The Kotas 2024 Annual Christmas Letter
Looking back at the memories from this year, once again we realize we are thankful for everything. The good, the bad and everything in between! We are thankful for the gift of the present and for each other. For our family and friends, our home, our parish!
We are busy, busy!
Dan and I are doing well and juggling everything the best we can. We are fortunate to say we learned how to complement and help each other right how we need it, thanks to the daily grace of God! I wouldn’t think it was possible, but his love for offshore/jetty fishing continued to grow! I think it’s cute that many times he wants to take us with him, even though it’s his special “me time”. About me, I think this year I enjoyed many more coffee/restaurant dates with my many friends and that was nice. I definitely feel grateful for it.
I’ve also realized it might have been a year of firsts! Starting with the first time we were in the direct path of a hurricane (Hurricane Beryl in July), it was scary, but we can’t complain. We fared well compared and it was uplifting to see how the community quickly rebuilt and cleaned everything. In less dramatic matters, we had Nico’s first overnight camp, and it was such a great experience! A first-time family trip to California’s Disneyland and Universal Studios and our first time visiting Six Flags in San Antonio. First time hosting my mom all by herself (and hosting her twice in a year!). First time Dan and I went on a mini trip just the two of us in the US (one night stay in Galveston, it was glorious!) and Gio going to school for the first time! First time baseball little league for Nicholas, first time Rebecca babysits for other people!
It was also, naturally, a year of somewhat repeated experiences, a year of mini trips: we visited our beloved Austin again (thanks to Beryl), Dallas (thanks to picking up my mom at DFW airport) and Yogi Bear Hill Country (thanks to a mini break at school due to parent-teacher conferences). And we are going be visiting San Antonio a few more times in the next twelve months, since we caved in and upgraded our late November single visit tickets to annual passes to Six Flags and its water park.
Baseball (little league, Astros, Dodger’s Shohei Ohtani and the Space Cowboys) dominated our worlds because of our little fanatic, Nico. Gio copies everything big brother does! Little guy likes to laugh and be loud and super active and spend his time outside, loves all sports and developed an intense like for Spider-man. He is talking and it’s the best. Rebecca and Vicky shared even more hobbies and interests than before, and quite a few shopping visits to buy trinkets at the mall. Vicky started piano and went back to ballet lessons and she enjoys and is progressing beautifully in both! She’s preparing for her First Communion, sometime in May of next year! Rebecca started to work with resin (solo sponsoring herself) and makes some beautiful accessories with it! She’ll be going to High School next year and mom is not ready! Prayers, please!!! Overall, the kids are doing really well, we are very thankful, indeed!
It was just another year without any great, big news, but filled with the daily grind of each day and its many humble joys and some trials too, of course! We trust in God’s prefect wisdom and goodness as we place our trust and not full knowledge in Him. And we wish all of you only the best: the grace of God and His many blessings, not just this Christmas Season, but for the whole new year ahead! You are in our daily prayers!
Love, The Kotas.
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