Merry Christmas…or should I say Mele Kalikimaka

I sit here on the beach in Maui settling down to write my annual Vanderkooi update letter on Christmas Eve Day.

I usually get to the annual letter a little sooner but this is the kind of year it has been and now I find myself in my happy place with my favorite people and some time on my hands to put pen to paper and recap the year…but I can’t…or rather I wont.

I just want to sit back and reflect but also relax and enjoy these moments with my family.  Enjoy this rare thing called free time.  Free of all the scheduled appointments, practices, games, sessions, homework, home-reading, performances, lessons…free of the long to-do list, free of the ever increasing volume of messages in my inbox, free of text messages and whatever else occupies my time.

We are all doing great, having a blast and relishing in this time away spent together as family…and posing with this sandy, snowman.

I will quietly reflect on the year gone by, focusing on all the positives, learning from the negatives and looking forward to the year ahead.

Sorry folks that’s all I’ve got right now…now I’m going to put my electronics away and spend some quality time with my favorite people…and in a few hours we are headed to a beach side candlelight Christmas Eve service as we celebrate the true reason for the season.

JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD HAS COME!

Mele Kalikimaka…that’s how we say Merry Christmas in Maui!