Hello friends!
First of all, we wish you and your family a
wonderful, holy Christmas and a blessed New Year! We are thankful for your
friendship and we enjoy keeping in touch with each other throughout the years.
One of 2019’s most important events was
Rebecca’s first communion in May. We had family members visiting us for this
very special occasion which made it even more special. We truly felt Rebecca
was finally ready for this important moment of her life and she also enjoys
going to confession on a monthly basis. Rebecca continues to attend St John
Bosco, a catholic hybrid school, as a third grader and is doing very well. She
loves the school and her friends there. Finally, Rebecca started attending
Challenge girls club at a catholic church close to her school. Rebecca has
blossomed into a sweet, independent and responsible young lady.
Nico was definitely a main character in 2019,
as well, but for a different reason! Late in August, he was hospitalized for 6
nights due to an abscess behind his throat. We are so thankful for medicine and
for all the prayers that dear people sent our way as Nico fully recovered from
it after undergoing surgery and rounds of IV and oral antibiotics. In other
news, Nico and daddy went to their second boys- only camping trip in July and
loved it, as per usual. Nico matured immensely in school this year– Georgia
preK at Kids R Kids for the first half of the year and kindergarten in our
local public school for the second half. Nico is doing very well at school.
Teacher says he is often a model student and we are so glad he is reading. He
enjoys having many friends and ice cream on Fridays at school.
Vicky continues to be our very happy and
energetic toddler! She captivates anyone around her and she might be aware of
her power! What a cutie pie. She has the incredible ability to make us easily
forget all of her mischiefs, pronto! Our plan is that Vicky will start prek-3
next year. Meanwhile she accompanies me to church every weekday and makes sure
to fiercely high-five the priest every single time after Mass. She loved swimming a lot this summer and she
enjoys our trips to the library and playgrounds. She absolutely loves the
outdoors and she’s entertained by every little leaf or ant she finds on her way.
Vicky is full of life and her strong emotions show that.
Dan and I have continued to attend Opus Dei
monthly recollections and the annual St Josemaria’s feast day Mass. Living
close to Opus Dei formation is a true blessing in our lives and I do not take
it for granted. This year the Opus Dei prelate, Dom Fernando Ocariz, visited
the United States and I was able to go to NYC for a day to one of the meetings.
What a privilege and fruitful experience it was. I am so thankful.
As a family we enjoyed visiting Georgia
mountains for Dan’s birthday in February and a trip to Anna Ruby Waterfall in
late May. We discovered new parks and cool playgrounds around Atlanta and we
also visited Six Flags a few times this year. We enjoyed our summer membership
at Lifetime as we took total advantage of their great pools every single
weekend and some weekdays too. And finally, I write this letter just a week
before we take off to Brazil. My brother Rafael is getting married to a great
gal on 12/21 and we are also very excited to be spending Christmas and New Year’s
with our families!
As we look back, it’s easier to realize how
blessed we are, but the grinding of each day feels much different (I think most
of you can relate to this feeling as well)! And for this reason I love to get a
chance to sit down and write our family retrospective Christmas letter!
I pray and hope this letter finds you well
and thriving! And if anything is not right at the moment, you can count on our
friendship and prayers!
Love,
The Kota Family
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