Merry merry Christmas. This Clarkson family enjoyed a simply amazing Christmas holiday as we were able to enjoy Christmas with ALL of our families. What a yummy treat! Eden enjoyed her first Christmas by sleeping through opening presents, though she was awake and in good spirits for most of the day. Her little smiles just melt my heart and we think we is going to laugh any day now. The Christmas season always seems to herald a variety of emotions, and this one was no different as we anticipate our upcoming departure for East Africa. As someone once told us, "Going is easy, leaving is hard." This life that we're called to isn't one that we choose for ourselves, but one that we're called to. I was reading a really excellent book this morning which reminded me that it isn't necessarily that we enjoy or prefer life overseas, it's the call that's been given to us. Leaving our families is by far the toughest trial I've endured, but the call remains for us (and for many others) to go. It's not that I'm even specially equipped to serve, I'm just called to obedience and have the confidence that He will do the equipping.