Christmas Newsletter, 2009

A Merry Christmas to all!

This mosaic is actually a collection of scenes from the New Testament - the little rectangles note the scripture reference for each.

Likewise our year has been like a mosaic of the acts of God and our adventures.

Ruth has been using her spare time here and there to build a sheltered area on the side of the garage where she will be able to do dusty and stinky things - like refinishing cabinets - while out of the usually imminent threat of rain.

Early on this year, our company embarked on a few, but challenging, bedbug jobs. Bedbugs used to be considered the problem of the poor and dirty folks. Then in America, at least, the problem was practically eliminated for a generation or two by DDT. Now bedbugs are back, and likely as not, pestering the wealthy, who have the means to travel. They are now turning up in resorts and upscale hotels.

The stains on this unfinished wood wall in a resort cabin have been made by bedbugs. There are a few bedbugs in the picture also.

This year the district teen Bible quiz championship tournament was held at our church. The group on the platform is preparing for the All-Star quiz-off. The 5 winners formed a team that represented western Oregon at the regional tournament.

Ruth enjoys doing a little volunteer work for other churches and church campgrounds with ROAM - RV's on a mission. Although most ROAMer's are retired and travel around in their RV's, they let me help out, even tho I don't fit that criteria. Here I am after crawling under the Junction City church to reconnect the drain pipes after we repositioned the baptistry.

Extermination has its occupational hazards, of which exposure to pesticides is probably a small part. Here Carlton notes the poison oak he will need to get through to complete his task.

I haven't asked Carlton what he was doing here, but that is some high scaffolding!

But the hazards are offset by lots of nice perks, too, like getting to service the properties at the coast. Yes, that is the famous Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach.

This year, our crew even got together to go on a rafting trip. Ironically, the fellow who put it all together for us had a horseback riding accident that made quite a mess of his leg, and he didn't get to participate.

We have enjoyed "grandparenting" Elijah this year. He just turned 3 this fall, and he is learning so much so fast! Here he is at the church neighborhood party on a very hot summer day, having just gone down this big water slide. See Mommy's knees up there? She is coming down after him.

Our church now has a thriving Latino congregation, and they brought this band to the neighborhood party. Notice the drummer boy. He is 7, they told me. Good, too!

Sometimes we exterminators see strange things. This is an office building, concrete slab, metal studs and brick siding, lots of window glass - the point I am making is that there is little wood. If you look closely, there is a green arrow on the carpet by the seam with the stone. This marks the termite hole. Not much for termites to eat here, but they did chew up a little string on the carpet backing. And what's more, came back for more! It has the record for my smallest termite job ever.

Realizing that our 31 year-old composition roof was no doubt pushing the limit, we hired 4 young fellows that could use a bit of work and had never done roofing before to strip off our old roof and put on the new. They did just fine, and now have one more life skill. There are a few areas that look a bit off, if you examine closely, but it doesn't leak. Should last very well.

Ruth kept them going with lots of supervision and smoothies.

Elijah's highlight at the State Fair was the fish. Elijah likes fish - it's amazing how much he knows about them already.

Here are Elijah and Yoshimi all costumed for Halloween. Our house sets way back from the street, so it was nice to get some trick-or-treaters.

On the other hand, I was working at my duplex in Redmond on Halloween, and had more than 40 come by - kept climbing down off my ladder with paintbrush in hand to pass out the treats.

One of our 2 quiz teams at Quiz Camp in Prineville.

The fall season in Redmond is certainly graced with lots of beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
One morning a forked horn mule deer walked right by my window. What I saw at first were his antlers gliding along just outside the window.

In November Ruth went to Arlington to enjoy the dedication of the new building that she worked on for a week last year. Met some really great people, too.

On my last trip to Redmond, I got a gorgeous view of Mt. Hood at sundown. No renters to be had in this season, with this economic climate, so I moved in a young couple from the church with 2 baby girls that would otherwise be homeless.

We are really praying that they find work, good work, and lots of it. Hopefully they get their feet under them before people start moving around in the spring.





This Christmas season, I am pondering anew the concept of miracles. If you watch TV, read GuidePosts or various church papers, you may get a starry-eyed perspective of miracles. But there is another side to every miracle - a price was paid, likely very dear. As I was trying to explain myself to my Sunday School teacher, he got to the bottom line. Jesus' part in the miracle of our redemption was "a bloody mess". And often our Lord offers us the privilege of taking part in some miracle he is doing for one or more of his beloved children. Our part may not be much fun, it might be inconvenient, expensive, frightening, painful, or more. But that is what love is, and we love, because He first loved us.

May you have more than a Merry Christmas, may you have a Blessed a Joyous Christmas, and a Wonderful 2010. With our love, Carlton and Ruth