two.thousand.ten...

Snow managed to find us before Christmas but I still had a tough time embracing my normally jolly spirit. I'm never the bah-humbug at this address but I sure was this year. I bucked up and checked off the list with half-hearted flair but just couldn't muster up the goods to make it legit. That said I did enjoy the day and those that quickly disappeared thereafter. What baffles me is that all the stars aligned for it to be the best one ever: Shawna, the one and only, back in her room upstairs; baking cookies together, wrapping presents together, lots of time around the table...I have no idea what was wrong with me. Still don't. It wasn't even the busiest December of all time. Whatever.

Anyway, we are all well. Better than well. There are the usual worries manned by the head of the house, but given the list of things people are dealing with these days, we are blessed. Kevin has assumed several job descriptions at JK, requiring him to work his way through the fears and stress of learning new things at a stage of career he would much rather coast through but he has done so if not without complaint at least with enough grace to make me proud of him and his ability to grasp everything thrown at him in a course of a day. Shawna is awesome as usual. I just love my girl. Being able to see her minister to people has been really cool. I'm really proud of how her and John pour themselves out for their friends and their sheep. Between the two of them someone is always trying to call them or needs some type of help and they always spring to action. Makes me tired.

John is neck-deep in renovating the newest Crossing Campus, 929 Monroe. As awesome as it is, as much as God has His hand in it all, I'm trying my best not to think about the fact that I will no longer be playing with him and Shawna for weekend worship. Dang. The three of us have played together since they were in Junior High. Really don't want to think about it. Even though I'm positive Shawna is just going to bloom. I just have a feeling. And it looks like my hubby is going to be taking a leap and playing bass with them. How crazy is that? My whole family playing together without me. All good. And pretty sure it's all God, too. Can't exactly mess with that then can I?

I'm 5 months into an 18 month program at church, MDI (Ministry Development Institute). Each class is 6 weeks long, meets for 3 hours on Tuesday and requires nightly homework, most of which I cram into 1 or 2. We've been through Experiencing God and a history of the Christian Church/Crossing, New Testament & Acts, Old Testament and currently Life of Christ...For as much as I've learned so far I've realized how much I may never know or come close to understanding. One of the neatest aspects of the program is getting to really know everyone so much better than I did already. We have an awesome staff. And how cool that my son-in-law sits next to me most weeks. Also very cool. This class has been a positive thing for both those taking it and the staff who are teaching it. I think it has grown us all and drawn us closer to the God we minister through and to those we minister alongside.

Still fighting the weight thing. Always fighting the weight thing. But we bought a treadmill. And an Ab-Circle Pro. Shut up. John and Sha are beating themselves up with P90X and I'm going to let them. I want to be fit but there's not a chance in the down-under that my six pack will see the light of day before they bury me.

The oddest part of our year-end has to be going from putting our house on the market and having it "Open House" ready to absorbing two more people, a dog and a cat into 1404. John and Shawna sold their house in October and are looking into the possibility of renovating Dad's sheet metal shop. We've spent the last couple months selling off equipment and inventory etc. but have a lot to do before they can begin. The process is moving but barely. And some days it seems like it's slower than others. Kevin has had his moments but I'll hand it to him, he's doing pretty well. If you know Kevin, seeing him snoozing on the sofa with Mylie on one side and Sam on the other (on the sofa!) has been unbelievable. All said and done, I'm hoping we all still love one another madly at the end of this process. Still, it's a real blessing having the extra time with them.

Hope your year is off to a great start. May He hem it in from all sides and lay His hand upon it. Be sure to say hi and catch me up if you have a minute...

Love to all...