Dear Family and
Friends, December 2018
We
are approaching that very important day when we celebrate the birth of
Jesus. Mary and Joseph must have had mixed
thoughts and feelings as their newborn son arrived during the night they spent
in a Bethlehem stable. But over 2000
years later, we are celebrating and rejoicing because of that baby boy’s
birth. Only hours after his birth, this
little family would be visited by shepherds who had received a message from an
angel. That message was good news; it
remains good news now and will be for all time.
Luke 2: 10-11
...an angel said to them, (the shepherds) “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great
joy for all the people. Today in the
town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
As
we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s remember that Jesus is the Messiah, the
Savior who is able to save us from our sins and who says to us, “Do not be afraid,” even when we
can’t see what awaits us in the future.
His birth is good news and brings great joy for all people because He
became the Savior.
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| Gutted Kitchen |
 |
| Beautiful new kitchen nearly completed |
Our year started with a united decision between John and me that this was the year to launch a house remodel project to tackle some upgrades that we felt would improve our home and ready it for many more years of convenience and value. The work would be done in our master bedroom, kitchen and dining room. January found us selecting a gal to help us with research and decisions, a contractor we could trust and the stamina to pack up and move out everything in those 3 rooms! VERY fortunately, we had friends on our block who allowed us to move into their efficiency apartment on the lower level of their home so we were able to be close to the work and out of what was going to become a construction site for nearly four months. We thought we would survive the whole process which we did but neither of us realized it would be as consuming, exhausting and derailing an experience as it was for us. We shared common thoughts about most everything so we supported each other but we became quite drained and distracted from other things that usually occupied our time. We can assuredly report that we are VERY grateful for the finished results but also confident…we will never do anything like it again!!!
Now
for highlights that focus on things for which we are very grateful…
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| Lydia, John, Stephen, Diane, Phillip, Joanna |
1.Road
trip May 20-June 7 for high school graduation of grandson Stephen Worden at
Veritas School in Richmond, VA. Stephen
is now a freshman at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, PA where he is enjoying
academics and basketball.
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| John and Francis Eachus |
3.
May
22 short visit in Piney Flats, TN with Bill and Cindi Peterson, John’s sister
4.
May
25 Stephen’s graduation outdoors on the lovely grounds of Veritas School
5.
May
26-June 5 assist son John’s family in preparing their move from a home in
Midlothian to a home in Richmond which is closer to work and school activities.
6.
June
7 John’s annual Parkinson’s visit at Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston. He continues to be Dr.
Jankovich’s “star patient”.
7.
June
8-28 resettling in our home and preparing for...
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| Phillip, Ari, Sarah, John C., Cozzie, Linda, James, April, Stephen Worden |
8.... June
29-July 10 visit from son James and
family for a week of Laity Lodge Family Camp with daughter, Sarah, and 2
grandsons from Richmond, VA who were on staff for LLFC.
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| C-FC Class of 1963 |
9. August
23-29 Flights to LaCrosse, WI for a visit with the Berndts in their new home
and to attend my C-FC Class of 1963 55th year Reunion.
10.
Sept.
– Dec. Half day of volunteering at Schreiner University each week for both of
us. We especially are grateful for the
opportunity to connect with International students who study there. We have especially enjoyed a young man from
Colombia, SA who is in advanced music studies focusing on the violin. We pick him up and take him to church with us
each Sunday morning. He was at Schreiner University for just the fall semester so is already on his return to Colombia.
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| Attending to hear Daniel and the Hill Country Symphony |
Son
John continues to work for Good Feet in their 3 stores in and around Richmond,
VA where he and Diane live. Diane
continues to teach Kindergarten at Veritas School where their daughter, Joanna,
is a senior and Lydia is a sophomore.
Phillip is a sophomore at Virginia Tech in VA and Stephen is a freshman
at Messiah College in PA.
Son
James continues to work at the Charlotte Mason Community School in Detroit, MI.
where he and April live. Their daughter,
Ari, is a junior in high school and Constantine is in second grade. Cozzie has just shared the exciting news that
he will become a big brother next June.
Daughter
Sarah continues to live and work in San Antonio. She is in her 9th year as the
Librarian – Information Technologist – at the Elementary School on joint base
Fort Sam Houston. Her nearness is such a
blessing to us. She will join us on a
road trip to Detroit where we will all gather to celebrate Christmas during her
school break.
We
continue to live in Kerrville, TX where we enjoy our church, neighborhood and
opportunities to remain involved in a variety of volunteer efforts. John continues to see Dr. Jankovich at Baylor
College of Medicine in Houston, TX on an annual basis. His Parkinson’s condition is progressing very
slowly if at all so the medication he takes completely controls his only
symptom which is tremor on his right side.
He has added a boxing (specifically for Parkinson’s people) class three
times a week, follows that class with a workout and swim at the Center for
Fitness, has joined the Trinity Baptist Church Primetime Choir to exercise his
voice and continues as head usher at the Church. Linda continues working with Guest Care at Laity Lodge and
fills in a few days each month at the Kerrville office of the H.E.Butt Foundation.
We
are so thankful for all that Christmas means – the celebration of God’s great
love which came in the form of a baby who grew into the perfect man and became
the Lamb who willingly was sacrificed for the sins of all who believe.
With Friendship,
John & Linda Worden
