December
31, 2007
Dear
Friends,
Whew!
Another year gone by. Where did it go? :-)
So.....
Happy New Year everyone!
Let's
see.... In the last few weeks.....
1. The
offer was put in the mail today to the ranch owners. We offered to have the
rest of the $100,000 downpayment by April 30, 2008 of this year. I am totally
going forward in faith on this. A basic plan is slowly falling into place, but
it will have to be God all the way on it...
2.
Christmas morning, we had a pipe break inside the wood stove where a coil of
pipe heats all our domestic hot water. Talk about patience-trying while
lying on my back with my head and shoulders inside the sooty wood stove fixing
a copper pipe coil over my head *chuckle*. But we got it fixed and had a good
Christmas.
3. I was
impressed and humbled by the number of people that reached out to my kids
by buying them gifts and whatnot for Christmas. Thank you all who
helped out.
4. I got
the wood pellet stove installed in the back bedroom area this
week, so the bedrooms are no longer cold. They might even be the warmest
ones in the house now....
5. Another
pipe broke in the hot water coil in the stove a day or two after Christmas. In
sheer desperation I pleaded with God to fix it until I could deal with it. I
actually listened to the squirting water sound die away in about 30
seconds. I guess those handmade coils have lasted over a year, served us
well, and now need to be redone or replaced or something. As soon as I get
a chance, I have that project on my plate now too.
6. Vika's
new bedroom is done (minus some trim work), and she loves it. That was her
big Christmas present, getting to move into it on Christmas day.
7. Today, I
was able to put together a basic plan to get our family finances stable, and
even start helping pay towards the ranch purcase price some too. Given the
internet training I have been taking, I think it's actually doable. Hope is
good to have and feel.
8. Me and 3
of our kids (Sergei, Josiah, Ruthie) attended an FCA (Fellowship of Christian
Athletes) breakfest a couple days ago in Boise, where a bunch of team members
from both Georgia Tech, and Fresno (both playing in the Humanitarian Bowl here
in Boise) gave their testimonies and talked briefly. Then Coach Brown from the
Kansas Corn Huskers (I think?) gave a VERY strong message about standing
up for the truth in a generation that wants to negotiate and compromise on
everything. It was cool to hear and be challenged by. And I had to smile and
ask myself, where else could I ever see two powerful football teams like these
sitting down as teams one table apart, being nice to each other, and not have a
single security guard in sight? It was very cool. The true love of Christ
crosses all boundary lines.
That's
enough of an update for now. Just keep praying for us; we desperately need and
crave it. But God is VERY good, and I am content to be under His watchful care.
If you don't know what that feels like, email or call me. I'd be happy to share
some basic steps to get there.
In Him
-Tim, Karen
& family
208-392-6723
timbenedict@peoplepc.com
http://www.bighouseministries.com
21 Yellowpine Lane, Boise, ID 83716