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December 29, 2024

To all who call upon the name of the Lord:

We truly believe that this has been the most active and chaotic year of our 31 years of marriage, if not our lives. So we wanted to share what all has transpired and what God might be doing and what we are seeking God about for the coming year.

So here is the rundown: 1st Philippines Mission Trip; Cousin visits from Germany: Daughter 2 – married; Daughter 4 – Engaged to Marry; Trip to Germany for Uncle’s funeral; Son – college graduation; Daughter 1 – pregnant – again!; Cousin’s 2nd visit from Germany; Daughter 3 – moves out; Daughter 4 – married, Outer Banks Trip; Sell of family home; 2nd Philippines Mission Trip; Niece visits from Germany; Texas Pickleball and duck hunting trip; Thanksgiving; Christmas; New Year…

So that’s it. You’re all caught up. Nothing left to talk about. See you next year…

Awe, don’t worry, I won’t leave ya hangin’ like that.

So, obviously, we’ll start with the Philippines Missions Trip. This past February, Karin and I went with a group from our church led by one of our pastors, Christian Beuggert, to the Philippines to be apart of a medical missions trip. Our purpose was to help Francis and Leah Daytec, medical missionaries to the Mangyan tribes of Mindoro. If you would like to know what all that was about, let me know and I will send you the newsletter from that trip.

Two days later, Karin’s cousin, Stephan, came to visit from Germany. He was on a business trip and had time to get away to spend a day with us. This was the first time he had come to visit us and we really enjoyed the time showing him around Roanoke and touring our little homestead. Since he grew up on a farm, he had a lot of ideas for us and it was fun talking to him about farm life.

Next, Ellie went and got married. Can you believe that? What has gotten into her? She started dating Ritter this past year after him waiting for her for over 2 years. Took her awhile but she finally woke up and realized, “Hey, this guy likes me, maybe I like him too.” So, in March they got hitched and we gained a son. Ritter has been very good for her and we believe they are a great match. Both are goofy and do well together.

A week before the wedding, big sister Emily, Josh her husband, and our grandkids Mai-Mai and Declan arrived from Calgary, Alberta. We got to love on and spoil our grandkids and try to take some pressure off of their parents. Karin’s best friend Sheri Salvado came out from California and was a huge blessing in helping to take care of the twins.

Two days after Emily and Josh arrived, Anna and Sage got engaged! Sage took her out to the Peaks of Otter to pop the question. Not surprisingly, she said Yes! We couldn’t be happier. They make a great couple.

In April, Karin flew to Germany to support her family at her Uncle Gerhardt’s funeral. His death was unexpected. Yes, he had a heart attack in February while we were in the Philippines, but he had an amazing recovery and was doing well. Doctors felt that he would be fine. Then one morning he just did not come down for breakfast. Karin was able to fly out immediately and spent a week with her aunt, father, siblings and cousins.

In May, Tim was able to complete his Bachelors Degree in Sports Management with the University of Florida. We went for a road trip with Tim and attended his graduation at the Florida Gators Stadium in Gainesville Florida. We are very proud of what Tim was able to accomplish and now look forward to seeing where he goes with his career. He has recently taken a position with Performance Pickleball as their Director of Pickleball. He will also continue to coach and play in tournaments around the country.

Shortly after Tim’s graduation we learned that Emily is once again pregnant with her 3rd child! Nope, only 1 this time. Wohoo! More grandkids! We are looking forward to welcoming Harvey James into the world around mid January. He is named after Josh’s grandfathers.

Karin’s cousin, Stephan, came back to visit us in June. We really enjoyed the time with him sharing with him what God was doing in our lives. We look forward to more visits if he is up for it. Hint, hint.

Around this same time, Caroline moved out of the house heading to Louisiana to live with her boyfriend, Justin. He works in the oil industry and moves around a lot. Since then, they have already lived in Virginia Beach and just recently moved to Round Rock, Texas. Justin has 2 sons, Conner who is 9 and Landon who is 11. We are hoping to get to know them and be a part of their lives. They also got a brand new chocolate lab puppy! His name is Mojo. He is a retrieving fool.

In August, Anna and Sage tied the knot. 2 weddings in a year! Wow! Emily, Josh, Mai-Mai, Declan and Josh’s sister, Emilie, and her fiancee, Scott, flew out again from Calgary, and again we got to love on and spoil the grandkids. As much as we could, we tried to free Emily and Josh up to focus on decorating for the wedding. Emily has a Flower arranging business so she did all of that for them. It was really beautiful. Caroline also came back for the wedding. With out her, hairdos for the flower girl, mom’s and bridesmaids would have been disastrous.

After the wedding, Anna and Sage went to the Dominican Republic for their honeymoon and the rest of us went to the Outer Banks for a week. Emily is a beach girl but had not been in several years, so it was a real treat for her. Sand and toddler twins is not always a good mix though, so it was a bit stressful but we still enjoyed the time. It did not help though that our GMC Yukon broke down on the way home. We just ended up selling it to a junkyard. Engine was shot.

When we arrived home we sold the house that our kids grew up in in Roanoke. Lot’s of memories to say good bye to and packing and moving of 30 years of household items to storage all within one week! Ugh! Karin had to work during this time so the majority of it fell on me, Anna and Tim. I could not have done it with out them. We had to get that done pretty quickly, for soon after that, I was headed back to the Philippines for my second mission trip. After all that happened, I was looking forward to a nice relaxing mission trip. Hah! I’m funny.

Pastor Christian and I headed out on the 16th of September. We spent 4 days in Manila encouraging local pastors and then jumped on a commuter plane heading south to a town called Naga. There, Christian translated into Tagalog for Dave Guiles of Charis Alliance who was teaching at a Pastors Conference. We where there for 9 days encouraging and lifting up pastors from around 9 different churches. For me, I shadowed Christian and Dave and helped out in anyway I could, observing and learning as much about the Filipino culture as I could. They were a very beautiful group of people. We will be praying for them to grow in their fellowships.

On the 2nd of October, we flew back to Manila. I jumped on a bus heading south to Tagaytay and the next day Christian flew back to the States leaving me to the next stage of my trip. A couple of months earlier, I had contacted Tony Reyes of Calvary Chapel of Tagaytay City. He had offered for me to stay with them and come and teach the book of Judges to their Bible Institute students. I gladly took him up on his offer. It was a real blessing and honor for me to get to teach this awesome group of people. Young men and women that were there to learn missions and ministry.

I also had a few days with Francis and Leah Daytec while in Puerto Galera, Mindoro. The time that Francis, Lewis and Scott took to speak into my life, was a huge benefit to me. I thank them for their encouragement and motivation to go forward in missions and ministry. I love you guys and really appreciate all you had to say and encourage me in.

While I was in the Philippines, Karin’s niece, Laura, from Germany came to visit with her boyfriend Daniel for just under a week. Karin enjoyed the time with them kayaking, playing pickleball and allowing them to experience our little homestead and American culture.

In November, Tim had a major pickleball tournament in Dallas, Texas that we decided to fly out to and support him in. He ended up winning silver. While in Dallas, we spent some precious time with Pete and Ann Isenberg. They are always a huge blessing and encouragement. Tim and I also went and watched the Dallas Cowboys get destroyed by the Philadelphia Eagles, Sorry Tulima, they really stink this year. We also got to spend some time with my brother, Bretton, his wife, Janine, and our beautiful niece, Lauren. We always love going back to Texas and visiting them.

Karin flew home after a week while Tim and I stuck around for another week to head down to the coast with my brother, Bretton. We spent 4 days camping on a tiny island, duck hunting and fishing in the Laguna Madre just off the coast of Corpus Christi. Neither the duck hunting nor the fishing were that great but as they say: “the worst day fishing or hunting is better than the best day at work.” We enjoyed our time with Bretton and being on the water is always a pleasure. We also got to spend some time with Caroline, for as I stated earlier, she recently moved to Round Rock, Texas which is only 15 minutes from my brother. Thanks again Caroline for taking us to and from the airport. We really appreciate it.

Thanksgiving day, we invited over Sage’s family that included his mom, Janice, his dad, Simeon, and 7 of his siblings. Ellie, Ritter, Anna and Sage were also there. We had a great time hanging out with them and played some fun games that Karin made up.

For Christmas, Tim, Ellie, Ritter, Anna and Sage came over to celebrate our Savior’s birth with us. Karin had to work Christmas Day so we had a nice Christmas breakfast and lunch with all of them on Christmas Eve.

So, now we are back home after all that activity and travel and we are officially empty nesters! Not sure what to say about that, except that the house is awfully quiet, and Karin’s going to have to learn how to live with just me again. That will be a huge task to undertake. Pray for her patience.

As stated in the beginning, I would like to share what God might be doing and what we are seeking God about for the coming year. First of all, we are looking forward to the birth of our newest grand baby in January. Karin is planning to fly out to Okotoks, Alberta for the birth and 2nd birthday of the twins, Mai-Mai and Declan.

Second, Tony Reyes of Calvary Chapel of Tagaytay, Philippines, contacted me again recently and asked if I want to come back to the Philippines in May to teach again at the Bible Institute. I gladly said yes, I also would love to be a part of what the Daytecs and Buchanans are doing in Puerto Galera. If possible, if I go, I would like to take somebody with me this time. A “Timothy” that I can work alongside with and encourage. If you are that person, or have an idea of who that can be, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. And Pray! Decisions and flight itinerary will have to be made soon. Who knows, might even take a group of people if there is interest.

Also pray for us for the possibility of this trip. I am open to whatever the Lord would have me do and just want to follow His leading. Pray about if this Is of the Lord, the “Timothy” that can come alongside me, the time being away from home and the running of the real estate business.

Along with prayers, if anyone feels led to help financially with the Missions trip to the Philippines, I will take all the help I can get. If you do feel led to help financially, please contact me privately. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

One busy year. We are hoping this next one will calm down a bit. We don’t foresee any weddings this year, but you never know. But we do look forward to what God wants to do and all the blessings He will bestow on us. Thanks for listening. We hope this was an encouragement to you. We also want to wish you a Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birthday of Jesus and all that He accomplished for us. Because of this, may your New Year be great and may you receive much blessings from God.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21