2015 Annual Christmas Letter

My name is Jim. It has been two years since my last annual letter.

Have we had any low points in the past two years?

Of course, we have. Everyone does. But God is good and He continues to bring us through those times.

Then what were the high points?

First, the kids. Hidden in this update, there are two humongous high points.

Since you printed the last annual letter and have been reading it at least once a week for the past two years, you will remember that Alison married Shane Calhoun on August 11, 2013, leaving us with just one unmarried offspring, David. On August 1, 2015, that all changed when David wed our wonderful and newest daughter-in-law, Jordan!

David and Jordan live in Phoenix AZ where David has been the Student Pastor at Foothills Baptist Church since 2007 and where Jordan works as a team leader of a bunch of nerdy software engineers in the healthcare industry.

Shane and Alison bought a house and are living in the high desert just outside of Phelan CA with our two granddogs, Cody and Tucker.

Shane is a counselor on faculty at CSUSB and Alison is a medical transcriptionist.

Now, for the second high point. Aaron and Denise have moved out of our place and have their own place here in Port Orchard WA. But that is not the big news. Aaron started a new job working for the government at the shipyard. But, that’s not it, either. On October 27, Selah Grace Marie Gantenbein was born!

Yes, I am now joyfully married to a grandmother!

Now, for the two of us.

Cathy is still working for The City of Tacoma. We are praying for the day of her retirement and looking for a way to make it happen. They have had her for over 29 years and that is just about enough. In addition to our family and her family, she continues to pour herself into the church.

I am still pastoring Kitsap Lake Baptist Church and will mark ten years with these wonderful children of God in March of 2016. I hope I am able to continue for a long time. I was also reunited with high school classmates when I made my first return visit for our 45th reunion in Klamath Falls OR. (Those people have really gotten old!)

Together we celebrated our 40th anniversary in 2014. The actual date, May 26, was spent on the Disney Wonder during a nine night Alaska cruise. Yes, I highly recommend it. Our family celebration occurred later in the Fall as we were with our dear friends, Danny and Cathy Herron, and all of the offspring from both families on the Disney Fantasy for a seven night Caribbean cruise. I recommend that, too.

First Date!

Cathy’s mother is now in a loving nursing home where she is receiving around-the-clock care. This has become necessary as her memory and physical condition have become weaker.

My parents continue to live on their own and even drove up here for a visit this past Summer. We went down to their place in Eugene to join other family members for Thanksgiving. The day also marked Dad’s and Mom’s 69th wedding anniversary!

Finally, what an incredible joy it is to have all of our family here this Christmas! They are joy to our lives.

I hope you will have, are having, or have had a wonderful Christmas and pray that your new year is filled with the blessing of serving our Lord God.

In His love,

Jim and Cathy