Family Christmas/New Years Letter

Here is a copy of our Christmas/New Years letter that went out, if you did not get to see it enjoy! 

Dear Family and Friends of my parents,

My existence has been short so far and I have only heard Mommy and Daddy talking for a few weeks so I know there is still a lot to learn.  I want to share with you what I know so far in this Christmas letter. 

At Daddy’s birthday dinner in New York City Mommy told him it was time to have children which caught him off guard because he had planned on waiting a few years and they had not even been married for one year yet.  He said give me time to pray about this and we will revisit it later.  It took him a week to tell Mommy that they could stop preventing and pray for God to send me to them in His timing.  Within two months God began His work on me, one of His latest projects!  They didn’t find out about my arrival until they were preparing for the new year of students they were going to teach this year.  I think the timing was perfect since I am going to be one of their students soon.

The Lord has been working diligently knitting me together in Mommy’s belly (Ps 139:13-18) and He is awesome.  I have learned that He is love (1 John 4:8).  I can tell that my parents know His love by the way that they love me already.  They have been talking about me to everyone.  Mommy even started writing a blog that has been mostly about me so far (http://ourjourneythroughgrace.blogspot.com/).  I think she is planning on having it printed each year in a book.  It will be her digital scrap book.  Daddy has been writing me letters almost every day that he will give me when I am older.  The main purpose of these letters is to remind me of the Lord’s love and how it is radiated through our family. 

Mommy and Daddy have been searching for a church home where they could serve the Lord in His kingdom together since before they were married.  Recently they heard the Lord speak to them separately through a sermon series and small group study called Greater at the church they had been attending.  He called them to join LINC Baltimore in planting Missional Communities.  This is something outside of their comfort zone but they are certain that God has been preparing the way for them.  I am excited to see how I can be a part of this ministry one day.  Mommy shares more of the details in her blog.

I am told that my new home wrote the annual letter last year.  It is doing just fine but is going through some changes.  Extreme Home Makeover – Baby Kassouf Edition has begun.  My nursery is going to be their old office and I can’t wait to see the Winnie the Pooh space they are planning.  This process has been moving slower than they would have liked because of the graduate studies.  Last February Daddy began his master’s degree in education through Gratz College.  He will have nine classes finished before I am born in April and will finish his program next summer.  Mommy just stared a graduate certificate in autism studies through John’s Hopkins University.  I am looking forward to a lot of Daddy time once I am born as Mommy finishes her program.

I am sure Mommy and Daddy have other things to share but as far as I am concerned I am the only thing that really matters.  I have already begun changing their world and am anticipating the great changes I will make once I am born. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Andrew and Erin Kassouf’s child

Ps. I look forward to meeting all of you soon.