Ministry Update
This past month, going back into October, has been good month for us. The meetings in October took us to different parts of the South in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee while November found us back home in Indiana working in our home church.
This last round of meetings brought a lot of vehicle expense. In Alabama, the flywheel came detached from the torque converter on the truck, destroying both parts. That, combined with the need for tires, put the repair bills very high for that period of time. With all the trouble-free miles we have logged on the truck, I figured that we were due for a major repair sooner or later, especially considering the miles were hard miles pulling the trailer.
The good news is that the BOA (bed of affliction) is now gone, having been replaced by a very nice mattress that was a gift from a lady in Prattville, AL. The frame for the bed went in our house and the mattress went in the trailer. God is so good to us!
We will be out in meetings again in January when once again we will turn west and head for California. The Christmas season is always difficult financially. Thank you so much for your prayers.
Family Update
Within the last month, both Daniel and I celebrated our birthdays. I really can’t believe he is already two years old. He is beginning to speak more plainly each day, repeating things that his siblings say. The girls are busy trying to teach him his colors, which he can repeat, but cannot yet identify. They have a good time doing it, though.
Thanksgiving was a time for relaxation and family. My family came from Ohio and spent the night at our house, giving the kids some grandparent time, and Paul some much-needed mother-in-law time! I was able to spend the day after with my mom doing our favorite activity – scrapbooking! All in all, it was a lot of fun.
One of the things we are thankful for is that Paul was able to shoot four deer this season, and they all went straight into our freezer. The Lord has provided bountifully for us during these lean months, and we are so grateful. This was also our first Thanksgiving meal in our new home. Many of you have asked how we like our new house, and I must say we LOVE it!
Yesterday, we went out and chose a Christmas tree – our first real tree in eight years! I was so excited! We put it in our living room, and after a short battle with the lights, got it up and decorated. I always let the kids help decorate the tree, giving them the unbreakable ornaments and allowing them to place them on the tree. The effect is somewhat akin to a Christmas shotgun blast. There are clusters of ornaments hung precariously on tiny, drooping branches with large open spaces between cluster groups. I am trying to teach them the art of balance in decorating, but so far, I haven’t succeeded. It is hard to let go of my perfectionist tendencies and allow them to enjoy the moment. I will admit to limiting the amount of ornaments per branch to only five! This is always a highlight of the season, and we all look forward to it each year. We wish you a wonderful, Christ-centered Christmas!
