Christmas Greetings to you and yours.

GREETINGS!
Last Sunday the preacher was talking about the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. This was a farming community where people raised sheep. The barns, or stables, were where baby lambs were born during lambing season. What better place for the Lamb of God to be born, but in a lamb's stable? And the Good Shepherd's first visitors were the shepherds that were out in those Bethlehem fields tending their own sheep. Isn't God's attention to detail amazing and inspiring?

Another point the speaker made that I had not thought of before was this: Bethlehem was a village of probably a few hundred. Yet thousands and thousands of people had to travel to Bethlehem for the census count. Maybe this explains why Mary and Joseph were still living there when Jesus was 2 and the Wise Men came for their visit. There's no 'proof' this was the case but it does lend to plausibility.

We pray that this Christmas will be a blessing to you and yours as you are 'pondering' - as Mary did, - on this gift God gave to mankind, that precious baby lamb that came to take away the sins of the world.

NEWS ON MIKE AND SUZANNE:
If you haven't heard (due to my lack of correspondence,) :-) we moved to Rogers, AR a year ago to help a church that was struggling to stay alive. After working with the folks for a total of 2 years (one year commuting, one year residing) the church has not made any gains. It has been voted to sell the church and Mike has stepped down as pastor. We still attend the church and will for the time being at least till the Lord leads us elsewhere. Services will continue to be held until some finality comes along.

There are some exciting possibilities as to the future of the church, one being maybe merging with another group that is better established but has no church home (building). They have their own pastor and have been conducting 'our' services for the time being.

Mike continues to work in respiratory therapy in a nearby hospital. I, Suzanne, work in the local public library as a cataloger. It has been an interesting year of stretching and adjusting from an academic, Christian library setting to a public, secular one. We are in good health "all things considered." We just have the usual aches and pains and runny noses. The calendar seems to dictate living life at a little slower speed then we used to.

I was able to attend a librarian's conference in June since it was close by. The day after I got home, Mike left for a respiratory conference. (Somebody's got stay home and feed the dogs.) :-) In July we attended a pastor's conference just over in Oklahoma. It was good!! Mike also performed one wedding, and just recently, one funeral.

An ASIDE - Mike needed his ordination certificate for the wedding. We never did find it, but did find his license to preach. Wednesday night, Dec. 23rd, as Suzanne was cleaning the Living Room and her "office area" - she found it in a box with Easter decorations!! Of Course! They had all come out of his office two houses ago!!! (Don't ask...)

NEWS OF OUR KIDS:
Christa (aka Christy) and her family are still serving the Lord in the Philippines. Erin is involved with coaching at Faith Academy as well as outreach projects for the students. Their kids are growing up too fast: Paul, 11, is in 6th grade (middle school), plays soccer and the guitar and clarinet. Samuel, 9 is now in 4th grade, likes and plays soccer, but enjoys other sports as well. Amy, 7, is in 2d grade already, enjoys her dolls and playing house. She plays soccer some as well. (How could they not, if their dad's a soccer coach???)

Michelle has been living in a group home now for 3 years, in Burlington, KS - near where we used to live. She has worked with many of these residents for many years and knew them as friends before she ever moved in. She really loves living there and being in all the activities they have for them. We are, however, looking into moving her closer to us. It will make dealing with little issues or questions from time to time if she's closer.

James lives in our house in Kansas and works at a restaurant in Lawrence, KS. He is doing well and slowing getting back on his feet. He's been at the restaurant for 4 years now - much longer than most employees as this is a college town. His daughter, Aurora, is 8 and in the 3rd grade already.

Jonathan and Jessica still live in KC, MO. He graduated last May from Calvary Bible College with his bachelor's degree in pastoral studies. At the moment they are both working and waiting on the Lord for direction of service.

James, Michelle, Mike and I spent Thanksgiving at Jonathan's and Jessica's house. We had a nice time together celebrating Thanksgiving as well as getting out Christmas decorations and putting them up and driving in a slow moving lane for 2 hours, I think, to see Christmas lights.

FAREWELL
May you have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year, filled with that blessed hope of our Lord's soon return. (How can he not?)

Mike and Suzanne

Update on "Congratulations" from Oct 10th.

December 6,2009 -Update
I met J. & A. D. today, and Mackynzie as they were at church today. She's a sweetie. Mom and Dad are nice people. too. It was fun getting acquainted with them at the church dinner afterwards.