Christmas 2004

Dear Relatives and friends,

Merry Christmas to everyone!

It’s hard to believe it has been a whole year since we got here -- our second Christmas.

We’ve had a very busy year, but most of my years have always been busy, it seems. You'd think I'd be relaxing a bit in my so-called retirement. We are pretty well settled, but are still looking through papers and boxes.

The weather has been unusually warm, and even in December the roses and lilacs have been blooming. Green grass on all the pastures. Really strange. But it will get cold eventually! It is exciting to see the bald eagles who live below us on the cliff. Not many, but fascinating anyway. There are about 60 deer in the outskirts of our town, so I hear. Kevin and I see some deer on the 2 mile plus walks we take. I love to watch the 5 squirrels that I feed on our back deck, plus the birds, but I don't appreciate the raccoon who comes up on the deck at night and messes things up.

Kevin and I are not Baptists, but the Forsyth Baptist church, 1 mile from us out here in the country, is large and serves the purpose. 600 attendees one Sunday last month. Kevin sings in the choir. My brother John and Velma are active there. We are in 2 Bible study groups -- one with the church and another in the community. One with dinner before hand. Kevin leads some of these community Bible studies.

Kevin and I enjoyed going to several S.W. Missouri candidate appearances in the fall. Kevin runs for Congress every election as a way to remind people that America should be a Christian nation with limited government -- not a secular nation with a vast and powerful government that would not be recognized by America's Founding Fathers. He doesn't expect to win any elections, but his views are well received.  Kevin made another trip to California in July for some continued projects with the non-profit organizations he helped form.

Amy and Chuck are still fighting the insidious virus they got two years ago. It settled in Amy's spine, and in Chuck's heart. Amy was with Chuck’s son's family in Slovakia again, and the doctors are pleased with her progress. Chuck was in Little Rock VA hospital for a pace maker.

Our street address is 319 Cliff House Rd. -- two words, not one. The escrow company told me wrong. Not that it matters much in a town this size.

We've made new friends and renewed old friendships. So many of my friends and acquaintances from the old days are not alive anymore! I miss several special people in California and Kevin does too.

Our best to all of you for a Merry Christmas and a great New Year. Every year I am reminded that God is Sovereign and in control and Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords.