Wednesday, December 10, 2008
From Our Home To Yours
Christmas 2008
Dear family and friends,
We are especially excited about this Christmas for several reasons. The main one being that it is our year to have all our family home . That is always what makes Christmas so wonderful for us.
The sounds of our 8 growing grandchildren playing and catching up with the cousins, the sound of laughter and bantering and the “big kids” annual late night Monopoly games where “Christian charity” goes right out the door!
Family update!
In August, we were presented with an opportunity to purchase a home after living in a parsonage for 27 years. After climbing stairs for the last 23 you can see what I enjoy most about the home. God amazed us with miracle after miracle that made it possible to own a new home and enjoying instant equity at the same time. We could write a book! But let’s just say it was a GOD THING, and we are grateful.
In May, John received his Masters of Theological Studies from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield. Just a few months later John and Lynette , Breanna (almost 5) and Brant (2) made the move to Red Oak, Texas, a southern suburb of Dallas, where John is the Spiritual Formation Director for the Dallas Master’s Commission , training young men and women to be leaders in the church. He is a gifted teacher and enjoys this ministry very much.
Lisa, Allen, Tara (12), Emma (10), and Adam (8), live in Springfield and are the only ones not making a move this year. Allen is a realtor with Keller Williams in Springfield (if you need a house—give him a call) and Lisa is Academic Advisor, Professional Studies at Evangel University and is getting close to completing her Master’s in Organizational Leadership.
On November 10th, Kristi , Tim, Mason (12), Evan (9), and Jordan (8) received the call they have been waiting on for 2 years. Mia ShyAn Xin (19 months) is waiting for them in China! They will be traveling to pick her up by Spring (pray with us that it will be sooner). We are so excited about this beautiful little girl joining our family. When we moved out of the parsonage to our new home, they made the move into the “big house” in anticipation of her coming. God was taking care of every detail and arranged for them to be in a larger home with time to prepare for her coming. Tim serves as the Associate /Youth Pastor and both Tim and Kristi are substitute teachers in the Winfield Public Schools.
This year, in an effort to "go green" we chose to use electronic Christmas greetings and we invite you to do the same. In uncertain times, one thing remains certain—our faith and trust in the one who never changes—Jesus.
Our prayer for you and your family is that you will enjoy your time together and experience the joy of knowing Jesus at this special Christmas season.
Blessings to you and yours!
Ken and Linda Davidson
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Mia's coming home!
We are 30 minutes away. We cried, laughed and became Grampy and Grammi for the 9th time. We have a new granddaughter.
She is every much a part of our family as Mason, Tara, Emma, Evan, Jordan, Adam, Breanna and Brant - Mia. At 19 months, she is now our baby.
We arrived at the Singer home to joyful sounds and sat down to see our little Mia for the first time. She is beautiful. She looks like a happy baby. There is not the typical emptiness in her face that we have seen in so many orphans. She is joyful - smiling in every picture. Yep - she is her mother's daughter.
The emotions are on the surface. I weep when I look at her picture. She was never an unwanted child. She has always been loved, wanted and prayed for since the day she was born and before. Oh - has she been prayed for. God placed his hand on her as a 4lb premie abandoned somewhere in China. Found by workers and cared for and nursed to health at an orphanage. She is perfect. She is ours. Soon she will be home to stay. She will have that forever family. Set another place at the table. Mia is coming home. Thank you Jesus for another child to love.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
New House!
We have a brand new house that is just the right size for the 2 of us. When everyone is home we will have plenty of room during the day but a little bit of a challenge at night. But we enjoy "camping out" on the floor. I am sure everyone will make the best of it.
Kristi, Tim and the boys moved into the home we moved out of - a 4 bedroom, very large home with room for a growing family, so this was a miracle for them as well.
John and Lynette and the little ones will be together again in about 2 hours and be together as a family once again. The long wait is over. They still need to sell their house in Grain Valley (please pray with us for this), but they will be on their way to Texas soon.
Changes are always happening. These are good ones. God is good!
Be blessed!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Prayer Needed
Friday, August 1, 2008
These are the Days of Our Lives
How does it happen that my small children now have small children of their own? It seems not so long ago when Lisa stayed home with John on a Sunday morning. John was sick. Lisa said she'd take care of him while Mom went to church with the rest of the family. She did a great job. Although, the house smelled a little like burnt chocolate when we returned. Could have been the chocolate chip cookies that got nuked a little too long. Ah, but what better medicine for a sick little boy than a couple of chocolate chip cookies?
Yesterday we returned 3 grandchildren to their rightful owner - Lisa. I found myself looking at her and asking, "what happened to my little girl?" She's not 7 anymore! She's 37! And, Kristi and John and their small children. Where has the time gone?
I'm so thankful for my children (not small anymore) who have given Grammi and Grampy some of life's greatest memories. Burnt chocolate, burnt-up water pumps, burnt carpet and the greatest grandkids anywhere!
These are the days of our lives. And I wouldn't trade one of them for all the money in the world!
These are the days "the Lord has made - let's be glad - and rejoice in" them!!
(Do a sleepover with your grandkids! Watch a movie - fix popcorn! They'll love it and you'll get over it...in a few days!)
PS: Thank you Grammi for the 'great' kids that produced these 'great' grandkids!
I love you all!
Grampy (Sometimes affectionately called 'grumpy'!)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
This Child Shall Be Lent. . .
This week (as I did almost 29 years ago) I gave my son to the Lord once again. My heart is at the same time heavy and full. I am sad, yet I rejoice.
Yesterday, John moved to the Dallas area to begin a new ministry. It is only a couple hours farther away, but still farther away. It means that I won't get to see quite as often 4 people that I love dearly. But I reminded his dad yesterday that on the day of his dedication, the pastor's wife told me "I just feel that God has something very special for this child!" He did. And He does.
I rejoice in knowing that God chose my son, for whom I prayed, to use for His glory. His influence will be widely felt in this new area of ministry. Training young people to carry the MESSAGE.
All of our children were dedicated to the Lord to use as He chose. I rejoice in knowing that His calling rests on all my children in ways that bring glory to Him. I am blessed!!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
What's With That?
Mason was with us in the ER and provided all of us - nurses included -with the entertainment for the evening. It was a nice distraction. When he tripped on a cart and nearly turned it over my pulse went up and my oxygen down! What a clown.
The hard part was that Ken was in Missouri on a fishing trip and he wanted so badly to be here. But we were able to talk often. I love you baby!
Lisa happened to call when I was in the ER. By the way, Lisa, thanks for laughing at me when I told you where I was. She thought I had another kidney stone. She has a really weird sense of humor.
One good thing from this experience - I am sure I have now met my deductible for the year! And I have 9 months left! Guess I need to see what else I can take care of before I start over.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
I figured I should finally post something...
Since we're going to Winfield for the 4th, the house had to be cleaned in case the realtor needs to show it over the weekend. So I got the privilege of cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms floors. Have you ever moved the kitchen table and cleaned under it after a few days of kids eating there? Disgusting! Or as Breanna says, "Gisgusting!" Oh well, it has to be done and it'll be worth it if the house shows well.
Well, guess I better get back to cleaning so the boss doesn't get upset...she's packing for our trip. Gotta get to bed early and get my beauty sleep so I can go to the office and look pretty tomorrow. That's pretty much all I have to do in the office now that I'm a lame duck for the next week and a half. Now I know how George W. has felt for the last year...except he has Air Force One, lots of money and can go wherever he wants whenever he wants.
Have fun and good night.
John
From The Mouth of Babes!
My eldest grandson dropped in and we had a theological discussion on heaven and hell. He had questions on the new heaven and the new earth. We read those verses in Revelation along with the commentary on those verses. He said "you know, the more I learn about heaven, the more I want to die and go there!" Gulp! He went on to say that he had lived a good long life (all 12 years of it) and he was ready to go. He knew where he was going. He said that some people become angry at God when loved ones die and that if he lost his family people would probably say to him "aren't you mad at God for taking your family?" He said he would tell them "why would I be mad at God? I know where they are and I am going there someday and then we will be together for eternity!" He said he sure didn't want to "go to the hot place."
I told him that everytime a loved one goes to heaven it makes us want to go all the more and I quoted the words from an old song, "I've got more to go to heaven for than I had yesterday".
I have loved ones there. I do have more to go to heaven for with each loved one who crosses over. I have grandparents, parents, brother, sister, 2 pre-born grandchildren and a host of other family and friends.
We just had a family reunion. Nothing here compares. Yep. Heaven's Sounding Sweeter Everyday.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
The Stone Society
Now I have heard and been told that they are worse than labor and that most would rather give birth than have a kidney stone. Lisa tells me a 5 mm stone should cause excruciating pain and Ken says he would be rolling in the floor screaming. But - after 19 days of mild to moderate discomfort and nothing more than tylenol - it was over. Now, not to say I want another one - but don't compare it to childbirth. I've had both and I don't really think it compares. Maybe I'm just extra tough, or maybe I just had a "silent" one and the next won't be so easy. I say the next one because now I find out that I have multiple stones in both kidneys. And the wait begins. Nothing to do but let them do their thing when they are ready.
So, the only one left to experience our family pasttime is John. Yes, baby - you are next!!! Now it isn't that we would wish this malady on you - but your days are probably numbered. You know we have always enjoyed doing things together as a family. Your sister (I won't say which one) says she is going to laugh hysterically when you officially join this austere club of stoners! If and when that day comes - not to worry. We will all be right there to cheer you on and hold your hand. And maybe laugh hysterically.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Cell Phone Crazy!!!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
To Blog or Not To Blog....That is the Question
New Beginnings
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