Long list for the New Year....

The New Year holds lots of things for our family this year....
We start back to school (homeschooling) on January 4th.
We get to celebrate Wesley's 2nd birthday on January 8th.
Greg starts his new class on January 12th.
In the midst of all of this going on we are trying to prepare for our new little one's arrival in March.
We have also, as a family, signed up to be the team leader's on a TLC (Touching Lives for Christ) short-term missions trip this summer. We are super excited about this possible opportunity. (More to come later on that subject.)

God has given us soooo many blessings this year it would be hard to recall each and every one. We found out that my dad had lung cancer this year, and it would seem that after surgery he is doing really well physically. Wesley was badly burned by the iron, 1st and 2nd degree burns in June, and the only sign that it ever happened is a couple of light scars. We are extremely greatful. We had the priviledge of another Quakenbush Family Reunion this summer, where I was able to meet some of Greg's family for the first time. My cousin Bud passed away this year, and while our hearts grieve here on earth for his absence, I am sooo thankful that just six weeks before he died he accepted Christ into his heart. God has been present in every situation, even those times when it seemed hard to feel His presence. He never leaves nor forsakes, and for that I TRULY am thankful.

This new year will bring challenges I am sure. For as long as we serve Christ, the enemy will be sure to throw obstacles our way. But I know that through the tough times, the hard and difficult trying times, that this is when Christ shines through us if we allow Him to. I want to make Jesus look so attractive to a hurting and dying world that they know exactly where to turn during these difficult times. By God's grace this will be another year of reflection on His undying love and mercy, come what may. May each of you have a blessed New Year!!!