Sunday, January 21, 2007

Christmas / New Years Letter

A YEAR OF CHANGE
When we got back from Guatemala in December of 2005 we decided that the spacious 900 square foot home we left, had grown to0 small for the large tribe we brought back with us. The boys and Joelle had all grown and the newest addition was on the way. The Lord graciously provided through my Dad. He offered to build us a house at his cost. Two weeks before Stephen was born we moved into our new home. We are still close to family, but have a little bit more room to stretch out.

In May, Betty’s dad became very ill. The illness moved very quickly and we flew down to Mexico along with Betty’s sister and brother-in-law to be with the family. We were so thankful that shortly before we returned to the States and after much prayer Art seemed to be recovering. Sadly, several months later he slowly began to worsen and on November 6<th he entered into his reward. We have been sobered and challenged by the nearness of eternity. It is our desire to live lives that really count and run the race left to us to run.A YEAR OF JOY

A YEAR OF JOY
This year the words of the song “…He gives and takes away…” have often run through our minds. While we have grieved over the loss of Betty’s dad, we have been overjoyed at the arrival of Stephen Martin Scott on October 6th. He weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz and was 20 ¾ in long. We named him Martin after our dear friend James Martin who has been so influential in our lives. Stephen’s life verse is: 2 Timothy 2:3-5. The combination of his names means: One who wars against spiritual darkness through the power of the Holy Ghost to the end that he might receive the victor’s crown.

We pray that this New Year the Lord will make Himself real to us and each of you!

Josh, Betty, Abel, Abraham, Joelle, Nathanael, and Stephen Scott