— One weekend in September while Libby and Josh came home for her birthday, she gave US perhaps the biggest present of the year: they are expecting our first grandchild in May! Josh is finishing his ministry degree at Louisiana College this month and hopes to serve in a local church while he continues postgraduate ministry studies at LC.
— David and Ashley are now at Southeastern Baptist Seminary in North Carolina, preparing to go on the mission field. It was quite a transition for them, moving halfway across the country, getting new jobs, etc., but they are all settled in now, and are finishing up their first semester there and are happy and well.
— Paul is excited to be moving back to Oklahoma from North Carolina, where he studied at SEBTS for two years, and he is hoping to find a church there to serve in missions, college or music. He is staying here with us through the holidays and will then move up to the Sooner State. Be in prayer for him during this transition time.
— As for me, one Wednesday evening in February, while I was standing for prayer meeting, I became dizzy and had to leave. After a couple months of doctor visits, I was diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) in June. Basic symptoms include accelerated heart rate whenever I stand, along with sleeplessness, fatigue, headaches and nausea. There is no “cure” for POTS, and much of the year has been spent trying different medications. As some have only made me worse, I am currently off all them, and working hard at a stationary bike program which is as effective as any medication for many POTS patients. After returning to preach Sunday morning services in August and September, I am back on indefinite medical leave at present. We are learning a lot during this time, including just walking with the Lord one day at a time. A funny story: one night while Libby was home, Lib was sick in one room, and I in the other. Cheryl said later she felt like she was getting it in “stereo”!
— As you might imagine, Cheryl has had her hands full taking care of me, in addition to overseeing Michael’s homeschooling and all her other home & church duties. Somehow she also found time to do some part-time flowerbed maintenance work — she loves being outside, planting flowers and weeding beds a few days a week.
Michael has been busy with his homeschooling — and taking care of us. I am often limited to my recliner with POTS, and then one day, Cheryl sprained her ankle while getting some rocks for her garden. At one point one Friday night, neither Cheryl nor I could get up, so we had to call Michael in to help us. “Poor Michael”, Cheryl said after he left the room: It’s like he’s got a new job in a nursing home!”
In the meantime, unhindered joy reigns in our little pastor’s home “paradise” 😉 As Michael gathered up the trash from around the house one Monday, Cheryl said to him: “You need to put a new trash bag here — and a trash bag there …” Before she could continue, I began singing, to the tune of “Old McDonald”: “Here a bag, there a bag, everywhere a bag, bag …”.
Michael rolled his eyes and said, “Oh joy!” Without missing a beat, Cheryl chimed in, to the tune of “How Great Our Joy”: “Joy, joy, joy!”
Michael cried out: “STOP! What did I ever do to deserve THIS?!”

Hope you’ll relish all the undeserved joys God gives us this Christmas season!