Fireworks or no fireworks, here we go again!

Here we go again. It’s that time on this Thursday January 1, 2009 where we begin to wonder how many times we will write 2008 by rote habit until the new year becomes ingrained. But welcome to the New Year and I do hope you have much to be thankful for as we all embrace the adventures God has for us just around the bend. Some no doubt can rightfully say good riddance and good by to 2008 because of all the difficulties they faced. There are many who would say we fit into that category but to tell the truth God has been so very good to us despite 2008 being one of the toughest of our forty-four years together. Challenging? Without a doubt! Discouraging? Often! Blessed? In more ways than I could probably ever count!

I’ll start by saying I woke up this morning beside my dear wife and we are back in our home that was pretty well gutted by Hurricane Ike. We didn’t do anything for our recent 44th anniversary BUT I haven’t forgotten about it and it was only postponed so we will be celebrating it at some time in the near future. The same goes for my annual greeting card that so many comment on. We had one ready but then our dear Bro. Milton went down and we never had time to adjust BUT that doesn’t mean there will be no 2008 version of that card! One of our dearest friends who was our across the driveway neighbor for so many years and now lives far away commented that she knew something was terribly wrong when she didn’t get that card. Others have graciously asked as well. I’ll give you a preview of what the card will look like. The front cover is devoted to THE GIFT that God gave to the world in the sending of His Son. The back cover is devoted to the gifts God has given to us through our three sons, their wives, and their children, our grandchildren. Never fear, that card will soon be coming to a postal box near your home!

Continuing in the counting of blessings, I would be terribly remiss if I didn’t mention how God provided for us a place to live while we were displaced from our home. Through a wonderful lady in our Church we were connected to her sister-in-law who had a home not being used while she was back east taking care of her business there. Located within our area, it turned out to be our base of operations during this most trying time. God worked this out and we thank Him first, thank our dear Sister Pat who arranged it, and also thank the dear lady, Pattie, that loaned us her home where we lived for nearly three months. We are also praising God for His Sovereign arranging for having our Brother Milton here in our area where he could be treated for a very serious heart ailment. He was here helping on the reconstruction of our home but God knew he would need care that could not be provided almost anywhere else in the country. We thank God for the progress Bro. Milton has made and continues to make.

Our Church family has also rallied around us. Our family, especially our kids, my mom and dad, and so many others have stood up and been counted on our behalf. Adversities and trouble seemed to be the watchwords as we worked through what seemed like an endless array of insurance and other details but God even worked through all these processes to accomplish not only restoration of our home but also to bring us closer to Himself. That may have been the ultimate blessing of 2008. As the song says: “Through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His word!” There’s much truth to the statement that when you are down about as low as you can get there’s no place to look but up! And when you do, you see the hand extended of that One who cares so much He even died that you might live with Him forever and ever, Amen. So, we are off and running or at least I am off and running my mouth (and keyboard)! May God bless. …..More later.