Dear Friends,

In the summer newsletter, I wrote about the wisdom I wanted to impart in my final letter as your president. Alas, I was mistaken, as here I compose what truly is my farewell letter to you, now as your Immediate Past President. The luncheon last week was beautiful, intimate, spiritual, delicious and inspirational as we welcomed and approved the incoming board for 2012-13. I hope those of you who were unable to attend will enjoy the pictures and story contained in the newsletter, especially Father Musso’s blessing and Roseanne Bowen’s message.

I was given a “Wisdom of Mary Virginia Merrick” calendar a couple of years ago at a National Conference right before assuming the presidency. I was amazed by the quote on my birthday. “You have many duties. God has laid out before you duties enough to fill your life; be patient, govern with a hand hidden in the heart.” How could this woman who died before I was born know my very being? Well, perhaps that is why she is on the canonization track! She knows and provides for not only the needs of those whom we serve, but she also provides strengthen and wisdom to those who follow in her path.

There is a final piece of business to report. Thanks to the donations of so many, we raised over $12,200 for our Layette Endowment Fund, which means that we will begin the endowment fund with well over $25,000. The number of folks who responded to this challenge is overwhelming. Most importantly, it means that this fund will not begin from a few well-lined pocketbooks, but by a larger group of people who gave what they could to help new moms and their babies have a healthy start.

I want to thank each and every one of you for entrusting Christ Child Society of Atlanta to me and my board these past two years, for working beside us and for inspiring us to accomplish what our organization needed to do to continue to bring Miss Mary’s message to our Atlanta community. I am especially grateful to my board. Patty, Kathy, Mimi, Joanne, Judy, Casey and the Maureens: it has been my honor to work with you. I am humbled by your dedication, energy and vision and I treasure the friendships that have come about in the process. To Patty Decraene, and to Kathy Thompson, who will follow her, you will be amazing presidents of this wonderful organization. You are surrounded by the most giving group of women I have ever met, and are being guided from above by our own dear friend, Elizabeth, by Miss Mary, and countless others who understand what devotion to the Christ Child means. I am thrilled that I get to spend the next two years with you assisting with whatever needs to be accomplished next. 

As we move into this week of Thanksgiving and then to the busy rush of Advent and Christmas, I hope and pray that you all find time to count the blessings of your life, and that you pray for those whose blessings have yet to be made known. Make time for peace, love, laughter, joy and quiet reflection in the weeks ahead. God bless you all.

Blessings,

Annemarie