Family Christmas Letter 2007

A few of you have asked for a sample of Paola’s writing. Paola, as in the sensible one of the Hobbins household. So here goes. It’s not quite her English, because she wrote the letter in Italian for our Italian mailing list, and I translated it from there.

I had intended to send the letter out via snail mail to a number of fellow bloggers, but didn’t get that far. Perhaps it is more appropriate to post it anyway. Giovanni taught me to upload pictures, so there are a few T day pictures on the right hand sidebar.

“Nothing is impossible with God”  Luke 1:37

 Mary is overwhelmed by the angel’s announcement. “How is it possible that an ordinary person like me has been called to bring God into the world? There must be a mistake.” “Do not be afraid, Mary! Nothing is impossible with God.”

These reassuring and challenging words travel with us during the season of Advent and prepare us for the coming of Christmas. In a world convulsed by destruction and new creation, God calls us to pass on the love and hope we receive in Jesus our Lord. By means of ordinary people like you and me, God makes possible what seems to us to be impossible.

2007 was an activity-packed year for our family. This fall we began our third year in Lomira Wisconsin where John is pastor. Lomira is a small Midwestern town. We are at ease here and have been well received. A small town doesn’t have all the opportunities of a big city, but it’s reassuring to know that everyone knows you and seeks to take care of you.

Anna is 4 ½ years old. A happy camper surrounded by affection on all sides, she is growing up fast. She suddenly began speaking in complete Italian sentences this summer out of a great desire to communicate with her younger cousin Agnese. To the amazement of their jealous parents, Agnese and Anna seemed to understand each other no matter what language Anna used. Anna has a passion for Snow White and Belle and the other princesses of Walt Disney. She loves to hear stories, to draw, play with her Barbies and her hot rods (the former inherited from Elisabetta, the latter from Giovanni), play dress-up, and talk up a storm like the rest of the female side of the family.

Elisabetta has grown and changed a lot this last year. She’s a teenager in search of her place in the world, in constant tension between a desire for greater freedom and the need to be praised and protected by others. In the midst of it all, she takes care of her younger sister with great tenderness, like a true mother. Her many talents are appreciated by peers and adults alike. She loves school and takes it very seriously. She takes her grades seriously and it shows, though she doesn’t talk about it outside of the home. Elisabetta is an “in-girl” with lots of friends. She participates in the confirmation programs and is otherwise active in the churches of her mamma and dad. She played on a soccer team in the fall. Her Dad was assistant coach of her team. She plays volleyball during the winter and runs in the spring.

Giovanni is 16 years old. He shot up this year, passing his mamma by a long shot, right up there now with his dad. Believe it or not, he hasn’t really taken up driving and is very cautious about that. He has a passion for soccer and makes an important contribution to the high school team. He has a circle of friends who like him love soccer and computers. Giovanni is active in church and youth group. He is doing well in school and has begun to take university-level courses the high school doesn’t offer. He thinks a lot about what college he might attend. Next year is decision time.

Paola is pastor of Family Church of Neenah-Menasha, 45 minutes away from Lomira. The start-up United Methodist congregation meets in the facilities of a Lutheran church. It is going through changes, is aware of God’s blessings, and full of hope. The families involved are hands-on in all the church’s ministries. The push to build and collect the funds necessary to build a church building is underway.

Paola does her best to be the mother of two adolescents and a four year old, cook, clean the house, and do the laundry, all without stressing out completely (some days that risk is run more than others). She likes to cook not only for her family but also for others, her way to showing Americans the vast ‘superiority’ of Italian over local culture.

John is pastor of the United Methodist church of Lomira. A number of outreach ministries continue to grow, and families new and old enliven the life of a congregation looking for strength and hope amid busy lives. John has begun teaching Hebrew to interested high schoolers, and tries to stay up on and contribute to the field of biblical studies. He keeps a blog you may enjoy visiting: ancienthebrewpoetry.typepad.com.

In August our family added a new member. Leonardo da Vinci is his name, Leo for short. A golden retriever pup that is growing fast, he has taken over. Much loved by the kids who prayed and lobbied for the chance to have a dog for an entire year, and promised to take care of him in every way (promises, promises). Surprise, surprise, it’s Paola who walks the dog every day, not what she had hoped, but she receives much love from Leo in return.

We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year full of blessings from the Lord our God.

Hugs and kisses,

Paola   John  Giovanni   Elisabetta Anna   Leonardo da Vinci

Comments

[Bob MacDonald]

Awesome

[Lingamish]

Paola, thank you for the news about your beautiful family. And thanks for loaning us John this year. He is very entertaining even when incomprehensible.

[Stephen (aka Q)]

What a busy household! As if a pastor's life wasn't demanding enough — two pastors in the family! Not to mention the puppy.

God bless all of you this Christmas season. I pray you get some quiet family time in amongst all the demands of your churches.

[G.M. Grena]

Thanks for sharing this with us! What a wonderful family! If Leo ever needs a vacation from his tough job, I'd like to offer to take his place for a few days!

[Peter Kirk]

Paola, thanks for sharing the things about John which he wouldn't tell us himself, such as that he coaches a proper football team. I wish you all a very merry Christmas.