Christmas Letter 2021

 

Merry Christmas 2021 friends and family and Gentle Readers.  This year I would like to quote one of my favorite Christmas poems (and carols) as I share our update: 

In the bleak midwinter

BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

As this year ebbs away and we feel the world winding down, we find ourselves in the next stage of one of our major ministries this year: caring for Dave's mom, Marilyn.  

Marilyn was hospitalized first in July, and then in October, both times dues to small strokes and other complications of a weary and failing heart.  For someone who at 95 has never had surgery, she did not want to consider the only thing the hospitals had to offer: surgery to implant a pacemaker. And she was tired of returning to the hospital. So we brought her home.  On December 11, she suffered a stroke again, this one with more effects than the previous ones. With the help of hospice, we have kept her home, and are now seeking to keep her safe and comfortable.  She has had no pain, and in just 5 days has made remarkable physical recovery.  Please keep her weary heart, damaged brain, and determined spirit in your prayers. And pray that we may honor Christ as we love and serve her.  

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Despite the trials of this year, we have seen God's faithfulness:  Faithful to sustain our little church family through trials and tribulations; faithful to meet our needs and bless us well beyond them; faithful to keep us pulling together after 41 years of marriage; faithful to keep growing our faith and teaching us more about Him! 

We were overjoyed to have the blessing of all the kids and grandkids with us for Thanksgiving, which only reminded us again of God's goodness to us.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,

Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

The thought of the eternal God as a baby is amazing and humbling, and ever a source of rejoicing for us.  We are so grateful that Jesus is our peace, our Savior, and more wonderful than anything.

We see God's care for us as we continue to serve our church, be good neighbors, and love our family. Dave has accomplished more amazing feats of home improvement, and Chris continues to quilt.   

And as we love on our grands, we see anew God's purposes and promises.  We thank God for time together last summer in the White Mountains of Arizona for our seventh annual "Cousins Camp". Indeed, our grandchildren have been one of our greatest blessings!

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

And so, friends and family and gentle reader, this year is closing with great hope: hope in Him who became a baby and bore our sins, and proves Himself faithful over and over.  We hope you, too, will marvel at Him this season and in the year ahead.

In Him,

Chris and Dave

What I'm reading

 “For mankind is ever the same and nothing is lost out of nature, though everything is altered.”

 JOHN DRYDEN “On the Characters in the Canterbury Tales,” in Preface to Fables, Ancient and Modern

~From A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman

What I'm reading

 

When we work to redeem the time, we reflect our Creator.  God is the ultimate time-redeemer: He redeems all of time, and he redeems at just the right time.  We are charged with redeeming the years he has given to us as a reasonable act of worship.

~Jen Wilkin, None Like Him, p.77 

 

Christmas Project report

 Well, now that all Christmas celebrations have finished (including what we called Second Christmas in Arizona) I can safely share the projects I had going on behind the scenes...

Our budding entylmologist received a new quilt for his bed.  He had requested one because the quilt for his junior bed no longer fit properly... The paper-pieced bug patterns came from Etive and Co on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/listing/701956233/insect-foundation-paper-piecing-patterns) and I designed the rest with lots of advice from friends.  The entymologist loves it.

One granddaughter received her doll bed, made by Dave, painted by us both, and the sheeets, quilt and pillows made by me.  She was thrilled.

The two grandsons each got a set of castle blocks embellished by Dave, along with a little set of knights and dragons.  I made draw-string bags to store them in.

I embellished a t-shirt and made some bibs for Tim and Nikki's foster baby.

I also enjoyed making a plethora of star ornaments for the grands, the nieces, and several friends.

A small quilt for granddaughter #4, with a pillow, for use in the car... I used a fun panel on the back.

And a baby quilt for the foster grand.  So cute (the baby... and maybe the quilt, too!)

And did I mention that second Christmas in Arizona was just grand?  No one got sick, we hung out at our rental home, hiked, and enjoyed one another immensely.  I am so grateful for that time!  Now, quarantine is over, and the real world of put-off appointments reasserts itself this week.  But here are a few happy pictures to leave you with, Gentle Reader!