December - In Short

Well, December has been quite a month and I didn’t post anything at all. We have been from Kentucky and Tennessee to Texas, Virginia, Texas, California and then back to Texas. We spent one quick night at Deb’s after leaving Kentucky and had our teeth cleaned the next morning before we left for Texas. We drove from Nashville to Arkadelphia, Arkansas and took a freshman student at Ouachita University out for dinner. It was good to see her again. Her folks were with us when we went through our overseas training in 2005 and they serve in our region. She stayed in the dorm in Chiang Mai for part of the school year.

We drove on Saturday, December 6 to Grand Prairie and spent some time with our special friends, Jo and David. We also were able to attend our “home” church and see so many of our friends. On Tuesday we flew to Richmond, Virginia to go to our debriefing at the International Learning Center. The time was very well spent. It was helpful not only to reconnect but to process the “coming home” and put it into perspective. We flew back to Grand Prairie on Saturday, getting back right on schedule and were pleased to then attend the choir Christmas Program at our church. Sunday was spent visiting. We continually thank the Lord for our church and pastor. They have been such great support while we were in Thailand.

Monday we left the Dallas area and headed south. We stopped for lunch at Phil & Susan’s. It was the first time we had seen their house in Waco. We continued on to Montgomery, Texas which is about an hour north of Houston. We spent four days just recouping, resting and repacking. Then our schedule went sort of haywire. We had planned to spend Christmas week at South Padre but because of a hurricane in July the resort that we were to stay in was still closed. So, Bob, Deb and I stayed with Phil, Susan and James for Christmas week and had a great time. We visited, played games and just hung out. The change in schedule played havoc with our already purchased flights but we managed. Deb was originally flying into Houston so we waited there for her. Her flight was cancelled so instead of flying to Houston she flew early December 20 into Dallas. Jo & David picked her up. Bob & I drove from Houston area to Phil’s and then Bob & Phil drove to Grand Prairie to pick up Deb. What fun but we did get to spend our holiday together.

On Sunday, December 28, Bob & I flew out of Austin, TX to California for an Elderhostel at the Rose Parade. Phil drove Deb to San Antonio for her flight back to Nashville. We are thankful for flexibility. We praise God for 2008 and the time we have had to spend with family and friends.