Fall, 2008

Fall is a great time of year...fall colors, apples, apple crisp, pumpkins and pumpkin pie, hot chocolate, raking leaves! Every season is meaningful and we are able to look ahead with joy as we remember what came before, and how we got here. It can be hard to always count everything as a loss in comparison to the treasure of Christ; we can easily cling to the littlest thing, thinking it is our treasure! So we are currently allowing our "leaves" to fall, even raking them and casting them off, knowing that the life that Jesus brings is true life and truly the best in comparison to our short-lived "attachments" to things that are only for a season. God knows when we are in submission to Him...when we allow for His changes for us, when we let go, when we lay everything at His feet even if it hurts or feels like it is too much to lose, when we wait on Him for His resurrection power! He will bring new life, powerfully. He does not waste a Fall or a Winter season...we will keep watching for Him! But, we must rest in Him and trust His judgement, timing and loving care.

Celebration!

We have had a lot to celebrate lately! That is good for us, since there is a lot that God is doing in our lives! We are aging of course but there is a great amount of territory that we cover as we do so! Gray additions to our hair, or taller marks on the growth charts do not tell the story of God's great milestones for us. Eric and I were able to travel to Thailand to see what the Lord is doing through the C&MA missions there! It was a great celebration of God's mighty hand moving in that country and in our own lives to get us there!! And, Eric turned forty-four painlessly of course, but his ministry challenges are cause for party and prayer always intermingled!!

There were a few pangs in our hearts as Joel turned 16! We were unselfish though in our celebration of his life, a gift to us for 16 years! He will be learning to drive over the next year and taking on more responsibility...a life open to God.

Erika's events are cause for tears and celebration also as she graduates from high school. She lived through her life of homeschooling and is happy, strong and ready to go, registered at Monroe County Community College for next year, to check out the nursing field. Her desire to go to a Bible college was met with disappointment but her declaration to her peers at the last quiz meet of the year was that she knows He has called her to missions and that she has to trust Him completely for what is ahead...His will, not hers! We are very excited to watch Erika grow as we remember those first days in her first school year of kindergarten..so eager and joyful! She still is! We are thankful for what God has planned for all of our children, even though we don't know what it is!

Seth is trusting God for his schooling next year and for growth in height! He is praying about going to 7th grade at Triumph Academy or staying in homeschooling. He feels like it is a great challenge for him to attend the public school there, charter school, and to meet it with faith and fortitude! We are all for him, if God has this open door for his growth! He is a giant in his heart for God's Truth, and hopes to gain inches to match that!! A mark on the wall to compare to at the end of the summer indicates a party to come!!

So much to celebrate...God's handiwork is always worth some festivities!!

December 2007

Merry Christmas and have a New Year where you recognize His blessing.

We are rejoicing with you, in the coming of Jesus. May His love make all the difference in your life, in the midst of unknowns and challenging circumstances. He answers your prayers and is ever listening for your heart to be honest with Him who has given you a Savior.

Our family has enjoyed preparing for Christmas in our own home again and this has caused us to sharpen our focus on His blessings and goodness in our lives. Thank you for joining us in prayer for all believers to understand the magnitude of His Good Will for our lives and His people. May you catch the wonder of the Bread and Breath of Heaven. He is real and really Lord of all.

Enjoy your celebrations of new Life. You add to the celebration for us for sure.

We have had some visitors here in Michigan! Thanks for coming!
"Do not be anxious about anything..." Phil. 4:6

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