Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Out with the Old Year!

Another year has come and is nearly gone. Time moves faster as we get older it seems and while this year has come with its challenges--looking back we can clearly see the hand of our loving God directing and protecting.

The year began on a huge high note, our beloved pastor and friend Robert Francis came back to our church and things were going very, very well. We were great friends and ministry partners and had an awesome four months, but in April Robert started having some severe shoulder pain and was looking for a solution when in early May he suddenly passed away. This was a huge blow to our church and to the Hulsizer family.

On Saturday, May 7th, we spent the morning at the University of Central Arkansas proudly watching our oldest daughter, Jessica (23), graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. The last five years of hard work and study had paid off. What pride we had, cheering from the stands, as she received her diploma! But that afternoon we hurried back to participate in Robert’s memorial service and what a magnificent service it was! He touched so many lives and the attendance and the service itself proved that. Another year has come and is nearly gone. Time moves faster as we get older it seems and while this year has come with its challenges--looking back we can clearly see the hand of our loving God directing and protecting.

The year began on a huge high note, our beloved pastor and friend Robert Francis came back to our church and things were going very, very well. We were great friends and ministry partners and had an awesome four months, but in April Robert started having some severe shoulder pain and was looking for a solution when in early May he suddenly passed away. This was a huge blow to our church and to the Hulsizer family.

On Saturday, May 7th, we spent the morning at the University of Central Arkansas proudly watching our oldest daughter, Jessica (23), graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. The last five years of hard work and study had paid off. What pride we had, cheering from the stands, as she received her diploma! But that afternoon we hurried back to participate in Robert’s memorial service and what a magnificent service it was! He touched so many lives and the attendance and the service itself proved that.

Exactly two weeks later, on May 21st, Jessica married Matthew Petty. It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy to have Matt as part of our family (especially me! I love my girls but another guy in the mix is a good thing!) Jessica passed her NCLEX and is now a licensed RN. She began work at the same hospital in which she was born, another huge blessing!

But in mid-October she noticed some swelling around her neck. Long story short she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She has begun treatments on what her doctors tell us is a practically guaranteed cure. She is doing well, but we still appreciate your prayers for complete healing. We are so proud of and thankful for Matt, he is taking extremely good care of her. We also are very grateful to our church family for their prayers and thoughtful provision of meals and moral support.

Jennifer, our youngest (19), is a sophomore at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway working toward a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is very involved in the Chi Alpha Ministry on campus, babysits at a local church, and tries to make us believe she studies the rest of the time. Her grades do reflect that she is working very hard and we are quite proud of her! We are looking forward to her being home for Christmas and New Year’s. She’s a big help taking care of Matt and Jessica’s dog, a Corgi named Scarlett that has come to live with us while Jessica is taking treatments.

Shelia has had a busy year. She had some changes in her job but now is happily settled in as a Registrar in the “hub”. She works with three other registrars who serve several area schools, one of whom is a close friend (Bobbie Lindley). She works hard but loves the new environment. Her big news is that she entered and finished the St. Jude’s Marathon in Memphis—that’s right 26.2 miles! It was a major milestone for her, but one she says she won’t need to revisit!

Since the passing of our beloved pastor, I have been serving as Interim Pastor. This has increased my workload substantially but I have enjoyed the opportunity to preach. A couple of months ago, our Worship Pastor was called to another church so I’ve been helping with the Music ministry as well. After the first of the year we will hear a candidate for Senior Pastor. We are praying for the Lord’s will but hoping for a speedy process.

Exactly two weeks later, on May 21st, Jessica married Matthew Petty. It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy to have Matt as part of our family (especially me! I love my girls but another guy in the mix is a good thing!) Jessica passed her NCLEX and is now a licensed RN. She began work at the same hospital in which she was born, another huge blessing!

But in mid-October she noticed some swelling around her neck. Long story short she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She has begun treatments on what her doctors tell us is a practically guaranteed cure. She is doing well, but we still appreciate your prayers for complete healing. We are so proud of and thankful for Matt, he is taking extremely good care of her. We also are very grateful to our church family for their prayers and thoughtful provision of meals and moral support.

Jennifer, our youngest (19), is a sophomore at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway working toward a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is very involved in the Chi Alpha Ministry on campus, babysits at a local church, and tries to make us believe she studies the rest of the time. Her grades do reflect that she is working very hard and we are quite proud of her! We are looking forward to her being home for Christmas and New Year’s. She’s a big help taking care of Matt and Jessica’s dog, a Corgi named Scarlett that has come to live with us while Jessica is taking treatments.

Shelia has had a busy year. She had some changes in her job but now is happily settled in as a Registrar in the “hub”. She works with three other registrars who serve several area schools, one of whom is a close friend (Bobbie Lindley). She works hard but loves the new environment. Her big news is that she entered and finished the St. Jude’s Marathon in Memphis—that’s right 26.2 miles! It was a major milestone for her, but one she says she won’t need to revisit!

Since the passing of our beloved pastor, I have been serving as Interim Pastor. This has increased my workload substantially but I have enjoyed the opportunity to preach. A couple of months ago, our Worship Pastor was called to another church so I’ve been helping with the Music ministry as well. After the first of the year we will hear a candidate for Senior Pastor. We are praying for the Lord’s will but hoping for a speedy process.

Hoping 2012 is your best year yet!