December 2005
Greetings from the Stephens household, still in Livonia, Michigan!!
We pray that God has blessed you and your families this year with everything needed for life and health. The Stephens family is growing and changing and God continues to guide us every step of the way.
We’re trying something a little new for us this year, and including some pictures of momentous happenings for us. We hope you enjoy this small update.
We passed several milestones in 2005. The first was becoming grandparents to Michaela Grace Marcum on April 30. And the second was becoming empty nesters in August after we left Matthew at Abilene Christian University. We are enjoying both new stages of our lives and continue to count the many ways that God leads us through them. 2006 promises to be just as exciting as we are expecting grandchild #2 in March, this time from Laura and Rusty in Hitachi, Japan. We plan to be there for that little one’s arrival.
Our ministries here at the Livonia Church continue to challenge us and confirm that this is where God wants to use us for the time being. Larry has agreed to be an adjunct professor at Rochester College next semester, teaching a master’s level class on congregational studies. He’s looking forward to that as well as his pulpit and teaching duties and continuing to work on his dissertation for his Doctor of Ministry degree.
2006 will challenge our faith as we send Julie, Josh and Michaela off to the mission field in Cochabamba, Bolivia in January. Their first furlough is planned for 2008. Now we will experience first hand what we did to our own parents when we kept their grandchildren in Africa for so long.
We hope you enjoy the pictures. There are more pictures in earlier blogs. God’s blessings on each and every one of you in 2006.
Thank you for your friendship and partnership in the gospel.
With love,
Larry and Diane
4 comments:
Does this mean Mom is not going to send out a gaggle of Christmas cards?! I can't imagine her not doing that. It would be like her not baking any cookies for Christmas. By the way, Rusty says he wants to see a picture of the lamb roast and a big plate of cookies whenever you guys have your traditional lamb dinner. Hope all is well -- wish we were there. Love to ALL!
We hope you can be here for the birth of the second one as well. I'll do what I can to insure that will happen. Although, short of hanging Laura up by her toes and wrapping her in duct tape I don't think there is much I can do about it. We're very excited about you all coming (Nyanya, Babu, and baby). It still amazes me to think that you all moved to Africa when you were six months pregnant with Laura. That's incredible.
Hi Larry and Diane, it's good to read about you and your comings and goings. Now that I have "discovered" your blog I will be checking it from time to time. It looks like you have some good stuff on it. We blog, but only about once a month. I find it much more my style to comment on other blogs than to write my own. It has been a great way to keep up with Jeff and Cheryl since they are so prolific. Everything is well here in Gresham, although we are worried about your Uncle Bob's health. Happy Holidays to you. [Do we dare say Merry Christmas!?]
Christmas with the Stephens...it makes me smile. I also remember the continuously full plate of cookies on your table...(Diane, how did you get all that done?!?!?)
I love you guys...very much.
Merry Christmas!
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