Tuesday, December 18, 2012

"For unto us, a child is born...."

It hardly seems possible that another year has come and gone.  It has literally flown by, at least from my perspective.  Here we are already with Christmas next week and the new year beginning just a week later.  Looking back over the year it is good to remember, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, the new birth of all those who have made a decision to become Christ followers, and like the young man in the picture above, been baptized into Christ.  The "reason for the season" is to remember that birth of so long ago, of Jesus, who died on the cross and rose again, so that those who were predestined to become His followers, also from so long ago, might be born again.  We rejoice that there are numerous memories of such rebirths over this past year.  Praise the Lord!

Over the past year and a half or so, I have been involved in leading the Salem Hispanic congregation as well as serving as executive director of the church planting organization.  Time has flown by and it is increasingly amazing to me to see God's plan for the congregation unfold in many ways.  We have a leadership training program in place and folks participating in that are beginning to understand their own responsibility to "step up to the plate" and minister in various areas of church life.  It has been a tremendous blessing to see them blossom within the areas of their gifting and begin to minister to the family of God.  Please pray for those folks.

As a family, my wife and I are officially "empty nesters" for several years now, but that doesn't mean that we are ever alone at home with no kids around.  That is rarely the case, in fact!  Today for instance, in just a few hours (it is 5 a.m. now), our granddaughter Quinn will come to spend the day while her mama and daddy (Jodie and Matt) go to work.  A few hours later, Avery and Hudson, two of our grandsons, will be here for most of the day as well, while their mama (Jessica) goes to town to run some errand or another.  Then our youngest son, Kyle, and his Red Heeler, Jr., will show up for either breakfast or lunch (often both) and Jr. and Darby, our floppy-eared Setter pup will tear around the house on the heels of the grandkids.  Such is life for "empty nesters."  Keep in mind that we both work from home offices!  Last week one afternoon, our oldest son Caleb and wife, Nicole, and their daughter, Maddy, came out for a visit and dinner.  We love it! 

Patti continues to do medical transcription work from home, though her hours have been less than half-time in the past year or so.  We are thankful for the hours she does have and for the insurance that job allows us both to maintain.  I turned 60 a short time back and suddenly, burning the candle at both ends caught up with me and for the first time in my life, had to face the issue of high blood pressure.  My work hours, and a knee injury that is taking FOREVER to heal, have kept me from my now-over-12-years walking schedule for months it seems.  That may have something to do with the increase in BP since this past spring!  Those 5 miles per day did pay off.  Surprise, surprise!  Oh well, I can now order off the senior's menu at Denny's! 

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your prayer and support over this past year.  We realize that without you, we would be spinning wheels.  We value your partnership with us in this outreach to our Spanish-speaking residents.  May you have a blessed Christmas and new year!

Serving with you,
Bill and Patti




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