We wish everyone the best this holiday. We are excited to introduce Kadence to a whirlwind of Christmas traditions, all centered on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We also looked back at how God has carried us this year.
We crossed oceans and life milestones, and moved into the new territory of parenthood.
We discovered that we were expecting in January. Jenni surprised David with the good news with a not just an ordinary pregnancy test, but a digital one. We announced our pregnancy to our family during a group photo and captured a great moment both on video and photo.
Kadence Xi-Yuan Lim was born on October 2nd, 2007, our first child, and first grandchild for both our families. We’ve enjoyed her as she’s learned to smile, coo, and figure out the crazy people she has as parents.
In April, along with my parents, we traveled to several locations in China. We visited the capital Beijing and toured several landmarks such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China. We climbed the Huangshan mountains and marveled at the vistas. And throughout the trip, we visited long-distance friends and family who blessed us with their aggressive hospitality and amazing generosity.
We both had our ten-year high school reunions in the summer and delighted in catching up with old friends and rediscovered how different and similar our classmates were.
As part of our church’s Christmas theme, ‘The Hidden Gift’, we were asked to share the story of how I came to believe in Jesus and Jennilyn’s journey of faith during illness. We’re so thankful for God’s faithfulness and strength, and privileged to be able to share. While we were told that our story will bless and encourage others, the process of recalling all that He has done in our lives has stirred us to trust Him more.
Two Sundays ago, the worship leader sang a beautiful song:
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You’ve been promised, we’ve been waitingWelcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy ChildHope that you don’t mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home
Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven’s silenceWelcome to our world
Welcome to our worldFragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born
So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holyPerfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world– Chris Rice, lyrics to “Welcome To Our World”
Welcome Jesus, to the world you’ve created. There is no gift greater than your sacrifice for us. May our lives be a living offering of gratitude, joy, and love for you.
2 replies on “Merry Christmas!”
David and Jennilyn- It was such a huge blessing to be there to hear your testimony at church, and to see little Kadence’s dedication. How fun it has been to know you both and to see God’s hand on your lives. Although we haven’t spent a whole lot of time together in the last couple of years, I hope you know that God has been speaking to us by watching you both from a distance (and also by being privy to your lives via http://www.davidandjennilyn.com). :0) We are blessed to know you, and pray that 2008 will be another abundantly blessed year for your family. God bless you.
Wow. Thank you Sarrah and Jonathan. We are blessed to know you, too. Especially grateful we got to be in that first Alpha course with you! God bless you for your servant hearts. How you give of yourselves to so many, speaks volumes of God’s love. It’s inspiring!