Merry CHRISTmas 2006!

It is always such an encouragement to look back and see all the ways that God has been so faithful in our lives! Christmastime always seems like a great time to do this...it’s the end of a year and the start of a new one! Each one of you have played such a sweet part in the story of our lives...it is only fitting that we invite you to revisit the past and look forward to the future with us!

This time last year we had just arrived home from Madang, PNG. It was an emotionally charged transition time for us. Y’all made us feel so welcomed and loved! It was wonderful to be with family and friends again!

February brought a new addition to the family when Joel’s sister, Sarah, married Derek Grant! We were happy to be in the wedding party!

March was a bittersweet time as God called my sweet Nanny home to be with Him!

April held a variety of mixed thoughts and feelings for us as we announced our resignation from NTM. There were so many things we couldn’t express but we were so surrounded with love and acceptance as we stepped away from all we had known as a couple.

May found Joel working as a groundskeeper and us trying to adjust to “real life” in the US.

June was a month of change as we moved into our “own” house, Joel changed jobs and Alex turned 5! We began to settle in as a family in our “new life”.

July brought us some of the most heart wrenching experiences of our lives. Chloe lost her foot in a accident and was hospitalized twice. At the same time we moved out of the house we were in and back to Kari’s parents’ house. God alone was the One who held together the pieces of our lives. The Body of Christ came alongside of us in a mighty way with prayer, love, support, money and gifts. We were lifted up to the throne of grace when we could not lift our heads. A bright spot was that Joel and I celebrated 7 years together and our family celebrated 3 years with our precious Chloe!!

August we were in survival mode. Chloe was healing, Kari was caregiver, Alex was preparing for school and Joel was working.

September was a blur…

October saw Alex doing well in school, Chloe healing well, Joel starting work at Goodyear and Kari turning 28!

November was a fantastic month of hope renewed! Chloe got her NEW LEG and did great adjusting to it! Abraham (our nephew) celebrated his FIRST b-day and Mom Mc celebrated 61 yrs! We had much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

December...Joel and I were able to get away for a delightful “Weekend to Remember” and came home with a refreshed perspective on life and the gift of our marriage! Chloe is doing excellent and enjoying life with her new leg. Alex is doing awesome and lost his first tooth! Joel loves working on cars and looks forward to studying his way up to a mechanics certification. Kari enjoys being a stay-at-home-mom, what a high calling and privilege!

Looking ahead...our outlook is bright and we look forward to the many ways God reveals Himself to our hearts this coming year! He knows the plans He has in store for us--they are good plans for a future and a hope...we praise Him that when we're overwhelmed with questions, we can let them rest at His feet for He is more than able! This coming January, Joel will turn 29!! I keep telling him that he's old and I'm young! :) Prayerfully, Joel and I will finally have some medical benefits from his job. Our crates have finally arrived in the US (they are still in NC customs right now) from Madang...hopefully they will arrive in MD sometime this new year!! :) I will keep trying to look for ways I can earn extra income while being a stay at home mom. We look forward to the day when we can settle into a place of our "own"...we'll continue to wait on God's perfect timing for that! Some dear friends from Madang are heading to the States this new year and we hope to hook up with them...we've missed them so! A good friend of mine (Kari's) is newly engaged and will be married this coming spring (CONGRATS)! :)

• We pray we will walk with our heavenly Father in a deeper and more meaningful way this new year
• We pray we will continue to grow and lovingly mature in our relationship as husband and wife...learning to love and respect each other and have FUN along the way!
• We pray we will learn from HIM, the best Father anyone could want...to be the best parents possible to Alex and Chloe
• We pray we will be a blessing and encouragement to our family and friends around us
• We pray our unsaved loved ones will come to know Him this year!
• We pray for contentment in HIM above all else and the wisdom to walk in the way He has set out for us

THANK YOU with all our hearts...for all that you’ve prayed, all that you’ve loved, all that you’ve done, all that you’ve said and all that you are! We pray God’s abundant love and grace be extended to you this NEW YEAR. May it be radiant with new hope, new direction, new outlook, new fellowship and new deeper walk with CHRIST JESUS our Savior! We love you and we thank the Lord for YOU!!!

“God's Holy Spirit has made her [Mary] pregnant. She will bring a son to birth...you...will name him Jesus—'God saves'—because he will save his people from their sins."...Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Immanuel "God is with us".” Matt 1:19-21

“Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!” 2 Cor 9:15 Amp