2025

Jim and Cathy Gantenbein's

Year (2025) In Review

Reader’s Digest Version – Jim and Cathy stayed busy with family, friends, church, some travel, gardening, and trout fishing. Thank you for reading.

Insomniac’s Version (Just remember: You chose to continue!) – 

Throughout the year we continued to serve in various ways as members of First Baptist Church of Port Orchard. Additionally, Cathy organizes Tuesday meals for Coffee Oasis, a local ministry serving disadvantaged adolescents. She is also a Church Relations Volunteer in South Kitsap County for Operation Christmas Child. Besides several opportunities to preach in our own church and other congregations, I have also served on the Olympic Baptist Association’s Executive Council. (I’ll leave it at that because it almost sounds impressive.)

Another blessing we continue to enjoy is having Aaron, Denise, Selah, Emma, and Jada over for dinner on Wednesday evenings. Cathy always does an amazing job of preparing a variety of delicious and nutritious meals!

Monthly highlights:

• January – I had my cast removed and we travelled down to Eureka for a week with Shane, Alison, Cecilia, and Avery. On the way down, we stopped in Eugene for a short visit with Mom.
• February – We were back in Eugene for Mom’s 96th birthday.
• March – My baby brothers and sister in law all turned 70 on the 22nd! How they ever got to be older than me remains a mystery.
• April – We had a great date night at the Collingsworth Family concert. Also, lake fishing season opened on the last Saturday of the month (along with my growing “acquaintance” with a couple of trout stealing bald eagles)!

• May – (Are you really still awake?) Early in the month, we had a surprise “meet up” with several former church members at the Air Force Wind Quintet, doubling the joy of that evening. Later in the month (the 26th for those who want to send belated greetings), we celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary and are looking forward to our 52nd!
• June – On the evening of the 5th, Mom took her medicine as usual and then opened her eyes in the presence of Jesus which is something she had desired for many, many years. Yes, we rejoiced that she was in Heaven. Yes, it was so hard for us. You have to remember that for our generation, Dad and Mom were a unit. When one was present, so was the other, at least in our hearts and minds. They represented each other. So, when Dad passed in May of 2022, we missed him terribly but Mom represented them both. Now, with Mom passing… But they always put God and family first and their example continues to inspire and remind us. Speaking of which… two and a half weeks later we were both teaching in Vacation Bible School just as my folks had done for decades. 
• July – All of our kids were able to join us for Mom’s memorial service. We shared many wonderful memories. Later that month, David and grandson Levi flew to spend a few days with us as we attended David’s best friend’s memorial service. 

• August – We returned to Eugene to help my sister, Nancy, as she and her family continued working to get our folks’ house ready to put on the market. Alison came up from Eureka to help us. One of these days all of the hoops will have been jumped through so we can finish this process of closing the estate. (Kudos to Nancy for all the work she continues to do!) A side note: I knew the stress of it all was getting to me because I was feeling some tightness between my sternum and throat. You know, the kind that surely must come from constant grief, etc. By the way, when we returned home on the 24th and I carried our small suitcases upstairs, that “tightness” made a dramatic shift to “Ow!” I told Cathy I was going to see our doctor the next day and I did. He heard my story about stress but something I said made him refer me to a cardiologist, “Just in case.”
• September – (If the previous three months weren’t “cheerful” enough for you, then read on.) I finished what is most likely my final writing contract for Lifeway Christian Resources and just in time. On the 8th, I was seen by a cardiologist. Well, actually, I was initially seen by his nurse who gave me an ECG which is just like an EKG only less British. Then the cardiologist came in and said he had examined the ECG. He asked me to describe what made the pain come. Then he said he only had one thing to say to me. It was, “Go home and pack clothes for a couple of days. Then have your wife drive you to the emergency room and tell them what you just told me. They will take it from there.” Being a good patient, I went and I told them. The cardiologist was right. They did some tests and put me on a gurney upon which I remained for two days, usually in hallways or the old emergency room area. On the 10th, I had an angiogram which resulted in two stents being immediately inserted into my right coronary artery where a 95% blockage was revealed. I’m all better now but have added five prescriptions to my daily diet with a sixth one in case of emergencies. (Don’t bump my right pocket because it is always loaded with nitroglycerin and we may both end up in Heaven earlier than planned.) Finally (for September, anyway), the last Sunday of the month was also our pastor’s last Sunday as he entered retirement. We will surely miss Craig and Kim. (Three guesses as to who the chairman of the Pastor Search Team is.)
• October – Cathy and I were blessed to be able to spend four nights in Indiana, visiting with David, Jordan, Levi, Maelie, and Hank. Then we were blessed to be at Cannon Beach OR for the Northwest Baptist Convention’s Life Enrichment Conference (formerly the Senior Adult Conference but, well, you know how folks don’t like to admit that they are old). We were also invited to sing in the choir where we had served for over twenty-four years as they prepared their Christmas cantata. We have missed being in a church choir so we gratefully accepted the opportunity and began rehearsals. Finally, while everyone else was celebrating Halloween, we were on an airplane on our way to a brief layover in Iceland. 
• November – After our layover in Iceland, we continued on to London for a couple of nights. While there, we worshipped at Westminster Abbey and enjoyed a trip around the Eye of London (where I felt like Peter Pan flying over the city).

After the second night, we were transported to Southampton where we boarded a ship for a wonderful thirteen night trans-Atlantic cruise. I made certain Cathy did not have to cook, wash dishes, or make the bed during the entire cruise. That’s just the kind of husband I am. Perhaps the most significant “family thing” we did was instituting a new tradition consisting of having the “double digit” grandchildren spend the night with us and getting to help Grandma and Grandpa decorate for Christmas. This year we had 100% attendance as our oldest, Selah, turned 10 in October and became the charter member of this   tradition. (It is also when we learned that some traditions begin when grandparents admit that they are going to need more and more help with things.)  

• December – We started the month by having lunch with my younger cousin, Candy, after she completed the Seattle Half Marathon. Someday I would like to be in that event as well but that will have to wait until they allow cars or at least e-bikes to enter. The Calhouns (Alison, etc.) came up for a week, including Christmas, and although we missed the Indiana Gantenbeins, it was great having eleven of us together on Christmas Eve, Sunday worship, and several other occasions including our participation in the Christmas cantata at Trinity Baptist Church of Lakewood!

On New Year’s Eve, Cathy and I stayed up to usher in 2026 in several time zones. But not ours. We were already in bed when the Pacific Time Zone entered the new year. 

May your year be one of blessings, joyful surprises, and time with loved ones.

And chocolate. We all benefit from chocolate!

Love to you and yours!

 It They Was Were a Very Good Years

Dear Family and Friends,

We want to wish you a very blessed Christmas and a joyful new year!

I have some male friends who made the decision to not get their haircut again until after all the COVID restrictions are lifted. (Actually, I think a couple of them cheated and got trims.) Instead of taking that step, I would like to say that I made the decision to not do another Christmas letter until COVID is over. Really, I would like to say that. It would probably sound better than admitting that I'm just…             Hey, how about those Seahawks!

Enough has been said (and experienced) regarding the pandemic and everything associated with it. 

In 2020 and 2021, we have been very blessed and I will now attempt to prove it in short bites so I don’t put you to sleep. I only wish I could show you a current picture of the whole family. Maybe next year.

Cathy 

• The love of my life had her first two years as a retired person. Our individual impressions about that are the same: WE LOVE IT!!! She does not miss work at all and has been able to keep in touch with some of her former colleagues.
• She has spent her “free time” being on the VBS Training Team (not the official name of it but it is more descriptive) for the Northwest Baptist Convention and Olympic Baptist Association. 
• She is teaching her kids again in Sunday School (observing all of Washington’s rather stringent mandates).
• She goes to the YMCA about five times a week!
• Our house is clean!… all the time!… every bit of it!… but never clean enough. (You always hear folks complaining about having to clean the house. You will never hear my Cathy making such a statement.)
• Our average meal time (dinner) is much, much earlier now that she is not arriving home around 5:45pm after leaving home no later than 6:30am.
• She is happier! (So am I.)

Jim

• I am in my 16th year as the pastor of Kitsap Lake Baptist Church (KLBC), Bremerton WA.
• I still have a passion for seeing people grow spiritually.
• I still enjoy being able to preach from God’s word each week. The preparation time continues to be very meaningful for my own spiritual growth.
• I learned how to record, edit, and put worship services on YouTube.
• I learned how to do meetings on Zoom… all the time… way, way, way too often.
• I have had opportunities to continue doing some writing for LifeWay Christian Resources.
• I know where the YMCA is.
• My body is older. Really. I feel it.
• Hair is overrated.
• I have had some basal cell skin cancer taken care of and my left ear rebuilt.

Us

• We have been able to take a number of trips to spend time with my parents in Eugene OR. For those who want to know: Dad and Mom are still married (75 years the day after Thanksgiving), Mom had back surgery to relieve the sciatic pain (She woke up here instead of in Heaven but wasn’t too upset because the pain was relieved), they are doing well enough physically for being 96 and 92, they still live in their own home but our niece spends most nights there, and Dad had a “significant” stroke in April of this year. On June 18, my siblings, our niece, some medical personnel, and I had a Zoom meeting to learn more about Dad’s health. To make a long story short, he has already lived past the prognosis. He does have increasing dementia but usually does fairly well during the daylight hours.
• We have also made a couple of trips down to Eureka CA to spend some time with Shane, Alison, Cecilia, Avery (our newest grandson, born on August 31), and all their animals.
• In March 2020, we flew down to Phoenix to visit with David, Jordan, Levi, and Maelie. In November 2021, Cathy returned to visit for a week only this time it was to Indiana where David is now on staff in New Albany.
• Like everyone else, we have had a lot of stuff called off and trips cancelled, too.
• We enjoyed the summer, including the vegetable garden and fruit trees.
• We continue to enjoy living close to Aaron, Denise, Sélah, Emma, and our foster granddaughter, and are very grateful for getting to see them frequently.
• We are grateful for opportunities to travel, visiting friends and family. Someday, we hope to do it much more, visiting more friends and family as well as seeing areas of this country to which we have never traveled.
• Sometimes, we hunt for mushrooms. Most of the time, they succeed at hiding from us.
• We treasure the time we have together, now as throughout our 47+ years of marriage.

Finally, Cathy and I want you to know that we are in awe of the countless ways God has blessed us. It is our prayer that you will experience His blessings, too.

Love to all of you!

Jim and Cathy

Has It Been Two Years?

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been just over two years since our last annual Christmas letter. I know. You are thinking, “FINALLY! I’ve been waiting for this since early January 2018!”

But, before we delve into all that has happened in our family since that time, please, share what has been going on with you. Go ahead…

Wow, that is a lot better than what I was going to share so I’ll just end this letter here.

Okay, okay. Stop begging. I will share.

First, the kids—

Aaron, Denise, Sélah (4+ years), and Emma (2+ years) purchased a house here in Port Orchard and have turned it into a warm home. They have a new addition, too. His name is Brodie. We look forward to the day when this energetic puppy is grown and his nails and teeth do not so easily scratch and draw blood. 

Shane and Alison also bought a house where they live in Eureka CA. They have plenty of room to stretch out, let the dogs roam, raise chickens (again), and pick apples. They love going mushroom hunting, fishing, and crabbing. They gained a new addition in November, as well. Her name is Cecilia Lynn and our newest granddaughter is SO CUTE (even if she looks like her daddy’s side of the family)! 

David, Jordan, and Levi (2+ years) were not going to be left out on this thing of expanding families. As a matter of fact, they added to their family back in July. Maelie Jo is also SO ADORABLE! Big brother, Levi, can already say his full name, although a “D” sound is easier to say than all those other consonants so, for the time being, it may sound more like, “Eevi Dames Dandendine.” No matter. He still gets an A+ from everyone.

The thirteen of us (excluding non humans)—

It is such a joy when your offspring and their families come to visit (usually one family at a time) and we had several of these blessed events over the past two years.

We were also blessed to have everyone here for this past Christmas. A classic example of how formal we are during these gatherings was when we posed for pictures. Well, perhaps “posed” is not the most accurate word for what went on. Despite taking over 180 pictures—individual families, grandparents with grandkids, and the group photo—the best picture was… let’s just say “natural” or “casual”… or chaotic. Yes, that is more accurate. But we had a wonderful time figuring out and demonstrating how four established families (and their “way of doing things”) can get along with patience, grace, and, most of all, love.

The two of us—

We both stay very busy as part of Kitsap Lake Baptist Church. This March we will celebrate fourteen years with this wonderful congregation. This past summer, Cathy joined me for the annual Kids Camp. She was helping with all the food preparation (and clean up) while I served as Camp Pastor. I hope she will continue to join me doing this each year but it is up to her. She continues to serve as the lead teacher for our Children’s Sunday School.

Cathy and I had one of those “experience of a lifetime” things when we went through the Panama Canal as part of a big vacation in Spring 2018. A few days before going through the canal, Cathy let me take her parasailing and she loved it! We would (and, hopefully, will) do it again without hesitation, given the opportunity. A big bonus was learning how to make  salsa, guacamole, and chili rellenos with poblano peppers from a chef in Mexico!

2019 was been a year of joy and sadness. On March 3, my dear mother in law, Dorothy Van Scyoc, entered into the presence of Jesus at the age of 93. We know that she is forever full of joy but we are saddened that we will be without her for the remainder of our time on earth. Cathy’s parents were very dear, generous, loving, and godly people. Their four children are proof. This was also the reason we made three trips to Oklahoma in eleven months, with the last trip culminating in driving a rental truck back to Washington State, carrying precious memories that are now part of our home.

I did say that 2019 included joy. The greatest of these were the births of Maelie Joann on July 11 (a real 7-11 baby) and Cecilia Lynn on November 2 (late, just like her momma). Added to that, we took a 7-night cruise to Alaska with our dear friends, Danny and Cathy Herron. We rode a real live steam train out of Skagway all the way into Canada on the same tracks travelled by the gold miners. The train passed within inches of the rock faces created by dynamite. The other side dropped off hundreds of feet to the river below. It was just like being at Disneyland!

This past Summer and Fall, we were also able to get some work done on our house, adding a cover to the patio, replacing the worn carpet, and making some other helpful improvements. I reckon we won’t be moving anytime soon. 

Finally (yes, there is an end to this novella), the big, big, big news: After 33 years of working for The City of Tacoma, Cathy retired on July 1. To celebrate, I took my wife on a wonderful nine-night mystery trip that included Branson MO, Disneyland, and her very first non-tourist train ride (Amtrak in a sleeper car). I am so grateful for all the years she spent helping to support our family as well as carrying the major burden of maintaining our household. Now, she gets to do whatever she wants! (I hope it includes taking me on vacations.) Oh, I almost forgot: The City of Tacoma dedicated the training room to Cathy and named it after her!

That’s it.

Happy and Merry all-those-special-days-and-holidays-during-the-year!

Our love to you!

Jim and Cathy

2017-2018 Family Letter (aka Annual Christmas Letter)

Jim & Cathy

We Are Grandparents

and Other Less Important Information

The Very Short Version

• We adore our THREE precious, wonderful, incredible, beautiful, heart stealing grandchildren!
• All three kids and kids-in-love are in their 30s and busy.
• We are still living in Port Orchard and serving at Kitsap Lake Baptist Church in Bremerton.
• Our folks are pretty old now and we’re catching up with them!
• We love vacations and think they are too few and far between.
• We continue our gardening among raised beds and dwarf fruit trees.
• We now have our Medicare cards (so speak up).
• We will be offline April 5-22 but don’t worry. We will be just fine! 

__________________________________________________________

The Less Short Version

They have stolen our hearts!

Selah Grace Marie turned two on October 27. Emma Lynn Marie was born on June 17. Both girls belong to Aaron and Denise.
Levi James was born on August 8. He belongs to David and Jordan.

On being grandparents…

WOW! WOW! WOW! If we had known how great it was going to be, we may have started with the grandkids. It was tempting to just post family pictures in this letter, starring Selah, Emma, and Levi like this one with my parents. It was taken the day after Christmas. For those who wonder: Dad and Mom are doing pretty good for being 92 and 88. Here they are with our three treasures.

They are real adults! 

Adolescence begins at puberty and ends when a person fully assumes adult responsibilities. We have been the proud parents of real adults for some time now and are thankful for phones, etc.

The run down…

Aaron, Denise, Selah Grace Marie, and Emma Lynn Marie (grandchildren get to have their full names listed) Gantenbein live  just 15 minutes away. Aaron works at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton and Denise has recently become a stay-at-home mom, taking care of Selah and Emma.

Shane and Alison Calhoun have embraced the coast of Northern California after moving from Phelan, California earlier in the year. Now, they are just a quick 10 hour drive from us (8 hours closer). Shane is on faculty at Humboldt State University in Arcata and Alison works with special needs students.

David, Jordan, and Levi James Gantenbein live in “warm” Phoenix AZ, just a short 23 hour drive from us (plus stops). Flying is so much quicker. Either way, Phoenix is HOT! David works with Students (Youth) at Foothills Baptist Church. Jordan works, too, but lives to come home to Levi (and David).

A family Christmas…

Although the kids didn’t come “home” for Christmas this year, they did something even better. Everyone travelled to Eugene, Oregon on Christmas Day where we were able to stay together, play together, pray together, and get together with most of Jim’s sisters’ clan (Nancy). The trip provided several special opportunities for my folks to spend time with their youngest great grandchildren. (BTW, in two more months, they will be great, great grandparents!)

For Gantenbein and Poppino relatives, here are most of us who gathered the day after Christmas.

We have other family, too. Our kids aren’t the only ones who married up. I set the example by marrying into the Van Scyoc household. Cathy was able to return to Enid in December for a visit with members of her family, especially Mom who resides in a Christian Senior Adult Living community and continues to live with worsening dementia. Nevertheless, my godly and caring 92 year old mother-in-law continues to have a sweet spirit and loves singing familiar hymns of praise. 

Moving Forward

“When will you retire?” With over 31 years working for the City of Tacoma, we are both looking forward to her retirement sometime before 2020. She’s already working at developing our new business as Plexus Ambassadors, helping people who want to improve their health!

Currently, I (Jim) do not have plans to retire. However, I am fully aware that the time will come when I will not be physically (and/or mentally) capable of serving as the Pastor of a congregation. Until God directs, I will continue trying to make and help develop disciples of Jesus.

Both of us are looking forward to a wonderful time of rest and relaxation as we sail away on the Disney Wonder with stops in the Bahamas, Caribbean, Panama Canal, Central America, and Mexico. 

Woah! I almost forgot the garden. Here is a quick photo from this very successful past season:

Now to close with the latest picture of our family…

We thank God for our family and friends. It is our hope and prayer that you experience the most wonderful year of your life by living it immersed in the love of our Savior Jesus Christ!

In His love,

Jim and Cathy

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