I mentioned in the December issue of The Seeker (posted under the Newsletter tab) that we now have more than 6,000 students who have enrolled in our online course. What I did not mention is that more than 4,000 of them have enrolled this year. That number still just amazes me because we never had that many new students in any year that we were with our previous mission work. In fact, nowhere even close. I really don't know what has made the difference, but I'm happy that so many folks are seeking to learn more of God's Word, and that we can help.
Especially since I'm told that the world is due to end today. Why didn't I get that memo? I asked what time, but apparently the Mayans forgot to include that in their note.
Christmas is already here for many of us (I opened gifts with my grandsons Wednesday night, and get to do it again next week.) I hope you have a very Happy Holiday wherever you are!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Why?
Do you ever have one of those days where you ask "Why?" a lot? Mine was yesterday. Oh, not any deep philosophical meanderings on the meaning of life or anything. Just those small ponderings when life plagues you. Questions like -
- Why do I always pick the wrong check-out line? You know, the one that takes 3 times as long as all the other ones.
- Why am I even out in this mall nightmare when all of my Christmas shopping is done?
- Why did I forget that Julie's birthday comes hot on Santa's heels? Oh, well, that answers why #2.
- Why is eating alone in a restaurant so depressing?
And then my sister called to tell me that there is now actual medical proof that dark chocolate makes a great cough suppressant. Suddenly, I felt better . . . but I do feel a cough coming on.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Silly Pictures
Jimmie always loved clowning for the camera.
It. was a talent that he cultivated, often corrupting others.
He especially liked clowning with Cole . . .
and apparently influenced him greatly.
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I think Jasper is going to fit right in!
Monday, December 3, 2012
Holiday
People always say that holidays are the worst after you loose someone. No doubt that is true which is why I am grateful to my daughter for thinking ahead soon after Jimmie's death. She quickly made plans for me to spend Halloween in Mississippi, Thanksgiving in Tennessee, and Christmas coming up I am due to be in Texas. I think it was wonderfully sweet of her.
But there was one big holiday that was not on the calendars this year and no one but me could have remembered. Sunday, December 2nd marked the 40th anniversary of the day I met Jimmie.
Jimmie always loved to tell the story of how we met, preferably to large crowds because it always got a laugh. You see, the first time Jimmie saw me I was running to my car in an attempt to AVOID meeting HIM. Long story short, my sister and brother-in-law had been trying to play matchmaker but I refused to cooperate. I had passed on meeting Jimmie repeatedly, completely ignoring their urging.
But then, I listened to my 3-year-old nephew, Barry. Suddenly, he had to comb his hair just like Jimmie. He had to wear clothes just like Jimmie. He talked constantly about Jimmie, so I began to think there must be something special about this guy. Finally, I agreed to the introduction . . . yet kept postponing the meeting.
Then one Saturday morning as I was sitting in my sister's kitchen sipping coffee with her, her husband called. He and Jimmie were on their way to a construction job and wanted to stop by for Jimmie to meet me. I grabbed my purse and bolted out the door faster than a streaking cat. But my sneaky brother-in-law had called from a pay phone half-a-block away, so they had seen my flight from the house and pulled into the driveway just as I reached my car. Jimmie thought it was absolutely hilarious that I was trying to escape, and it wasn't long before I thought that it was absolutely wonderful that he caught me. The rest, they say, is history.
Earlier this year when the cancer treatments began to fail, one after another, I still hoped that Jimmie might be with us for one more holiday, one more Christmas for him to grumble "Bah! Humbug!" in his best Ebeneezer Scrooge. But mostly I hoped that we might mark this December 2nd together. Nothing big, just a smile and some shared remembrances. Sadly, that was not to be. But I will always be grateful for the incredible blessing of having Jimmie in my life.
But there was one big holiday that was not on the calendars this year and no one but me could have remembered. Sunday, December 2nd marked the 40th anniversary of the day I met Jimmie.
Jimmie always loved to tell the story of how we met, preferably to large crowds because it always got a laugh. You see, the first time Jimmie saw me I was running to my car in an attempt to AVOID meeting HIM. Long story short, my sister and brother-in-law had been trying to play matchmaker but I refused to cooperate. I had passed on meeting Jimmie repeatedly, completely ignoring their urging.
But then, I listened to my 3-year-old nephew, Barry. Suddenly, he had to comb his hair just like Jimmie. He had to wear clothes just like Jimmie. He talked constantly about Jimmie, so I began to think there must be something special about this guy. Finally, I agreed to the introduction . . . yet kept postponing the meeting.
Then one Saturday morning as I was sitting in my sister's kitchen sipping coffee with her, her husband called. He and Jimmie were on their way to a construction job and wanted to stop by for Jimmie to meet me. I grabbed my purse and bolted out the door faster than a streaking cat. But my sneaky brother-in-law had called from a pay phone half-a-block away, so they had seen my flight from the house and pulled into the driveway just as I reached my car. Jimmie thought it was absolutely hilarious that I was trying to escape, and it wasn't long before I thought that it was absolutely wonderful that he caught me. The rest, they say, is history.
Earlier this year when the cancer treatments began to fail, one after another, I still hoped that Jimmie might be with us for one more holiday, one more Christmas for him to grumble "Bah! Humbug!" in his best Ebeneezer Scrooge. But mostly I hoped that we might mark this December 2nd together. Nothing big, just a smile and some shared remembrances. Sadly, that was not to be. But I will always be grateful for the incredible blessing of having Jimmie in my life.
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