Well, it’s that time again; time to bring you up to date with what’s going on with us; We have two kids away at college now: Sarah is a senior at Georgia College and State University, and will be a registered nurse in May. Her pituitary tumor is gone! And Teddy is a freshman at The University of Ga. He graduated fifth in his class from Peach County High. Our three at home are: Ian, a freshman at Peach County High. Claire, a 6th grader at Byron Middle School. And Last, but not least; Lydia, a 2nd grader at Byron Elementary.

We have now lived in Middle Georgia for 20 years! Bob started as an engineer at Warner Robins Air Force Base on November 1st, 1988. We are so thankful for all of God’s blessings, especially family and friends.

I actually thought about totally skipping the letter this year, but it’s a tradition we started in 1994 and I think it’s a good one. It also was the beginning of one of my favorite past-times; writing! I’ll try to keep this brief and if you’d like to read some more, browse around my website.

I decided to write a little about Heaven this year. It’s been on my mind since we’ve now had four untimely deaths in our family, three in my immediate family. My brother, Paul was in prison in Arizona in 2002 when he had a heart attack and died at 45. He was a successful businessman. In 2005 my oldest brother, Tim, lost his long battle with drugs and alcohol. He was a landscaper and arborist and was 53. Just six months later, my second to the oldest brother, Mark, also had a heart attack and died at 52. Mark battled clinical depression and alcohol and as a result of this, he was homeless; he had a security job and was a member of a health club, where he showered but he slept in his car. Despite all this, he had his job for a long time and his boss sent my mom and dad a beautiful flower arrangement when he passed. Mom (79) and Dad (80) have been hanging in there through all this. I am thankful for their faith in God, which has helped them to cope.

A famous clergyman once said that no person, however gifted, has the capacity to even imagine the blessings that await the believer in the glories of heaven. “The eye has not seen, neither has the ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

I miss my brothers, but the prayers my parent’s and I prayed for them, have all been answered…just not in my way (Isa. 55:8-9)
But God’s ways are mysterious…and better…Because….
    Paul was imprisoned…now he is free.
    Tim was battling his addictions…now he is at peace.
    Mark was homeless …now he is home.
Perhaps they’re working on Mom and Dad’s mansions at this moment?

Jesus said, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live…John 11:25.

I woud like to close this with a quote from C.S. Lewis’, The Last Battle;

“The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."
…And for us this is the end of all stories, and we can most truly say they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.

Are you in this never ending story? Christ came at Christmas so you could be…
With Love and best wishes for 2009!

Bob, Susan, Sarah, Teddy, Ian, Claire and Lydia