We are still here in Nenana, preaching the Word and loving the people. We are in our fifth winter here and this one seems like the coldest. They all seem like the coldest! Temps these last few days have been down to -60 degrees F. Way COLD!
Our kids are doing great. Aerin is homeschooled this year in 8th grade, but she is taking mostly high school classes from online sources. She does go to the public school for band and is looking forward to music fest in April. Ethan is just finishing up a unit on Da Vinci for his fifth grade homeschool lessons. He is also in the public school band, and both kiddos play the trombone. Emily has two bottom teeth and is really a joy to have around. We all dote on her and spoil her rotten.
Bill is starting a new preaching series, Daniel one month and Thessalonians the next, until both are done. He just finished going through the book of Romans. Church attendance is down when it is so cold, but we usually expect about 40 attendees when it is -20 or warmer. Bill is attending a Men's Retreat this weekend featuring Bible Study, Bullets and BBQ.
I am busy being the homeschool teacher, working as a file clerk ten hours a week, being a mom, wife and friend. We have had some traumatic events during the last year and every day I struggle with heartache. But I guess you can learn to live with it and it is not the overwhelming emotion all the time. My kids and husband make every day a joy, and I try not to dwell on the things that are so upsetting.
I was reading in Daniel last week and some of my favorite verses are in chapter 3.
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
