2011...Joyful in January

Yes, it's been a while....a long while.
My last posting was May 2010. And I was promising to update more often. Yeah, well. :)
Fortunately, it's January, the month of new beginnings, so I am starting over with this blog posting business. Giving it another try....

So much has happened since I last wrote here in May, there'd be no way I could recap all that took place, and it's almost too much to even summarize the highlights. But in a nutshell: God is good. Even when life is hard, God is good. That's the one constant, always, no matter what. God is good....

I've adjusted to Tyler's leaving home for Cornerstone University. It's a 20 minute drive from our home, but brand a new chapter in our lives nonetheless, as he is living on-campus and we go weeks without seeing each other. He is adjusting well to college life and is happy to be there, which makes the adjustment easier for all of us. He is majoring in The Art of Ministry with a Young Adult emphasis. He leads worship on Friday night college gatherings, and also is involved volunteering in leadership with the High School Ministry at Frontline Church.

Last fall, I spent two weeks in Florida with my parents as Dad had another small setback physically. The setback threatened to make changes in their living environment, but thus far, only minor changes have needed to be made, thankfully, and they are still living on their own, in their own cozy Brooksville home, with some help 5 mornings a week from a dear lady named Shirley. Dad is 80 and Mom will celebrate her 80th birthday in May, so all things considered, they are certainly doing very well, and we are grateful to God for his protective, loving and healing hand that holds them close.

Emily is in her junior year of high school and is studying hard this year. She also is having her best year ever playing basketball for the Girls Varsity Hudsonville Hornets team. Also new for Emily as of this past fall, she is involved weekly leading worship at our church's youth worship service that meets on Sunday night. It's very exciting to see her living out this role for which God has greatly gifted her.

Tim is still blessed to be employed by Spectrum Industries, and the company has had one of their most profitable sales-years yet, even in this very hard econonic time. Tim leads a men's small group that meets weekly at our church and he also is serving the Vice Chairman of the Board of Elders for Kentwood Community Church.

Kentwood Community Church is where I am employed, part-time, and it continues to be a great outlet where God uses my gifts and stretches me in many ways including leadership and serving. Our church has just ended a transitional year going from one beloved pastor...Wayne Schmidt, to the next...Kyle Ray. God is doing fabulous things in the lives of our congregation as we allow the Holy Spirit to do His work, and as we commit to becoming a diverse community, where people experience authentic relationships, finding hope and freedom in Jesus Christ, as they unconditionally love, selflessly serve and passionately cultivate life change.

These are among many reasons I have in which to be joyful....I am so very blessed. More later. Have a joyful January.