Dear friends and family,

Before I close this site, I wanted to thank you again for your faith-filled prayers and your deep care, expressed in tangible and creative ways.

Grief and gratitude. Everything is new: identity, pronouns, daily patterns, meal prep, car maintenance, and conversations. In these moments, I am grounded by what has not changed (I am a cherished child of God) . Psalm 32.8 has been such a comfort. For this, I am deeply grateful.

Collective, but individual grief. As a family we are walking this path together: spending time around our table, or being in God`s creation, and allowing space for us to experience grief at our own pace.

I am back in the classroom – a place of joy and calling. Each day is filled with opportunities to encourage, affirm and coach these 15- and 17-year-old students. En français!  Our grandson, Hugo is also learning in French and has taken well to pre-school, like a duck to water. Yes, Andy would approve of the bird analogy! Hugo and his little brother, Mattias, are a constant source of joy to us all.

I share this devotional (from my Alma Mater) on this First Sunday of Advent:

God is beautiful, his creation is beautiful, and people created in his image are beautiful. But the culmination of all beauty—literally, its apotheosis—is the Incarnate Son of God. He is the beauty of God in visible form, “the radiance of the glory of God” (Hebrews 1:3).           Again, I am reminded: eyes on Jesus.

Grace and peace to you,

Marlene

PS   Some of you may only have Andy’s email, so if you wish to stay in touch here is mine: perrettm@gmail.com