Musings from Graceland

OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER
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Here's the Christmas letter that I FINALLY wrote and sent out today:
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Merry Christmas!
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2007 has been an amazing year for our family. What started out as a fairly normal year, well, normal for us, quickly became something new & exciting by the time the summer months rolled around.
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On Elysa’s 41st birthday, the older ones in our family went to see the movie, AMAZING GRACE which is about William Wilberforce & his fight to end slavery. This was the start of a shake up. God showed us that we had been in a time of rest and healing..a very comfortable place. It was time for us to wake up and get back in the fight.
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As William Wilberforce & his fellow abolitionists fought to end slavery in the 1700's & into the 1800's, God started speaking to us that He wanted us involved in helping to set the captives free. He wanted us active in helping break the chains that hold so many in bondage today...poverty, addiction, disease, abuse, exploitation, & spiritual darkness.
But what would that look like for us?
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During the spring & early summer two books played a crucial role in steps our family would take on this journey. Lisa Samson’s QUAKER SUMMER & Shane Claiborne’s IRRESISTIBLE REVOLUTION. We realized that not only had we been in a safe place of healing & rest, but we had also become lazy & self-centered. We had shut ourselves off from the very ones Jesus had told us to love.
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We are still praying to know what God’s will for the future of our family is going to look like, but we do know one area that He has for us to walk into now.
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In January, Elysa along with daughters A & B, will be going to Swaziland, Southern Africa for 10 days to minister to orphans & widows thru Children’s HopeChest. Elysa served in S’land 2 years as a missionary in her single days. Over the summer, thru her new relationship with author Lisa Samson & being introduced to the ministry of Children's HopeChest, she became aware of the horrific conditions going on in her beloved African country. Over 1/3 of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS & over 1/10 of the population is comprised of orphans. Disease combined with years of drought have wreaked havoc on the nation. Elysa’s heart has been breaking over the situation in Swaziland so she & the girls are very excited about the opportunity that God has given them to go over there & love on those precious ones. We also know it will be a life changing experience, especially for A & B.
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In other news, J still works as the dam safety engineer for the state & is a regional representative on a national board for dam safety officials. Elysa leads a local homeschool group & they both teach children’s church as well as lead a church cell group. 14 year old A & 12 year old B are active in the church youth group, are assistant children's church teachers, & are members of the homeschool group’s teen book club. Both girls are bloggers along with their mom, B clog dances with a local group, & A is learning to skateboard. 10 year old D & 9 year old P are both cubscouts and love Lego’s & video games. 6 year old LG is still a little princess & loves art. 4 year old son T & 2 year old daughter M enjoy playing with the farm cats, giving lots of cuddles, & making the family laugh.
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On a sad note, we had two close family members pass on this year. Elysa's mom's husband Roy and J's mom's husband Vers both died in August. That was a tough month for us. If you think about it, please pray for all of us as we face our first Christmas season without them.
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We’re sorry this is so late in arriving this holiday season. Life is always a bit crazy around here, but getting things done for the African trip has meant an extra bit of craziness added to the mix.
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Those of you who we’ve heard from, thanks so much! I'm sorry I've not sent out any cards. I'm still hoping to before its too very late. To those we’ve not heard from in a while, we’d love to hear news from your neck of the woods. We have learned over & over again that truly our friends & family are some of the very best blessings we have in life & we value those relationships highly. We don't want to lose touch with y'all despite how terribly busy things can get.
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Love and peace this Christmas season and may 2008 be your best year ever.
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