Christmas1990 Yearly ReCap

“Give thanks to the Lord, 
for he is good.  His love endures forever.”       
                         Psalm 136:1

It’s a joy to be able to write another Christmas newsletter this year and to focus on the many good things the Lord has done for us over the past months.  He truly is a good God and I am so glad that this wonderful Christmas Season is here once again.  Lately I’ve been listening to Handel’s Messiah and I am so blessed by the words and music. What an incredible reason we have to celebrate!

This coming February it will be 4 years since our accident in Hawaii and I must say that I am very glad that the initial years of adjustment are behind us.  God has been so faithful to provide for our needs, to encourage us and to care for us, but now we feel more able to reach out and look a little bit to the needs of others, which is a nice change!  We are hosting a home meeting during the week at our place (which makes it easier for me to attend) where I lead worship and play guitar.  We are studying the book of Philippians this year both at church and in our home groups so we’re getting a good dose of teaching on rejoicing!  Regardless of circumstances our lives should be characterized by the joy of the Lord.  

As I look back on this year I can see that the Lord has truly given me an abundance of reasons to rejoice. Near the beginning of the year I had surgery once again to reduce my muscle spasms and that has made life much easier for me.  I’ve even been able to go completely off all of my medications!  Then in February Ron and I flew down to Anaheim California to enjoy a conference on Holiness.  The teaching was excellent and it was an awesome experience to be able to worship together with about 3,500 other believers.

Daniel is another one of my greatest sources of joy.  He’s been at a delightful age for many months now (turned 4 in October) and he’s also a real help to me.  Quite a responsible little fellow!  He’s still doing well with memorizing Bible verses and it’s a pleasure to hear him pray.  Lately his concern is very much for poor people, but as he was praying for them the other day things came out a bit scrambled.  He said to the Lord,  “Please take care of the poor people, and send US more money”.  I’m sure the Lord knew what he meant!  It’s fun watching him learn new things and I’m enjoying teaching him about creation and how to write his letters.  This year he has also done well in his swimming lessons and now that it’s winter Ron is teaching him how to skate.  I can’t thank God enough for this precious little boy!

Another reason for celebration this year was Mom and Dad’s 40^thAnniversary.  We had a special evening with some close friends at a restaurant nearby where we enjoyed a delicious meal and had a good time of singing and visiting.  And Vic was able to come down to Kelowna to surprise Mom and Dad for the event, which was an extra special treat.  Mom and Dad continue to be an incredible blessing to all of us kids and I am so glad we live close enough to see them often.  (Plus it’s an added bonus that Daniel frequently finds his way over there to visit with his Oma and Opa while Mommy rests!) Elsie also moved into her new house nearby which is great so we see lots of her too.

We’re also privileged to have Ron’s parents living in town and Daniel loves to go visit them too. Grandma is always baking some kind of treat or a batch of buns for us, plus we are regularly supplied with beautiful hand knit sweaters made to fit perfectly! Ron’s Dad has had a tough year though as he was diagnosed with cancer, but now that he’s had surgery and is done his treatments things are looking better.  

Ron, of course, continues to keep very busy.  At the beginning of September he put away his electrical tools and he is now working with a good friend Luke under the name of Hannon Management.  This involves contracting out services such as accounting and setting up businesses for interested clients.  He also works for this same friend at the Society of Hope to help single parents find housing and work opportunities among other things.  It’s quite a challenge but Ron is enjoying the change and the opportunity to learn many new things. He also really likes the fellows he works with.  

Now it’s hard to say that I’ve saved the best news for last because I’ve mentioned so many good things in this letter, but we’re pretty excited about the latest development that God is sending our way!  Most of you have probably already heard the news, but according to Daniel, “there is a baby in my mommy’s tummy!”  God willing, we are expecting the arrival of a little brother or sister for Daniel at the beginning of April.  I’m generally feeling very well (other than a heart rate that hits some  phenomenal highs and lows on occasion) and I’m VERY much looking forward to having another baby.

So, as you can see, we really do have a lot to thank the Lord for, but most of all we thank Him for His presence in our lives and for the gift of salvation through JESUS!  

Christmas 1989 ReCap

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us… In Him was life and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it.”          John 1

Once again I have the joy of sending out a Christmas newsletter and as I look back over the past year I can see that there are so many things to thank God for.  He is truly the Light that dispels darkness and gives us hope. 

This year has been a full one and I am continuing to get stronger as time goes on. Early this year I had an operation to sever some nerves in my back to help decrease the very strong muscle spasms I get which interfere with many of my daily activities.  It worked quite well initially and made life much easier for me.  The spasms have returned to a certain degree, but I am coping fairly well. As it is, I manage to keep busy around the house caring for Daniel, sewing, visiting with friends and going out to church activities or shopping.  It’s good to have more energy and to be enjoying an active life once again.

Daniel sure knows how to keep lots of activity in our home, even if he makes Ron and I sometimes feel a little lazy!  He just turned 3 in October and he has been the source of incredible joy for us as well as a source of aggravation at times.  The age of 2 was a breeze with him compared to some of the power struggles we are going through right now.  At any rate “this too shall pass” and we still love the little guy like crazy!  He enjoys all kinds of activities, but his hammer (“bang-bang”) probably ranks as his all time favorite toy.  It has even accompanied him into bed on occasion.  He has also been busy memorizing a bunch of Bible verses this year!

We had a good summer and enjoyed lots of picnics and family activities.  We even went on a “campout” with some friends and Daniel had a great time playing on the beach while Daddy went out and won the golf tournament on his birthday! (We won’t debate whether they just let him win because it was his birthday or if it was his phenomenal judgment and skill at the game…).  Daniel spent many of his summer hours playing in his sand-box, splashing in his wading pool and taking swim lessons with Daddy.

Ron has had a lot of good experience working for his brother’s electrical company this year.  He has done a wide variety of jobs right from managing the office to running a job at a large apartment being built here in Kelowna.  He did very well at that and will be starting another one shortly.  Some of his leisure activities include hockey, volleyball and squash.  And of course his all time favorite summer activity – golf! He’s also involved in a singing group at church for Christmas.

We are continuing to enjoy the church we are attending.  Presently we are studying the book of James in some depth and there is a challenge out to memorize the entire book!  So far I’ve managed Chapter 1 and Ron isn’t far behind on verse 4.  It’s an excellent book to study and hopefully I’m learning to “consider it pure joy…when I face trials of many kinds!” At any rate I am asking God for the wisdom which He promises to “give generously” as I attempt to be a good mother and wife.  At our home group meeting I am leading worship along with a friend and it’s a good opportunity for me to play guitar again.

I’m having so much fun preparing for Christmas this year and I’m really enjoying Daniel’s enthusiasm about Jesus’ birthday!  

Christmas 1988 Yearly ReCap

JOY to the world, the Lord is come!  “…to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace…”        Luke 1:77-79

Christmas Greetings!

As I look back over the past year I can see there are so many things to be thankful for!  Ron and I have been in our new home for almost a year and it’s a pleasure to be in a house where I can be so independent and things are set up so well to accommodate the wheelchair.  It’s also fun being in our own place so I can do Christmas baking and preparations again.  What a marvelous time of the year – to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

My health has improved over the past year, in terms of gaining back much more of my energy and independence.  Of course I have days where I face frustrations, but God’s grace is sufficient and I praise Him for, "His mercies are new every morning!" I still go for physiotherapy once a week, mostly to help me maintain the range of motion in my lower body. I still have to lay down every afternoon to rest my back and stretch out my muscles, but it’s a good time for me to spend in prayer and reading.  Thankfully Daniel still generally has nice long naps in the afternoon, which allows me to have my quiet time!

Daniel continues to bring us a lot of joy, although he’s changed from a baby to a little boy in the past year!  He just turned two in October, which adds a few challenges to this business of parenting.  We have a lot of fun though despite the trials of potty training and a new spirit of independence. 

 He talks a lot now and it is so sweet to hear his little prayers.  No wonder God said we are to become like little children.  Daniel keeps busy building with his blocks, hammering a wide assortment of objects, and “fixing” all kinds of things.  Nice to have such a handyman around the house…  We continue to be so thankful that God spared his life in the accident!  What a joy to watch the little guy grow -  he truly is a marvelous gift from the Lord.

Ron resigned from his job at Home Hardware and is presently working along with his brother doing electrical work.  He is also anticipating getting into some kind of book-keeping/accounting business in the future so he spends a fair bit of time on the computer trying out all kinds of different programs.  We’ll have to see which doors open in regards to his future career.

We changed churches this past summer and are now attending the New Life Fellowship Baptist Church.  The style of worship and teaching were more along the lines of what we were used to at YWAM.  I have found it a tremendous encouragement and have really grown in my walk with the Lord.  It seems a revival is happening here and it’s exciting to be a part of it and to see so many new believers on an almost a weekly basis!  

I keep quite busy with the daily activities of running the home, attending church meetings, looking after Daniel and visiting friends.  It’s such a blessing having Mom and Dad living so close by.  They often look after Daniel for me when I’m out and help out in numerous other ways.  Ron’s family help out at different times as well so we’re grateful for all the family and good friends we are surrounded with!  I’m able to do much of the housework but I have a girlfriend come in and do the bigger jobs for me such as vacuuming and washing the floors etc.  Those things can be a bit tricky in a wheelchair.

I hope this letter help to bring you up to date on what’s happening in our lives.  I can testify to God’s faithfulness even when circumstances aren’t always easy!  Praise Him for sending Jesus to save us and give us a reason to live for His honour and glory!  

Christmas 1987

Dear Friends & Family,                                                            December 1987

This past year has seen our little family through a great many changes.  It began with Ron, Daniel and I all flying to Hawaii to work with “Youth With A Mission”. 

 However, an accident, which left Ron with two broken legs, and me paralyzed from the chest down, altered our lives immensely.  We praise God for sparing Daniel’s life and we have been so blessed by the joy he brings to us.  God has brought good things out of the situation and we trust that He will continue to do so.  We still have our times of discouragement though.  If it weren’t for our loving supportive family and friends, things would have been much harder.  We are grateful for the many prayers and other acts of kindness shown to us over the past year.  

I left the GF Strong Rehabilitation Center near the end of July after several months of therapy, medical care and exercise.  It was great to be with Ron and Daniel at home and I was eager to be more of a mother to Daniel.  I’ve learned to get him in and out of his crib, highchair and the bathtub – even though it requires some interesting maneuvers!  Daniel has been blessed with a good temperament and has learned to work along with me.  He’s been walking since August and is busy discovering his world, bringing lots of laughter and activity into our lives.  

Ron started building us a wheelchair accessible house in August and we hope to be in before Christmas.  We are presently living with my parents (two houses down from where we’re building!)  Ron is now finishing up his electrical training in Kamloops and he’ll be done December 19^th.  He got a full time job at a new Home Hardware store, which has just opened in Kelowna.  He’s looking forward to this job change!  With Ron being so busy, I’ve started to go out on my own more often.  We’ve had our car equipped with hand controls and I’m able to get my wheelchair in and out by myself.  

So it’s been a full year for us and God has been patient and faithful as we learn to trust Him in a greater way.  Even though we don’t fully understand why He allows certain things in our lives, He is in control and loves us immensely!  Through Him we are over-comers.  (Romans 8:37)

Love Ron, Karen and Daniel