Thank You for Helping Open our Door to Christ (in Christmas)

Dear friends and family,        December 2021

    We are grateful for a year of opening doors

 and miracles. 

What does it feel like

 to have a door open 

after it has been locked tight? 

For us, it is freeing, inviting interest, wonder, and new growth.  

Doors Closed/ Doors Open 

1. Val's significant struggle with Covid-19, blood clots and long haulers, accompanied lifting prayers and progress.

 

2. Starkey family get-together in October 

Thanks Kristen, for a tour of our Eastgate neighborhood

in Washington state after waiting almost two years, with the associated care and love

 

           

      (Thanks, April)

Hosted by Tom, April and family–Thank you,  April!

                              

3. Laurene's encounter with a disgruntled dog—a miracle of having a skilled hand surgeon in about two hours with a plan, surgery the next day and access to skilled hand physical therapists with good progress in three weeks. 

Update: After reexamination Wednesday, a bone graft surgery is scheduled for this coming week to relocate and stabilize right ring finger second knuckle–working to regain feeling, stability, and function. Gratitude, thank you each very much, for your kind prayers.

More: funds for graduate school in Colorado  for Maria's Jacob with an associated move,

a new long-awaited home for daughter Kristen's family;

 and new adventures

(Thanks, Kristen, for the above three photos)

for growing grandchildren—

scout outings with miles and miles of hikes for a few, 

Thanks Brianne, for this photo

             Thanks, April                                                Thanks, Brianne

open doors to school for teacher Lanae and her children, 

    the sport of fencing for Brianne's children, 

sports and a new school for Tom and April's children, 

Thanks, Kristen for this photo

             

college for Riley, 

                 

 learning prospects 

for each child and grandchild. 

All this with appreciation for mothers, 

aunts and siblings

.

blessing us in their silver and golden years.

We hope 

that as you hear 

lifting music or stories, 

such as "Light the World with Love," 

you also are reminded 

of Heavenly Gifts 

that open windows of hope 

during difficult days.  

    

Perhaps interruptions—

a brush with a serious illness 

or the threat of a compromised function

—will provide appreciation for the essence of life. 

Pondering vibrant connections, 

(Thanks, Kristen for the above two pictures)

(Thanks, Brianne, for the above two pictures)

(Thanks April, for this one!)

we pause to reflect on the gift of birth, 

the power of family

(Thanks to Kristen for the above four photos)

            angels on a shepherded hill,           

heavens lit for seeking sages.

 

Gifts. 

(Thanks Brianne, for catching pumpkin carving. Thanks, Zoey for creating a Tree of Life!)

A Promised land.

                                                     Deliverance. 

 (Thanks Amber, for this one)

                  Healing.                 

Balance.

(Thanks, Kristen)

(Thanks, Amber)

The sunset of our year attunes our eyes to deep colors: 

                         Blessedness.

Thanks, April

 Gratitude to God 

and to each of you 

for sharing gifts—of faith, 

of vision, 

of tenderness—

(Thank you, April)

with love, for opening

 the door of our hearts

 to the gift of Christ in Christmas.

Sincerely,

Laurene and Val