Merry Christmas 2022!!!
Merry Christmas 2022! We are excited about the season of Christmas ~ celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
The scripture we chose for our Christmas card is not the "normal" Christmas scripture, but it's such a reminder of what we are and are not and what HE is! And what He's done! And that's what Christmas is all about!
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
I Timothy 1:15-17
What am I and am I not? I am not perfect. I am not worthy. I am a sinner, the worst of them all, and need a savior.
THE BEST NEWS????? That Savior came down on Christmas in the lowliest of places for you and for me.
Don't determine to follow Jesus because of someone like me. Remember, I'm the worst of the worst. But I hope you will pursue knowing Jesus, because of who He is. He came for us all. Not all will accept Him. Not everyone realizes they need a savior. But we all need Him. And He came!
That's what Christmas is ALL about! Jesus Christ - our Lord and Savior!
(A picture of a shepherd boy in Bethlehem I took in February 2020!)
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As an update for our family ~ because we seem to be all over the place ~ so I'm sharing the following!
Last January, we got to celebrate Christmas with Peter and Julianna who flew in from Colorado and even got snowed in with us for a day or two! We had the best time playing games and watching movies and just hanging out! Peter, Julianna, Will, and I even went to TJ Maxx and the mall! It was so fun to be with them!
Will and Laiken were engaged, and we celebrated their wedding on September 24! We are so blessed to now have TWO daughters!
Sensing my need to visit my little Colorado people again, Pete made reservations for us and Sam to fly to see them in November. We had a great visit with them!
We played at Top Golf in Colorado and had so much fun, so we celebrated Andrew's birthday a little early with a trip to Top Golf in Charlotte!
In the middle of all of that, Sam started his senior year of high school! My baby! He is so helpful and fun and intuitive and smart and has a memory better than mine!
We also got a brand new great nephew five months ago, Maddox, who joined his greatest big sister Emma who turned three in October. They are certainly the best, and we love seeing them and spending time with them. Emma is a real encourager, laugh creator, and all around great little person to be around! And Maddox is the smiliest and sweetest baby ever! We appreciate that Laura and Ethan share them with all of us!
We lost some precious people this year. One of my first "big" bosses died and brought together lots of people from the olden days in Admissions ~ while we traded texts back and forth with updates and when we traveled to his funeral to support his family.
We also lost my pastor's wife, Louise Thrasher. She has always been in my life. The Thrashers have been through all of the ups and downs with me (and millions of others). We know she is with Jesus. She spent her last days and weeks talking to people about Jesus and praising and worshipping Him. In fact, the night before she died, she was at a Worship Night in the Train Station in Bristol. We miss her, but I think I will always see her smiling face and hear her encouraging words until I see her again. And that's a gift, because she always encouraged me in a way that only one who had Jesus shining through her could.
In April, we sold our house of 15 years ~ right after renovating many things I had wanted to do over the years! We didn't close until June, so we continued to pare down and give away and sell and throw away lots of stuff. That sure lightened the load! We moved into an apartment in Vilas and are so thankful for the friends renting it to us ~ me, Pete, Sam, Sarah, and, of course, Sadie and Lucy! It has a beautiful view on a hill that will keep me from work on snow days!
We started looking at homes and lots in Bristol and Abingdon in the spring. I really wanted a home on Valley Street in Abingdon, so I could walk downtown. Or I would have settled for a house on Solar Street in Bristol that had the most amazing windows in the kitchen and the prettiest staircase. Or the pretty blue house near my old church that had a window seat and a few fireplaces! I thought he'd agree on the house my dad's principal lived in, when he was a child. But Pete was scared of my choices and the enormous work he could see involved. We decided to build and even picked out a lot. But the cost of building right now is so high. While we were going back and forth, a house we had seen online continued to drop in price; and so we went to see it with Tracy - my high school friend and running teammate ~ and a most patient, helpful, and fast to get back to you realtor. The in between story is very long. Really, it is. The longest closing in the history of house closings! But we both decided the location, the home and its potential, and just the general feel of the place made it a home we both happily agreed upon! It's close to Boone being right at Exit 19.
So we are renovating and planning to move in the spring after Sam graduates. It's getting a new kitchen, new bathrooms, paint, and some updating on plumbing and electrical during all of that. We will update the outside some too! If it looks familiar, you've seen it as you exit I-81 North at 19. I've always thought it was the cutest little house! If you can still find it on realtor.com, there are some great aerial pictures! It's on Maringo Road in Abingdon.
We are thankful and excited to move closer to family, but we will miss our friends in Boone! We'll only be a little over an hour away and hope to have a garage full of bikes, so we can have people visit and ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail!
Pete is still hoping to find a church to pastor. He will be ministering and pastoring in some capacity! We are just praying about where! Since we left our last church, two years ago, we have visited and attended some good churches; and he's ready to get back to preaching and pastoring. He still has all of his cleaning jobs now and has to spend most of his other time with his mom.
Sarah (Pete's mom) has lived with us for almost five years ~ since soon after Pop died. Her dementia gets worse every few months, it seems. She does not know who we are or what goes on. Some days are calmer, and some are very busy keeping up with her. We have a sitter who helps occasionally, and Andrew can still help some for short amounts of time. Hospice respite has been a huge help - giving us 4-5 days of a break each month for the past few months. We appreciate the little breaks we have here and there. We were able to take Sam to Charleston for a few days over spring break, and she stayed with Charlie. Meg kept her when we went to Colorado in November. We are thankful for these breaks and know firsthand how caregiving can completely wear you out and wear you down - especially when it's in your own home! We appreciate all of the prayers prayed for our family!
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We pray this Christmas season brings you closer to Jesus ~ the one and only Savior of the World. He is our Light and our Salvation. Our Hope. Our Joy. Our Peace.
Love,
Wendi
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
