Christmas Greetings from Lou and Kathy Aschenbrenner !! It is December so this is 2008 in Review
Okay, we’re coming to the wire…2008 is almost behind us… what a blur of memories. There was enough packed into this year to almost equal my previous 50 some years of recollection. Some were new faces to us this year but by now are like good friends we’ve known for a decade or more. Some are just being born as I type this and are so new that they don’t have a name yet…and earthly bodies were laid to their final resting place but will not be forgotten.
Well, what’s a Christmas letter for if it can’t give you a review of all of what was going on this year? And for those of you that just want us to wish you a Merry Christmas so you can get on with your busy schedule… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! But if there’s a few of you that want the year rolled out with a few stories and pictures… We’ll do our best.
We were volunteering with Hard Hats for Christ at Moreland Bible Church, Portland, OREGON from October 2007 to May 2008. It’s amazing what God brought together in 12 months. In September ‘07 they tore down the old building and by October 8th, 2008, they passed their final inspection. The Dedication was October 12th. We had a very small part in the whole project but we are proud to say that we helped where we could. We've added a few new pictures to our web album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/louiskathy327/MorelandChurchHardHatsProject?authkey=_XNdhcNmEdE
The Moreland Bible Church website tells the tale in pictures month by month. http://www.morelandbiblechurch.com/buildingpictures2007.html
http://www.morelandbiblechurch.com/buildingpictures2008.html
April 2008 – We flew to Arkansas. Pictures and a few details are in our online web album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/louiskathy327/ArkansasTripApril2008?authkey=hvVie_YBpr8
Uncle Don Christensen and his wife, Ruth, had been very concerned about Meredith’s health and urged us to come down to see her while she could enjoy our visit. We had a wonderful time once we got there…but getting there was not easy. American Airlines decided to cancel hundreds of flights just as we were airborne out of Portland. Once we landed in Los Angeles, CA to change planes the trip ceased to be ordinary.
May 2008 – We flew to Utah to attend the Hard Hats Conference at 777 Ranch. We were blessed with this trip.
http://picasaweb.google.com/louiskathy327/May2008HardHatsForChristConferenceFerronUTAH?authkey=bIyt6s3quP8
May 2008 – October 2008 - USFS Camp Host volunteers at Klipchuck CG in the North Cascades, Washington.
http://louiskathy.blogspot.com/2008/09/summer-of-2008.html
We have been hosts at the same campground every year since 2005. This was our last year at Klipchuck. We really need to see some new country. But before we left we tried to see as much of it as we could by renting a charter plane for a couple of hours and seeing the Cascades and the hiking trails we’ve hiked over the years by air.
My son, Jeremy was able to fly out for a few days and take that Scenic Flight over the North Cascades with us. Lou and I have been married for 20 years this year and this was our anniversary present to each other. (Let’s face it…We’ll never make it to Hawaii. Neither one of us really wants to go there but both of us wanted to do this.)
Saying good-byes to our friends in the Methow Valley was not fun to do but we got to do it a couple of times since our departure date kept getting changed unexpectedly for one reason or another. We finally left just a few days before the snow flakes flew.
October through mid-November we were in the Kelso/Woodland Washington area helping to remodel the old Hard Hats offices back into a residence so that Jim & Jean Hodges could move into it. That occupied some of our time. Helping another Prayer Partner get her “closet” tool shop area increased to a workable shop size was accomplished. Getting the latest issue of the Hard Hats newsletter With Sword & Trowel to the printer before we headed to our California project also was tucked into here and there…with one all-nighter to meet the printing date.
It wasn’t all work and no play. Trust me on that one. Our dear friends in Woodland planned a get-together to try to give us a chance to see most of them one more time before we traveled to our current Hard Hats for Christ construction project in Potter Valley,California. The RSVP'd number of guests overflowed the capacity of the Kellar’s home so it was moved to the community fire hall a few days before the party date. It gave us a very happy memory to see them but we had received a phone call less than an hour before the party started that our Uncle Don Christensen had passed away suddenly at his home in Garfield, Arkansas. We didn’t want it to spoil the party but it was hard for us not to feel saddened by the news.
We met Don in 1994 shortly after Lou’s mom, Lucy, had passed away. I was having horrific problems with acid reflux. My doctor told Lou to take me on vacation, away from stress for two weeks or more to see if I could get rested enough to go through surgery to repair my stomach valve. Lou drove me down to Aunt Janet in Arkansas and she suggested I go to see a Chiropractor that she knew. I had never been to a Chiropractor before. I credit Don’s Chiropractic skills to the fact that I did not need any surgery. With a few visits to his office I was completely off all medications and able to sleep without reflux. In 2001 Don and Aunt Janet were married. Over the years, Lou and I both benefited from his deep love of the Bible and his openness to discuss and instruct us on his understanding of it. Don Christensen had more impact on my life than any of my “real” aunts and uncles as far as my health, purpose and freedom to follow the Lord. That’s a strong statement for me to make. “Freedom” to follow the Lord… what do I mean by that? Well, when we felt the Lord’s leading to auction off our stuff in 2005 and head west in our motor home, there were some that simply fell silent when they heard what we were planning. They gave us no indication that they had any thoughts on what we were doing one way or the other. Don was not one of those. Don encouraged us with his Blessings and his prayers. Always emailing and phoning us. Always “right there” when we needed him.
With Uncle Don’s passing, this meant that Meredith has out lived both her father, Leo Nelson, her mother, Janet and now her step-father, Don Christensen, in this life. Born with Down’s Syndrome 60+ years ago and having had many health problems all through her years, I don’t think anyone expected Meredith to still be with us at the end of 2008 but she sure is and she’s enjoying life still. Meredith’s aunt, Vivian Sinclair, sister to Leo Nelson, and Vivian’s daughter, Cyndi Wiedman, who both live in Illinois, will be watching over Meredith’s care (as they have since Janet passed away in 2004). As long as her health permits, Meredith will continue to live at Woodhaven in Columbia, MO and spend special weeks and Holidays with Aunt Vivian. Besides her aunt, she also has three cousins and their 10 kids on her father’s side. Please keep all of them in your prayers.
Don’s passing was the second phone call we received like that this year. The first was in February when Lou’s nephew, Wally Jr., died suddenly at his home in Illinois. We couldn’t allow this letter to be sent without remembering Wally. It’s his life we celebrate each time we remember him.
Life keeps coming at us…one moment, one death and one birth at a time. The newest bundle arrived last night (Dec 2) at about 6:10pm in Illinois. IT’S A BOY!! Jeremy has a new little 7 lb 1oz second cousin. Jonathan Matthew Dulceak was born to Denise (Rogal) and Matthew Dulceak. He’s their first child but Grandma Diane (Padlo) and Grandpa John Rogal have a total of two grandsons now. He’s less than 24 hours old and I assure you that he’s already spoiled.
And Thank God for those little bundles. Keep them coming. They bring joy into a deeply troubled world. Not too long ago there was another bundle of joy that was given to all of us so that we could have the gifts of love and salvation. We pray that you already have and keep that joy with you all year through. No matter what we are going through, we know with assurance that the Lord will be there to give us HIS strength until we join Him on the other side.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and May the Good Lord Bless You and Yours in 2009.
Hugs,
(His Utmost Gift is Salvation)
Lou and Kathy Aschenbrenner
Okay, we’re coming to the wire…2008 is almost behind us… what a blur of memories. There was enough packed into this year to almost equal my previous 50 some years of recollection. Some were new faces to us this year but by now are like good friends we’ve known for a decade or more. Some are just being born as I type this and are so new that they don’t have a name yet…and earthly bodies were laid to their final resting place but will not be forgotten.
Well, what’s a Christmas letter for if it can’t give you a review of all of what was going on this year? And for those of you that just want us to wish you a Merry Christmas so you can get on with your busy schedule… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! But if there’s a few of you that want the year rolled out with a few stories and pictures… We’ll do our best.
We were volunteering with Hard Hats for Christ at Moreland Bible Church, Portland, OREGON from October 2007 to May 2008. It’s amazing what God brought together in 12 months. In September ‘07 they tore down the old building and by October 8th, 2008, they passed their final inspection. The Dedication was October 12th. We had a very small part in the whole project but we are proud to say that we helped where we could. We've added a few new pictures to our web album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/louiskathy327/MorelandChurchHardHatsProject?authkey=_XNdhcNmEdE
The Moreland Bible Church website tells the tale in pictures month by month. http://www.morelandbiblechurch.com/buildingpictures2007.html
http://www.morelandbiblechurch.com/buildingpictures2008.html
April 2008 – We flew to Arkansas. Pictures and a few details are in our online web album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/louiskathy327/ArkansasTripApril2008?authkey=hvVie_YBpr8
Uncle Don Christensen and his wife, Ruth, had been very concerned about Meredith’s health and urged us to come down to see her while she could enjoy our visit. We had a wonderful time once we got there…but getting there was not easy. American Airlines decided to cancel hundreds of flights just as we were airborne out of Portland. Once we landed in Los Angeles, CA to change planes the trip ceased to be ordinary.
May 2008 – We flew to Utah to attend the Hard Hats Conference at 777 Ranch. We were blessed with this trip.
http://picasaweb.google.com/louiskathy327/May2008HardHatsForChristConferenceFerronUTAH?authkey=bIyt6s3quP8
May 2008 – October 2008 - USFS Camp Host volunteers at Klipchuck CG in the North Cascades, Washington.
http://louiskathy.blogspot.com/2008/09/summer-of-2008.html
We have been hosts at the same campground every year since 2005. This was our last year at Klipchuck. We really need to see some new country. But before we left we tried to see as much of it as we could by renting a charter plane for a couple of hours and seeing the Cascades and the hiking trails we’ve hiked over the years by air.
My son, Jeremy was able to fly out for a few days and take that Scenic Flight over the North Cascades with us. Lou and I have been married for 20 years this year and this was our anniversary present to each other. (Let’s face it…We’ll never make it to Hawaii. Neither one of us really wants to go there but both of us wanted to do this.)
Saying good-byes to our friends in the Methow Valley was not fun to do but we got to do it a couple of times since our departure date kept getting changed unexpectedly for one reason or another. We finally left just a few days before the snow flakes flew.
October through mid-November we were in the Kelso/Woodland Washington area helping to remodel the old Hard Hats offices back into a residence so that Jim & Jean Hodges could move into it. That occupied some of our time. Helping another Prayer Partner get her “closet” tool shop area increased to a workable shop size was accomplished. Getting the latest issue of the Hard Hats newsletter With Sword & Trowel to the printer before we headed to our California project also was tucked into here and there…with one all-nighter to meet the printing date.
It wasn’t all work and no play. Trust me on that one. Our dear friends in Woodland planned a get-together to try to give us a chance to see most of them one more time before we traveled to our current Hard Hats for Christ construction project in Potter Valley,California. The RSVP'd number of guests overflowed the capacity of the Kellar’s home so it was moved to the community fire hall a few days before the party date. It gave us a very happy memory to see them but we had received a phone call less than an hour before the party started that our Uncle Don Christensen had passed away suddenly at his home in Garfield, Arkansas. We didn’t want it to spoil the party but it was hard for us not to feel saddened by the news.
We met Don in 1994 shortly after Lou’s mom, Lucy, had passed away. I was having horrific problems with acid reflux. My doctor told Lou to take me on vacation, away from stress for two weeks or more to see if I could get rested enough to go through surgery to repair my stomach valve. Lou drove me down to Aunt Janet in Arkansas and she suggested I go to see a Chiropractor that she knew. I had never been to a Chiropractor before. I credit Don’s Chiropractic skills to the fact that I did not need any surgery. With a few visits to his office I was completely off all medications and able to sleep without reflux. In 2001 Don and Aunt Janet were married. Over the years, Lou and I both benefited from his deep love of the Bible and his openness to discuss and instruct us on his understanding of it. Don Christensen had more impact on my life than any of my “real” aunts and uncles as far as my health, purpose and freedom to follow the Lord. That’s a strong statement for me to make. “Freedom” to follow the Lord… what do I mean by that? Well, when we felt the Lord’s leading to auction off our stuff in 2005 and head west in our motor home, there were some that simply fell silent when they heard what we were planning. They gave us no indication that they had any thoughts on what we were doing one way or the other. Don was not one of those. Don encouraged us with his Blessings and his prayers. Always emailing and phoning us. Always “right there” when we needed him.
With Uncle Don’s passing, this meant that Meredith has out lived both her father, Leo Nelson, her mother, Janet and now her step-father, Don Christensen, in this life. Born with Down’s Syndrome 60+ years ago and having had many health problems all through her years, I don’t think anyone expected Meredith to still be with us at the end of 2008 but she sure is and she’s enjoying life still. Meredith’s aunt, Vivian Sinclair, sister to Leo Nelson, and Vivian’s daughter, Cyndi Wiedman, who both live in Illinois, will be watching over Meredith’s care (as they have since Janet passed away in 2004). As long as her health permits, Meredith will continue to live at Woodhaven in Columbia, MO and spend special weeks and Holidays with Aunt Vivian. Besides her aunt, she also has three cousins and their 10 kids on her father’s side. Please keep all of them in your prayers.
Don’s passing was the second phone call we received like that this year. The first was in February when Lou’s nephew, Wally Jr., died suddenly at his home in Illinois. We couldn’t allow this letter to be sent without remembering Wally. It’s his life we celebrate each time we remember him.
Life keeps coming at us…one moment, one death and one birth at a time. The newest bundle arrived last night (Dec 2) at about 6:10pm in Illinois. IT’S A BOY!! Jeremy has a new little 7 lb 1oz second cousin. Jonathan Matthew Dulceak was born to Denise (Rogal) and Matthew Dulceak. He’s their first child but Grandma Diane (Padlo) and Grandpa John Rogal have a total of two grandsons now. He’s less than 24 hours old and I assure you that he’s already spoiled.
And Thank God for those little bundles. Keep them coming. They bring joy into a deeply troubled world. Not too long ago there was another bundle of joy that was given to all of us so that we could have the gifts of love and salvation. We pray that you already have and keep that joy with you all year through. No matter what we are going through, we know with assurance that the Lord will be there to give us HIS strength until we join Him on the other side.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and May the Good Lord Bless You and Yours in 2009.
Hugs,
(His Utmost Gift is Salvation)
Lou and Kathy Aschenbrenner
posted by Lou and Kathy at 4:09 PM
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