Merry Christmas!

If you've read our previous posts, you know what each of us had written. So, this is our Annual Newsletter post!

Our picture theme this year was Changes... and indeed, we all experienced many changes. Alan retired. Isaiah finished his military service and started his full time job. Abby went from her DTS in Freiburg, Germany to now living in Vitoria, Brazil, with one of Lovely's best friends, Corenne Garrison-Smith. This year, Lovely worked for the MOE, which was a big change. Even though it was only one day a week, it made her realize that having a 9-5 job was not going to work with the care of her mom!

Alan, although retired, remains busy at Soochow University, teaching part-time and yet going there four days a week, just like he did when he worked there full-time. Isaiah finished five months at Nanshan and was appointed to the Claims Department for 2024! It's not his first or second or third... or ninth choice, but that's what he got. We still await to hear if Abby will get her volunteer visa before the end of this year. 

Next Sunday, House of Praise will move to the place they have rented and remodeled. It seems like a long term deal. Then the first Saturday in January of 2024, Lovely will run another ultra, which looks like her toughest yet. She received her 'race packet' today! And her number is 6067! Keep her in your prayer!

Alan will be traveling from January 11th to the 19th of February, but we have no idea what our summer plans will be! Isaiah doesn't have much of a vacation, but we hope to have Abby back in Taiwan for two weeks, maybe not in July or August, but maybe in April or May or October or November. 

As you might recall, our verse for 2023 was Jeremiah 29:11 and we have seen how faithful God has been to fulfill that verse in each of our lives. His plans are to give us hope and a future! Our verse for 2024 is: Romans 5:3-4 and that will be the verse we close this letter with!

Here are our 2023 Family Portraits!

We want to wish you all a Happy New Year! 

Daily Lovely Insight:

If you know Jeremiah 29:11 and you read our new verse, you'll see one word repeated! What's that word? Write your answer in the comment and come back tomorrow to know the answer!

Seek Him First!