2024 was welcomed with all of our kids home this time! Pretty much everyone made it to midnight, but this was the first year that was actually an effort for me! For many parts of the world, 2024 finds their lands in a terrible situation. As I follow the news (which is unusual for me) I have a stronger sense of urgency. My goal for this year is a deeper knowledge of the Lord and deeper relationships with those God places in my life.
I am catching up after a super wonderful Christmas season which was probably a little too busy, but still super special. How was yours? Anything special that you’d like to share with me? I’m always looking for meaningful traditions I can incorporate. For us, Christmas morning is always Sausage Gravy and Biscuits, but there is no telling what the main meal will be because it is anything but traditional…..this year was Rice and DSS (Daddy’s Secret Sauce) that only Paul makes. That was a request of the kids this year.
Early December started with major prep/practices/and set up for 3 nights of The Living Nativity. We had around 1000 people attend and at each of the 11 different stations, they each heard a clear challenge of making a personal choice with the final scene (the empty tomb) having a full Gospel challenge. Our family (whoever is home) is heavily involved in this event. I am the Director and Paul is in charge of building sets, and keeping fires (we have 10 that burn at various scenes all night for 3 nights). Oh, Paul is also my go-to man…. he does SO many pop-up jobs for me. Miriam arrived from Korea on Dec 8th and the next two nights was able to step into a needed Narrator position. Then of course we had a massive amount of work to tear down the sets and pack up to store all the props. I am always relieved when that work is done.
Paul takes time out of his crazy schedule at the hangar to work the Living Nativity. We had a plane come up the following week for an inspection so Paul jumped right into that afterwards along with 2 of our pilots from Mexico that came up to help. It is always nice because this is training time for them as well as interaction with Paul.
Something super wonderful happened this year . . . we had all 5 kids home for Christmas with their spouses and of course the grandbabies! This house was FULL! 9 adults in one house, with 2 bathrooms . . . space was limited, but we had so much fun. We played a lot of games and were just happy to be together again… it had been 5 years since all the siblings were together like that. An ongoing theme was laundry, groceries, and cooking. Oh my, the amount of food that was cooked! And, for the most part, they all wanted to stay home to eat…not go out…Guess having family meals was important to them too 🙂 Made me happy even with all that work. They all pitched in to help though so that was nice… especially Miriam with the cooking!
We got some family pictures done! I’d love an updated picture if you have one of your family…and be sure to tell me who everyone is in the picture! 🙂
2024 is filling up quickly with ministry projects, hangar events, projected inspections, and travel plans. Paul also serves on the IAMA (International Association of Missionary Aviation) Board so that involves some travel and meetings on top of his normal stuff.
Thank you for praying for us and encouraging emails, texts and calls now and then. Of course, we appreciate the financial support as well and that you choose to be used by the Lord in providing for us and this ministry here. In the past 6 months our account has been lower than usual as several of our faithful supporters moved to Heaven. I try to imagine them there… I’m sure that my imagination doesn’t even begin to touch the joy and beauty they are seeing and experiencing!
It seems that the world is going completely crazy stupid these days, and we deeply appreciate your prayers. I have a friend, Sharonne, who is Israeli (living in Zambia) and has family who live in Israel. We keep in close contact and with all that is happening, the other morning she messaged me “Come Jesus, I say.” I think this is the cry of many hearts. In the meantime, we work diligently to do what God has called us to do and share His story of salvation for all who choose.
This isn’t going out on my normal “mail chimp” platform as it just seemed more like a chatty email….and I’m all chatted out now. I do hope this finds you having had a good day and that tomorrow will be a peaceful Sunday for you.
Love,
Laurel & Paul, too
(He does read these and give me input :))
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