It’s hard to believe that December has rolled around once again but, alas, here it is. We hope this letter finds you and yours happy, healthy and whole. Christmas is such a joyous time, the very first Christmas began with “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people!” We hope you are able to slow down and thoroughly enjoy this season with all its trappings, but especially to take the time to consider the real reason for the celebration.
This Hulsizer clan has enjoyed another very busy year, but it has been a good one. We are grateful to God we can begin this letter like we did last year’s, with good news from Jessica’s most recent blood work. Two years after her stem cell transplant she is still cancer-free! God is good! She and Matt have their house up for sale and are hoping to build a new home just north of Cabot (one big enough for children, when that time comes!). They’ve had some interest but no real good bites yet, all in good time. They continue to do well in their jobs. They moved their church membership last year and have made themselves busy in their new church home. Matt teaches the 7th grade boy’s Sunday School class and serves as a greeter. Jessica sings in the choir, and they are very involved in their Sunday night small group program. We are very proud of them!
Little Miss Jennifer is getting ready to graduate! Her graduation day is 12/13/14, isn't that interesting? She has worked so very hard the last 4 1/2 years and we couldn’t be more proud of her. She is hoping to find an elementary school around close with an opening for a long-term sub (like a teacher out on maternity leave) to finish out this school year and then have a good opportunity to find the perfect teaching position at the beginning of the next school year. We would appreciate your prayers toward that end! Jennifer has caught the eye of a young man, named Matthew of all things! But he is a good Christian young man and her mother and I are both very impressed with him and with the way they are handling their relationship.
Shelia is officially a half-fanatic! Don’t jump to conclusions, that just means she is part of a group of runners who have run a certain number of half-marathons and then run a certain number each year. She has done very well with her running! She has lost weight, her heartbeat is strong and slow, she is dedicated to it, and she has some very close friends with whom she enjoys running.
I guess the big news with Jeff is that he’s picked up his paintbrushes again and has done several paintings for friends and even some customers! This is a good creative outlet and a form of recreation and therapy for him, and folks seem to enjoy his work. You can see several of his paintings at www.paintingsbyjeff.weebly.com.
June 29, 2014 was Jeff and Shelia’s 30th anniversary! To celebrate they took an Alaskan Cruise with good friends Marty and Sara Patterson, the first week of September. It was a dream come true! They saw beautiful scenery, wildlife, native arts and crafts, enjoyed some real King crab legs and fresh salmon. Jeff even caught some salmon and had it processed and shipped home for us to enjoy here. It was such a beautiful place, we would love the opportunity to go back someday!
We plan to enjoy a wonderful Christmas together with good food, good music, good movies, good times and maybe even a game of Monopoly! But, most certainly, a time of thankfulness and praise to God for the gift of His only begotten Son, sent to save the sins of the world. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas celebration with your loved ones as well. Merry Christmas!
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night,
Jeff, Shelia and Jennifer Hulsizer
