Merry CHRISTmas to each of you.

This past year 2007 has been an exciting and eventful one. Let’s just start at the beginning shall we. I will attempt to keep this newsletter laconic.
*January (and beyond) began an intense training and team building process for Jack and Myself and 10 Young Adults/Youth from our church. These dedicated kids faithfully gave most Saturdays to come and learn about short-term Missions, do service projects, and participate in a variety of fundraisers. They did this until the end of July when we escorted them to Ecuador S. America for 15 days for a Short Term Missions experience.
* March/April/May brought a different kind of Happy Headache! Jack and I finally were approved and subsequently made an offer on our very first home. We moved in May 1. We are so thrilled and blessed to finally be in a home of our own. It’s ideal. Each child has their own bedroom. We have a large backyard. And we live at the end of a cul-de-sac in a gated community. We are thankful everyday!
* July of course was the biggest adventure of our lives thus far. As I mentioned we went to Ecuador and served under the Covenant Church at a school in Baeza, Ecuador. We painted, laid concrete and helped prepare for building of a new classroom. We also did Vacation Bible School with the kids of the elementary school. We developed some neat relationships and it was an amazing time. The whole last year of bonding, and growing in the Lord was hard but a “good” hard. We had trials and tribulations for certain. But God is faithful and used each experience to stretch us more into what HE wants us to become.
* August, Jack and I stayed alone; a whole extra week in Ecuador this time on the beautiful pacific coast and enjoyed the Honeymoon we had never taken. It is gorgeous there and was also a wonderful opportunity for me to practice my Span-glish.
* September brought some interesting season of changes. All my kids in a new school district and schools, Maryn is at Spanaway Jr. High with all the challenges that being in “Jr. High” brings. But, she is succeeding beyond our wildest expectations. The other 3 have quickly made friends and are finding their niche.
* October brought about a small yet fulfilling and rewarding change for myself. I was “promoted” from Children’s Ministry Assistant to “Covenant Cubs Coordinator”. This is the entire ministry that over-sees ages Birth through Kindergarten. I have 7 teachers, and 3 classrooms and a lot more responsibility and am now a “salaried” staff person at Praise. It’s very exciting. I love my job and the people I work with. God is so good.
* November/December we spent our first big Holiday in our new home, it was so much fun we had a small group on Thanksgiving but we had a lot to be thankful for. We continue to study Worldwide Missions Perspectives and are seeking other educational resources to help us train and prepare for a call into full-time Missions. Jack continues to work for a company called Free&Clear in Seattle as an Software Developer in Test. He recently underwent a complete shift in title, and responsibility and is much more fulfilled than previously, and he is incredibly grateful for employment and has full confidence that he is exactly where the Lord wants him to be. It was this job that allowed us to get into our home. God’s timing is perfect. His commute is significantly cheaper/shorter than when he was working at Microsoft, and his hours are ideal. He is home for dinner every night! And he quit smoking after 24 years! So there are other benefits too.
* Most importantly we write to you because we want to stay connected and continue to remain in relationship with you all. That is the foundational purpose of our faith. Relationships, connection, restoration and reconciliation. That is why God sent His son as a tiny babe that first Christmas Morning. Our prayer is that as you spend time this Christmas with family and nurture your own relationships, you will think about that baby and reach out to the God who loves you and wants you to be part of His larger family.

God Bless You and Keep in touch!