WHAT A YEAR!

Today marks the first anniversary of Laurie donating her kidney to Janet.  I was at UAB Wednesday with Charles Hill and we were in the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Unit in Jefferson Towers and I was flooded with memories.  The great memories of the loving kindness of Laurie and how proud we are of her good heart (and kidney, too).  Also I was filled with a great sense of happiness at thinking about how great Janet is doing and how wonderful it has been to grow to have her be a part of our family and to get to be a part of hers too. In less than a year it is so great to see them both with great health and two great Christian ladies who love God and their families.
11 months ago Louise and Dirt brought a great addition to all our lives in precious Ellie.  What a joy it has been to watch her grow and develop. Now in just over a month she'll have her first birthday and they will all come faster for her and her parents, her aunts and her grandparents in the coming year but continue to bring us joy and pride.
Also in less than a year Leigh and Nathan have gotten engaged and in two weeks from right now will be married.  That is a wonderful blessing to our lives as our family expands again with the addition of Nathan.  It has been a great joy to watch them grow as people and as a couple in the last couple of years.  I look forward to seeing them grow in their love for each other and God in coming days. 
A year ago Laurie didn't even know Matt and now in 6 weeks, he too will become part of our family. It was a great source of pride to watch him grow in his interest in Laurie and to watch his increasing interest in studying the Bible culminating with Dirt baptizing him while all the girls were here.  I have never seen Laurie happier and I am so happy that both found the right one in each other.
At church, just about a year ago I was asked to serve on the eldership at Trenton.  I have had a great many things that have been challenges and occasions of joy to me but none have compared to the first year as an elder.  There have been some of the greatest highs and some of the most difficult emotional nights of my life.  It is truly been the greatest honor and the greatest challenge in my life.  It has been a great year at church with some wonderful growth and some great people have become part of our family at Trenton. In over twenty years of preaching it has probably been my most satisfying and peaceful year ever at a congregation.   God has truly blessed us here.
Our work in the Philippines continues to progress as we move into a different area of focus.  Now we are addressing the strengthening of existing congregations in central and eastern Pangasinan.  Our April trip was greatly blessed as we were blessed to be a part of the establishment of a new congregation at Pao and 51 baptisms and some great work with the Binalonan, San Carlos and Urdaneta congregations.  It was a wonderful trip for Chris and I and really continues to show the commitment this congregation has to the work in the Philippines.  Today we met with 21 people and discussed the work and have 3 pretty firm commitments to go with us in April, 2012.  It has truly been a blessed work there.
A year ago, the conventional wisdom in Trenton and Dade County was that tornadoes don't come through here as the mountains keep them out of the valley.  April 27, just 7 days after we had returned from the Philippines, we learned that the conventional wisdom isn't always wise.  4 tornadoes swept over Sand Mountain and devastated areas of our county as the devastation tracked across the South. The work began that night as we cancelled worship services on Wednesday night and then stayed at the building with a number of folks who were seeking shelter in a safe place.  The congregation rallied around and for the next 60 days was immersed in tornado relief.  We did amazing amounts of tree and clean up work, feeding those that were hungry and providing food, cleaning supplies, and clothing to many families in need. We also gave away a lot of gift cards at BI-Lo and provided help in just about anyway that was needed.  I was so proud of the response by the loving Christians at Trenton and the help that came in from churches and brethern around the country.  It was just waht I would have expected out of Christians who have rallied together to help others and glorify God.
Finally how could I reflect on a year without sharing my joy at the progress Jamie has continued to make.  She started about 3 months ago to start to walk every night.  Now she is walking most mornings and evenings and is doing so great.  She has lost about 25 pounds and feels so much better.  She is even running some and continues to feel better and do so much better!  She has been a great joy to me through 32 years and now I am so excited to watch her continue to defy the experts as her recovery from the stroke just continues to amaze me!  She is something special!
Now the next 6 weeks will complete the biggest expansion of our family ever with the addition of Ellie, Nate and Matt.  It also has truly been one of the most blessed years of my life and I look ahead to even greater things to come.  Every day I sure have a lot to give thanks to God for. I also have so many people to thank for all the blessings in my life!  Thanks to you all!  I love you all in a special way!