The Gift of Life

Greetings once again from Chaing Rai, I trust that you have all had a wonderful Christmas and I pray that your New Year will be blessed also. Here at Akha Outreach Foundation we are busy getting ready for our Christmas celbration which will take place on the 31st of December. We decided to celebrate New Years and Christmas on the same day. It may seem strange celebrating Christmas on the 31st but since the schools don't close here for Christmas but do for New Years Day, it is easier to celebrate Christmas on a day that the kids can be home to enjoy it and don't have to focus on school.
We must remember that Christmas is not just about a day, it is about celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Living in Asia over the past few years, I have also come to see that Christmas is more about family time then presents, and at Christmas we can celebrate the truth that we are all apart of God's family through the present of Jesus Christ. Our hope for the World.
Speaking of hope and presents, we would like to introduce everyone to our new daughter born on Christmas day, at 1:15PM. "Bratana" Rutledge is healthy and looks very much like her older sister except she was a lot thinner at her birth then her older sister. Mam is doing great and we are back home now getting back into the swing of things. Garuna loves her new sister, and always is asking where she is. Daddy, is doing great too. I have been blessed with two wonderful daughters and a super wife. Both Garuna and Bratana have been easy babies. Bratana sleeps throughout the night and is doing great nursing with Mam. Mam is great too, and all I have to do is change diapers and make sure Mam has all she needs. Which is my pleasure.
We still aren't sure on an English name, we are leaning towards "JOY" but we are going to wait until my parents come next month to decide on a name. We are also waiting for her Akha name. This Mam's parents will give. Her Thai name "Bratana" pronounced Bra ta naa means hope. We chose this because Christmas is a time we celebrate hope. The hope found in the gift of Jesus Christ. Garuna has already given her younger sister a nick name. "Banana" because she has a hard time saying little sisters name.
We thank you for your prayers and you help. God has been faithful and has truly blessed our family during this holiday season.
We pray that you and your family have a happy holiday season and a blessed New Year. WE miss you all and look forward to the day you can see little "Bratana" in person.
Here are some pictures of the ever growing Rutledge family.
God bless you all
Dan, Mam, Garuna, and Bratana