CHRISTMAS

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
                                                                                                                Psalm 127:3-5a

During the Christmas holiday our family flew in from Georgia and California. Our household quickly went from two to eight, which means there was a lot of activity with all beds taken plus an air mattress on the floor. As we looked forward to this time with great anticipation we planned several activities in which everyone could participate. All the family was here by the Saturday morning before Christmas, which included Christiane, Roger, Rick and Rebecca, and our grandsons, Darien and Logan. As soon as the last one arrived we were off to Pokagon State Park in Indiana to experience the challenging toboggan run. Even there was no snow at the park, the run is refrigerated and a sheet of ice. When we arrived we rented two toboggans and were ready to fly down the course.
Darien (age 12) and Logan (age 8) were extremely excited whereas Gail was dragging her feet. After going down once, the boys wanted to do it again and again. All total, they slid down the run seven or eight times whereas Gail and Paul worked up enough courage to do it twice. Our top speed was 36 miles per hour which was plenty fast enough when you are that close to the ground.

Pokagan toboggan run

Logan, Darien, Christiane and Roger flying down the course.

Christiane, Rick, Logan Darien, Rebecca and Roger after a run.

On Sunday we went to church as a family and then were joined by Gail's sister Jill's family for dinner and some fun activities. With six children here that afternoon Patsy and Penny received lots of attention. One of the fun activities was putting together a three-dimensional puzzle of the earth. Monday held many more activities for the family. For a fun competition we divided into two teams of four and were given forty-five minutes to put a ginger bread house together with decorations and all. This really challenged our creativity. That afternoon was spent swimming at the Christian Family Centre and followed with a pizza party. If that wasn't enough activity, the men went to see The Hobbit.

The result of the ginger bread competition

Emma, Lyndsey and Carlie with Penny and Patsy

 

Before Rick, Rebecca, and the boys left on Tuesday, Helene Bleecker joined us for a country breakfast. She had been very eager to meet Darien and Logan. Helene is a cousin and sister to Paul (too long to explain) and her daughter, Deb Kaylor, published a book on the French heritage of the Palpant family. This is a very treasured gift from our children. The book contains many stories and pictures that go back as far as Paul's great grandfather.

During the entire Christmas celebration we were surrounded by children which made it a delightful, joyous time. It was such a special treat to be together as a family, but the time went by way too quickly. We always need to relish those special moments.

Paul, Gail Roger, Darien, Rick, Logan, Rebecca and Christiane enjoying a wonderful Christmas.

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul, Gail, Patsy and Penny

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 19:19b

During the Christmas season many people host open houses to celebrate the birth of Christ. This is a time for great fellowship and wonderful food to celebrate the spirit of this special holiday. You hope you don't gain too many pounds with exposure to so much delightful food that contains uncountable calories.

Last Friday our State Representati,ve Nancy Jenkins, held an open house in her home and invited many people from her church and the political arena. She went to a lot of work and many hours preparing a variety of delicacies for her guests. It was obvious people were enjoying themselves because no one seemed to feel the need to rush off.  

Nancy Jenkins, Stste Representative

The event was a reflection of Nancy's love for people and a heart for serving others. Her whole life radiates the fact that she loves and wants to serve people. We are blessed to have a State Representative with such a heart for her constituents. She is very visible at many functions in the community which offers her an opportunity to listen to ideas and concerns of our area. The challenge to us is to remember to pray for Nancy as she deals with many difficult decisions for our State and
local area.

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny

ALL THY WONDROUS WORKS

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
                                                                                           Psalm 26:7

When we were first married in 1966, we lived in a small four room upstairs apartment on Grove St. in Hudson. When the Christmas season began to roll around our first year of marriage, we began to contemplate what we would do about sending Christmas cards. After looking at cards we could buy to send to friends and family, the idea hit us that we should make our own cards. We both liked the idea and set to work creating and producing the cards we wanted to send. Little did we know that we were establishing a tradition of making our own cards that we continue to this day.

We still remember the design of our first card which contained two candles made of gold and silver foil wrapping paper which were glued to white card stock paper. It is easy to recall exactly what the outside of the card looked like, but we can't remember how we composed the inside greeting. If our memories serve us correctly, a hand written note was on the inside of each card. At that time we probably sent no more than 25-30 cards. Ever since that Christmas we have faithfully created our Christmas card with few exceptions.

Christmas card in the making

One year we ran short of our Christmas cards and ended up giving some of Paul's teachers a boughten card. Several of them later expressed their disappointment that they had not received a homemade card. Some people have been known to actually frame some of the cards they have received. Paul's relatives in France have kept many of these Christmas cards over the years. The number of cards that we send has grown to many times the number we sent in 1966.

The final touch

When the Christmas card is composed, our desire is that it reflects the true meaning of Christmas. Often the card will include a verse of Scripture or a thought that focuses on the birth of Christ. Many send Christmas cards during this holiday season. God has also sent His letter to us through the holy Scriptures telling of he birth of Christ who became the suffering servant described in the book of Isaiah. May God speak to us through His Word in a special way this Christmas season.

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny

BANNER OVER ME IS LOVE

He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.  
                                                                                      Song of Solomon 2:4

 This past week has been a very special week for us.  On Tuesday, November 25^th we headed to Commerce, GA to spend Thanksgiving with our family at the home of our daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Rick.  Joining us were our other children; Christiane from Atlanta and Roger from Modesto, CA as well as grandsons, Darien and Logan.  On the way down, we spent Tuesday night with Paul’s brother and sister-in-law, Vic and Sherry, near Knoxville, TN.  The next day we continued on to Georgia. 

 The following four days were a delight.  On Thanksgiving Day several from Rick’s family joined us including his mother, step-father, brother and his family and his sister and niece.  Thanksgiving morning was spent preparing all the food for the feast we were going to enjoy later that day.  Everyone in the family was busy with the task they were assigned.  The most interesting part was watching Logan and Christiane making the pies.  Logan at eight years of age is quite the pie maker.  He helped Christiane make all six pies.  There were apple, pumpkin and even pecan.  Some were even gluten free.  On top of that the members of Rick’s family who joined us brought many delicious things with them which added to the already succulent Thanksgiving feast.  Both the food and the fellowship were fantastic.  Rick’s family is such a joy to be around.

 

Christiane, Logan, Rebecca and Gail baking up a storm.

After the Thanksgiving dinner, family members played corn hole, worked on a 3-D puzzle, and played Farkel.  When you get together with the Shimkets family, you better be ready to be challenged to a game.  They are extremely competitive which is very much seen in Darien and Logan as well.

 

Paul, Roger and Darien solving the 3-D puzzle.

Unfortunately Roger had to leave on Friday to get back to work.  Christiane left Sunday morning due to a speaking engagement at Indiana University.  For Paul and Gail the remainder of the time was spent helping select a Christmas tree for Rick and Rebecca’s family, watching the University of Georgia lose a close football game to Georgia Tech, shopping at Chico’s, and helping Darien with his Jesse tree project for school.

 One night we headed to bed and were joined by Logan who loves Patsy and Penny.  While in our bedroom he played with the dogs and even got in their crate with them.  He thought it would be neat to spend the night in there with them.  However, we asked Logan if he was supposed to be in bed.  He quickly disappeared and headed toward his bedroom.

 

Logan joining Patsy and Penny in their crate.

It was such a blessing to be with family during the Thanksgiving holiday.  It gave us time to get to know and appreciate Rick and the boys even more.  It is obvious that he and Rebecca are very much in love and truly care for each other.  We are so glad we made the trip to Georgia and realize how much we would have missed if we hadn’t.

 

Dottie, (Rick's mom), Gail and Paul

Blessings and Encouragement,

 

Paul, Gail, Patsy and Penny