Dear Family and Friends,

I have discovered this year that keeping up with “traditions” is not the easiest thing to do.  John and I have sent a Christmas letter/card for many years now.  I remember how excited we were to send our Christmas card in 1997 with our new addition……Mitchell.  This year we have struggled with sticking with our tradition of sending a picture.  You see, last year we had taken family pictures right before Mitch passed away…..this year will be the first of many years to come without him in our picture.  We have also, always written about each member of the family, this year it is hard not to include him so, I have decided to start with him.

Mitchell

Mitchell in heaven continues to touch lives just as he did here on earth.  His story of his courageous battle with cancer has been spread throughout the nation.  John and I have become very involved with the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and have set a goal to raise 1 million dollars in Mitchell’s name and to continue on with his dream to find a cure for blood cancers.  Our Mitchell size hole remains unchanged. We miss him beyond words. But, we are reminded daily of what a wonderful gift from God Mitchell was and feel so blessed to have had 10 years with him.

Meredith

It is hard to know where to begin with this one…..Meredith puts our feet on the floor each morning and brings joy to our souls with each breath that she takes.  She is now in the 4^th grade and ready for high school.  She is in orchestra and plays the cello, we started the year off with the viola, but I guess it just wasn’t challenging enough.  She is now in competitive gymnastics and is constantly upside down, flipping around the house. Meredith has decided that she wants to be a veterinarian and a hip-hop dancer so we have started taking dance as well.  Like I said, she brings us joy with each breath she takes. J

John

John started back with Physio Control in June.  He has been very busy and is a hard worker.  Meredith and I are glad that he works out of the house or we might not ever see him.  He played on a city league baseball team this spring and takes every available opportunity to play golf when he can.  We organized our first annual GO MITCH GO golf tournament this last October and look forward to it being even bigger next year.  To my amazement he has not booked a snowboarding trip yet…..I’m sure there will be one (or more) scheduled soon.

Tracy

I went back to work this past August.  I am working for an outpatient clinic called NeuroResouces.  We treat spinal cord and brain injuries as well as patients who have suffered a stroke.  It is the most challenging job I have had in my occupational therapy career, but I believe God has placed me here for a reason and I am enjoying it.  I completed my first marathon in June and will run my 2^nd half marathon in January.  I have gathered about 46 of my friends to join me for my 40^th birthday in Mitchell’s honor and to raise about $150,000 for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.  It has been an amazing journey and you can read more about it on our websites.  In June I will become a coach for Team and Training, I am thrilled for this opportunity to be able to continue on Mitchell’s dream of finding a cure.

Mac Dawg

May seem a little silly to include the dog, but in observing him I have learned something.  When we give him a new bone he runs off to find the perfect hiding place for his “treasure.”  We have found them in a variety of places in the clean laundry basket, under our bed covers in suit cases and most recently under the Christmas tree skirt.  Watching this reminded me of a bible verse found in Matthew 6:19-21(The Message version).

“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or worse stolen by burglars!  Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moths and rust and burglars.  It’s obvious, isn’t it?  The place where your treasure is,is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.”

These last 15 months have been the toughest months of our lives, but we have learned that life here on earth is temporary, we know where our hearts are and where we want to end up when our time here is complete.  Our prayer for 2009 is that we will keep our eyes and hearts heavenward and continue to seek God’s guidance for our lives.  We are more than grateful for all of your prayers and support over these last years. Thank you for being the body of Christ to us.  We covet your continued prayers as our journey continues.

We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2009.

Team Whitaker