Welcome Trish from Germany

On Monday Trisha was returning from her visit to Germany and had a 2 hour layover in Memphis. YEA! So the Germantown family went to the airport to greet her home. It was fun to see her and spend a couple of hours with you before she proceeded on to Oklahoma City. We will see her again in a couple of days when we travel back to Iowa.

1st Place in Germantown, TN

The Bouck's home in Germantown, TN won the First Place Award in the Holiday Lights contest, in their neighborhood, this Christmas. In fact their whole cove looks beautiful with holiday lights.

Merry Christmas from Norm and Jan

Marc, Suzanne and family have once again been moved from Hawaii (Hickam AFB) to Alaska (Elmendorf AFB) where Marc has been assigned as the Vice Commander of the 11 Pacific Air Force. What a change to be back on the continent from the Paradise Island of Hawaii. They moved in October, so have only known the white Alaska, (great skiing) and are looking forward to the green long summer days for which Anchorage is known. Tony is in his junior year at Texas A & M, and is anticipating the take over of Senior Corps duties in the Spring (2009). We hope to sojourn to Texas for the big event. Holly, Jessica(15), Andrew (10), & Abigail(9) are captive in Anchorage where the three younger (all play stringed instruments), continue their home schooling under Suzanne’s tutelage and she continues her shuttle service to all children and military activities. Marc has just finished training in the C12 plane and will be back in the air for some new flying joys. The whole family (less Tony who was counseling at camp) joined us in Colorado for our 50th Anniversary celebration .

Kim, Art (Bouck) and family finished and moved into their home expansion in Germantown which we enjoyed with many others at the celebration of Peter and Samuel’s graduation parties in May. Peter (22) graduated from UT in May and in June started the Texas 4000 from Austin, TX to Anchorage, AK on a bike. It took approx. 2.5 months as they each (all 40 bikers) raised $4,000 for cancer research. He is now a Fulbright Scholar living on the Isle of Malta teaching English and pursuing some selected studies. Samuel (19) began his freshman year at the Univ. of TN at Knoxville in Architecture. His interest and ability led to a very good 1st semester with his final project being held as an example for future students. Jacob (16) continues his education at Westminster Academy (WA) as Jr. class social chairman (something inherited from Mom)and Libby (12) maintains top student status with her home school studies. Art still enjoys flying status with FEDEX, and Kim revels in her new kitchen, laundry and family room, while maintaining home schooling and enjoying her "Cove" activities. The Boucks also joined us in Colorado for our 50h Anniversary, and we again plan to spend Christmas with them.

Trisha called with some exciting news in December, as she was selected to attend Army Graduate School in Fort Leavenworth, KS starting in January 2009. Having just completed her Master’s Degree at OK Univ. she will now be a full time student, and having to find some way to maintain or rent her home in Ok. City. In the January picture at night (2:00 a.m.) she arrived back from her deployment in the Gulf region, and since has nearly a year in her new position at Tinker AFB. She still managed to log some flying time in the AWACS as cover for Air Force One, and also made the family gathering in Colorado. She will be spending this Christmas on vacation in Germany with her 82 year old former neighbor, Tante Tinny.

Sonya, Tracy (Spellings) and family have settled into their new home in Round Rock, TX and have just finished selling their cows and related farm equipment & supplies. Bonified city slickers now, the transition seems complete with all adjusting well. The in-ground pool between the house and the large shed gets constant use when the kids are not home schooling, biking, scootering or inter-netting with Grandma. Luiken (5) has joined sisters Jordon (14), Emma (11), Sarah (10), and Maggie (8) in home studies, while Levi (3) continues to explore the 2-acre boundaries. A busy family with 6 hungry mouths to feed, clothes to wash and schedules to maintain. The older girls continue to be great help to Sonya. Tracy has been blessed with good clientele in the insurance world. We had a great time with them, Boucks and others at Peter’s graduation in May and again as they all made the trip to Colorado in June to be with us. We hope to be with them over the New Year time.

“Why The Shepherds”?
“They came in haste and found…..Mary and Joseph and the baby as HE lay in the manager? Luke 2:16 The Angel announced to the lowly shepherds “in the city of David there…born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The City of David everyone knew (including the Shepherds) was Bethlehem. King David was chosen by the Prophet Samuel when he was a lowly shepherd boy. I Sam. 16:11 “behold he (David) is tending the sheep”. And that baby, found by the shepherds in the manager, would grow up to be “the good Shepherd that lays down His life for the sheep.” Is it any wonder that God chose to announce His Son’s birth to the shepherds who immediately said “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see this thing….which the Lord has made known to us.” God Loves Shepherd’s hearts and demonstrated His love through the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep. As sheep, do we recognize and acknowledge this good Shepherd -The Christ Child – as our personal Shepherd?

Norm and Jan still report for work at Century21, coordinate the Faithwalker’s class at church and maintain our involvement with the Missionary Evangelistic Fellowship (MEF). Besides celebrations in Texas, Tennessee and Colorado with family, we made some memorable trips to Branson with friends and our Faithwalker’s class (19 in all) for the Southern Gospel Picnic over Labor Day. Norm, with 4 other board members/family and our pastor, Dr. David Staff made a trip to Khammam, India for the Asian Leader’s Conference (MEF/ASE) in November. A very memorable time with the gracious India peoples; ministering, visiting various mission outreaches and connecting with our Asian Leaders. God was gracious – even though some of our group were rerouted due to terrorists acts in Mumbai, we all made it home safely. We continue to cherish God’s goodness in sending Jesus to earth as it is His Birth we celebrate at Christmas.
http://www.OneSolitaryLifeMovie.com

Christmas Day in Germantown, TN

Christmas morning found everyone up early and ready to open presents. It is always fun to watch the grandchildren excited and grateful about what they receive. We had a fun relaxed time enjoying each other this morning. What a precious time to be able to spend with our children and grandchildren. God is so good!

Art reading the Christmas story before opening our presents.


Art opening his remote plane


Grandpa preparing our Christmas breakfast

Everyone is ready to eat!

Samuel skiing on the WII Fit Balance Board

Christmas Eve in Tennessee

On Christmas Eve David, Lisa, Grant, Lindsay and Caroline came over for visit. It is always so much fun to be able to spend time with all of them.
Art, David, Lisa and Kim

Sam and Grant

Jacob and Lindsay

Jacob, Peter and Libby in their new "Christmas" PJs


Art and Norm putting up their new TV

Luiken's Open House

Tonight (Saturday) in spite of blizzard conditions we had a great group of friends from Ames (our Adult Fellowship, Bible Study and special friends) brave the weather and drove to Huxley for our annual Christmas Open House. We had a great time of eating and visiting.

Accident in our front yard

Last night (Tuesday) around 9:30 I went to the kitchen and noticed outside our window someone walking up and down the sidewalk and a car on the parking. Norm called our police and what happened was someone lost control of their car on the slick roads and took out our neighbor's mailbox and the Huxely Communication cable and telephone box in our yard. As you can see it certainly wiped it out! Thankfully it did not affect the internet! :-) UPDATE- it DID Wipe out our internet!!! YIKES I am lost without my computer.

Snow Day in Iowa

Today (Tuesday) it has been snowing all day. Maybe 4-5 inches of snow. It is light, powdery and beautiful. So thankful I can stay inside and just enjoy!

Christmas in Silver Dollar City

This past weekend we spent three wonderful days with our friends, Ed and Margreet vanOwerkerek, and Don and Sally Taylor. We spent two full days in the City and had lunch on Saturday on the Showboat Branson Belle. A wonderful relaxing weekend!

Entrance into Silver Dollar City


Let us all REJOICE at Jesus' Birth!


Geyser Gulch ready for Christmas


The Candy Store


Train in the Light Parade


The Christmas Tree with 350,000 lights


Anyone want to buy a goose?


Norm & Jan ready to board the Showboat Branson Belle


Lunch on the Showboat


Leaving our condo Sunday Mornng