Merry Christmas 2013!

I'm a little behind (okay, a lot behind!) in keeping up with the blog.  Some days, it seems like there is just no room for one more thing....and the blog is what goes!  One day turns into one week, which turns into one month or more, and before you know it, there is a lot of catching up to do.

First, what a lovely Christmas holiday we shared with family and friends!  Our Christmas was rather low-key and quiet, which was so nice.

Our family made our signing debut at church as part of our church's Deaf Choir (yes, I know I am not deaf, nor are Amelia and Lucy, but what a treat to fellowship with others in our church, gain some additional sign vocabulary, provide family support for Anna, and worship the Lord in a new language!).  I was so sure Anna was going to do great because she practiced so well.  No, really, she did!  In the end, I think her stage fright (or just plain obstinance) got the best of her.  She did finally join in at the end.  Here is the video:

We also enjoyed our church's candlelight service.  Different members of the church took part in leading the signing/singing.  At the last minute, Anna volunteered for one song that she had not previously practiced. She signed "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and did a pretty good job.

Anna wrote her first letter to Santa, and the Burch girls enjoyed their first encounter with a Signing Santa.  This Santa is a precious man from our church, who has been so kind to welcome our family into the fold.
For those who don't really understand the differences in the hearing culture and the Deaf culture, let me share a bit.  It can be very difficult for deaf adults who identify as Deaf (referring to the cultural and linguistic minority) to welcome a hearing family with a child who is implanted.  However, the members of our new church have been SO warm, welcoming, and understanding.  They love Anna, and they are willing to help our family walk this path on which we are trying to bring Anna up with a belonging in both worlds, deaf and hearing, and using both English and American Sign Language (ASL).  I am learning way more than I learned in ASL class.  But that isn't really the point.  The end goal is just this one thing: that my children, hearing and deaf, know Jesus.

In other family news, Amelia knit her first hat.  It was really more of a beret, and it fit Kitty, Lucy's beloved friend.  We have photos of Kitty on the Great Wall.  Maybe we need to head for the Eiffel Tower, where Kitty can sport his fine fashion.

More updates coming soon....including Anna's first (spoken) words and the one-year anniversary of her surgery in Italy.