Last night we went to my father and mother in-laws home to have our annual Christmas gathering. The food is always wonderful and the atmosphere seems to induce great fellowship.I am privileged to have a loving, supportive and close family but we are not without our problems. If you were to go through just the 2007 year alone, and listen to every story it would be absolutely amazing. The family has come through many adversities and struggles this year. But there has been prayer, encouragement and members of the family have provided where there have been critical needs. I write this in thanks that God has placed me within this family structure. They are not perfect but they are family. Every year it seems that Bill and Betty find a way to bring us all together and it becomes more special as I grow older. The stories are pretty much the same and the conversations tend to cover job, school, sports, current trips or family adventures. Oh yes and there is singing, there seems always to be some sort of singing with our family. This year I heard Carson (12 years old) and the daughter of Stuart and Barbara sing. Anna, my daughter wants her to make a CD and her dad looked at me and said "her singing pierces my heart." And so Anna, Carson and Sarah, with the guitar, sat around the computer and played songs and sang. The guys were trying to watch the football game but we yielded to something that was more significant than New England vs. Miami.
So from a year of struggle and adversity I praise God from whom all blessing flows for the fact that:
Bill and Betty are in good health and provide such loving and kind leadership for all of us in so many ways.
David and Holli - Ben and Sarah are healthy and enjoying school and travel. Ben on the west coast and Sarah at Furman, who just back from almost 4 months in Europe. David has been released from a non compete and is now actively pursuing work in which he has a backlog. And he has the best assistant, which is his lovely and talented wife Holli.
Stuart and Barbara - they also have healthy children. Britt, Frank and Carson. Britt and Frank will be graduating in 2008 from UNC and they now play on the Junior Varsity team. Barbara continues to get good reports from the doctor and Stuart continues to pursue sales and sales consulting opportunities. Carson like I said before has a voice that needs to be recorded and is a vibrant beautiful young girl. (By the way all the girls in this family are beautiful)
Bert and Nancy - kids are healthy and enjoying their seasons of life. Butner is working full time with the Inspiration Network and Anna remains in Boone. We are blessed to have children who talk to us about their lives and actually seek counsel from mom and dad regarding life issues. Nancy and I are in transition from our previous church to the next place where the Lord Jesus wants us to go and serve. But we know that He works all things to the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
So there it is a brief look at our family gathering for Christmas. A time of year to reflect and be thankful that through all the stuff we still have each other. Once again I am thankful for this family and hope we have many more opportunities to gather together during the Christmas season.
