Congratulations to Hayley!

We want to share this exciting news with you... Hayley Ann has been accepted to the University of Alaska Fairbanks!! Although she is waiting to confirm until she has been presented with a financial aid package, we are so excited and are looking forward to what the Lord has for her. Please join us in praying for her, her financial needs, the students she will meet, housing, a church to call home in Fairbanks, and the list goes on. And as we plan and prepare for August 2012 - let's all say.... Go Nanooks! Wait a minute... what is a nanook??? How about Go UAF!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas - from our family to yours!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6&7

The Coming King

Last Sunday night I had the privilege of participating in a Christmas sing along. We sang Christmas songs out of hymnals, read about the birth of our Saviour and talked about the Scriptures. Something that was said has been rattling around in my head. It went something like this...
The foretelling of the coming King is sprinkled throughout the Old Testament - and yet, the people were not prepared. The foretelling of the coming King (His second coming) is sprinkled throughout the New Testament - and yet people are not prepared. More specifically, we are not ready, not living as if He is coming soon. It is easy for us to look back and wonder why the people were not prepared when they knew He was coming - but now I am wondering why we are not prepared when we know He is coming back!!
May we take time this Christmas to not only look back to His birth but to also look ahead to His return. May it all be about Him!

Happy Birthday, Riley!

Happy Birthday, Riley! Can't believe you are already 17! It seems like just yesterday my tailbone snapped... Where did the time go?? You are an incredibly gifted young man and we are proud of you. Continue to put Christ first in your life, in all you do, and you will be truly blessed. Remember to always be a man of honor, courage, integrity, purity, kindness - a man of God. Happy Birthday - we love you!

Be a Snail

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark." C.H. Spurgeon

Bones

When a family member enjoys studying biological anthropology a household can accumulate quite a few skeletons - as seen in the sampling above. Yes, the photo is of but a sampling of the many, many skeletons, skulls and bone photos that reside in our home. Hayley's fascination with bones has not only brought about the skeleton collection but it has also helped the rest of us remember the scientific names of lots of bones - mandible, clavicle, radius, ulna, humerus, carpals, patella, femur, tibia, fibula, metatarsals and phalanges to name but a few. However, even seeing her passion for this field of science, I don't think I will ever remember the difference between Australopithecus aetheopicus and Australopithecus afarensis.
Some people are a tad freaked out by bones. (But just imagine what we would be like without them - freaky.) I wonder what Ezekiel thought when the Spirit of the LORD set him in a valley full of bones. (Ezekiel 37) The "great many bones" were dried up, lifeless, hopeless - just like Israel at that time and like some of us right now. According to Riley, hope is the most powerful force on earth. And I must agree with him. For without hope we are depressed, lifeless, empty, dry - just like those bones. Daily living is a struggle and the potholes on life's road can be paralyzing. But with hope we can endure anything - potholes and sinkholes alike. And God knows it. That is why we are continually reminded throughout scripture to put our hope in Him. And that is why He brought Ezekiel into the valley of dry bones - to remind Israel (and us) that the LORD gives hope, restores lives and can be trusted to do what He says. The LORD caused tendons and skin to grow over the bones. And when breath entered the bodies they came to life. What was once a valley full of dry bones was now a valley full of living, breathing people - a vast army. Awesome!!
So if you find your hope is drying up, put it in God and watch Him give life to your bones!

More Malawi

We recently heard from the Burns' family in Malawi and we are happy to report their vehicles are working again! They had two vehicles that had broken down and no way to fix them. A couple of men from Western Washington heard about the problem and headed over with the sole purpose of getting the cars back on the road. And they did! This is a great example of how God can use all of us for His good. All skills are needed and much appreciated! I hate to think what would have happened if those men would not have made the trip.


Along with the praise of working vehicles comes a prayer request - also having to do with transportation. Malawi is having a gasoline crisis. The government buys and sells the gas but because Malawi is so far in debt countries are no longer selling gas to it. This is causing great distress. The Burns are close enough to the border that they are able to cross over into Mozambique and buy gas in gallon containers on the side of the road. But hold on to your seats - the gas is selling for the equivalent of over $11 per gallon!! Yikes - that four dollars per gallon is not looking so astronomical anymore. The huge costs are not only felt 'at the pump' - but the gas crisis is raising prices of everything. Many Malawians are suffering. Please join us and say a prayer for the Burns' family and their Malawian friends... and don't forget to thank God for His provision of working vehicles.