way." In the first 10 months of her life, she moved to Hawaii, Island hopped, road across lava fields to where the molten lava meets the sea, lived in a hotel, moved into a house, and explored most of Oahu in my pack. Life is much more winsome with the Essie-baby in your pack. Sometimes when Parker and I miss "home," we say to each other "at least we have the Cakes." (Cakes is her other nickname... along with muffin-bunny, muffin-cakes, and muffin-bunny-bears. . . we stopped taking ourselves seriously a long time ago.) 

Parker officially started residency on July 1st. He works between 65 and 80 hours a week depending on the rotation and it is CRAY-CRAY! Thankfully, he loves what he is doing, but sometimes he is just plain pooped! Meanwhile, Esther and I have been enjoying mommas groups, play dates, and getting to know the island. Contrary to popular belief, I do not live on the beach. Much of my day actually looks like yours . . . doing laundry, making dinner, changing diapers. That being said, having the backdrop of "island life" is pretty great. 


We moved into our house on July 14th and our "stuff" arrived on the 27th. Katie, Cody and Bennett arrived the next day for a 12 day stay! They were champs at helping us unpack and we loved having them as our first visitors! We have had and will have visitors in our house at least one day each month from July 2017 to February 2018 (The one exception was this November when we went home to visit for Thanksgiving). Visiting and hosting has become a natural part of our life rhythm and it has been a fun, unique way to spend time with our families. 





We are gearing up for a Hawaiian Christmas spent with sweet friends we have made here on the island. Our hearts ache most days for our families but we are so at peace with where the Lord has brought us. We have already seen how this adventure has helped us to grow and trust the Lord. Ultimately, we know that this world is not our home, and our transient "homesickness" is only a reminder of our deep, heart-longing for our Home with Jesus. In His name we are strengthened day by day.

May you and your loved ones be captivated by the beauty of Christ this Christmas season. He truly is the best and His Grace is enough.

"Truly He taught us to love one another,
 His law is love and His Gospel is PEACE.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother,
and in His name, all oppression shall cease."  


With love,

Alyssa
(Parker & Esther)







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