Carl's Third Birthday !

Christmas Greetings 2008

It is hard to believe that it is Christmas time once again. Though the year has gone by so fast so much has happened.

We are in our second year in Lake View, south of Buffalo. Where Cliff is currently the Pastor of Lake View Congregational Church. Encouraged with the progress God and has made and looking forward to what He has for this coming year.

Naomi has been blessed with a part-time job as a Clerk Typist in the local school district. Hannah is excelling in her second year of Junior High. High honors this past semester and is on her way to be a Godly young woman. Ainsley is in her last year of primary school. God has blessed her with a musical talent as she continues to play the piano. Mallory is in the first grade. This past year she became a Brownie in Girl Scouts. Carl is holding his own, learning to fend for himself with his sisters. His ears have been healed and he no longer has any hearing loss. His speak has dramatically increased and continues to daily. We can't forget our newest member, Zeke our rat terrier dog.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior it is a time to reflect on all the things He has blessed us with. Please continue to keep our family and ministry in your prayers.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year with Love,

Cliff, Naomi, Hannah, Ainsley, Mallory and Carl

I need help...

from my lovely wife.  There is plenty to write about but not enough time it seems.  We are getting ready for Christmas like many of you.  We have gifts to wrap, cookies to make, concerts and plays to attend.  Everyone is doing well.  Carl had a hearing test a couple of weeks ago and it showed no hearing damage.  His speech therapy will continue until August.  The girls are busy as ever.  Ainsley had her 10th birthday in November, and Hannah's in tomorrow.  Where have the past 12 years gone?  I feel as if I have missed most of them.  Mallory has her play tomorrow at school and is growing like a weed.

Guess what Naomi is doing?  Go ahead bet you can't guess.  She is...................working.  Yes, I know very unusual for her to be working.  I am so grateful for her, but it would be nice to see her sit for a moment.

Church is coming along.  We are getting ready for a new year that is going to be very pivotal for us.  Please keep us in prayer.  

We pray that each of you are doing well, and that you will be able to enjoy this time, and if all else fails make yourself.  Take a break from TV and all the other things and just enjoy the family and the time we have.

See ya,

Cliff

An eventful Sunday

Yesterday was a good day until.......we got a new couch.   To make a long story short our house is set up a little weird.  The door we have to move things in and out of  is on the front of the house, and a set of stairs is directly inside of it.  Naomi and I got the couch in the door and up the stairs.  Then we had to turn it.  As we turned it, I tried to adjust and ended up shattering the light fixture on the ceiling.  There was a delay, and then the blood started.  Naomi had a puncture wound to her forearm and I could not get the bleeding to stop.  In the middle of all of this were the kids and on top of that our home phone is messed up, waiting for repairs.  So, I ran next door got the neighbor, called the ambulance and got the kids together.  The bleeding finally stopped and they released her to go on our own to the hospital.  She has quite a puncture but it only needed a stitch to close it.  We are very lucky this wasn't worse.  We got back to the house at 6:30, got the kids.  Finished 8twleve our preteen group at church and passed out at 9:30.  We have decided if we move we will just leave the furniture in this house.  It will be a lot easier and safer.

Cliff

The new ride!!!

Just wanted to show everyone our new set of wheels.  It is really good on gas and we are pleased that the Lord blessed us with it.

On a very serious note with a great big "Thank You!"  we want to thank Carl's speech therapist for this blessing.  It was suppose to last until Christmas but I didn't get a chance to tuck it away in the garage and cover it up before he got to it.  Soooo..he enjoyed for quite a while yesterday.  Thank you very much Michelle, it is greatly appreciated.  (Now dad can get me that John Deere tractor one with the tow behind cart).  HAHA.  

A day without

soccer.  This is one of the few days until October 4th that we have not had a soccer game.  So today we were looking forward to a nice evening with the kids.  I had lunch with my good buddy Dave.  Had a couple of meetings, hung out with Carl a little, ran some errands and had a very good day.  Na worked herself to death once again today.  So the girls came home, we got homework done or at least tried.  Na took a bike ride for some quiet and when she got back..........I was in the backyard with the kids..................playing SOCCER!!!.  That's right.  The goal out, the girls fighting for the ball, Carl in the middle of them and enjoying every second of it.  When you realize that your kids are healthy.  Able to talk and all the things we take for granted, even when it leads to arguments, it doesn't matter what you are doing with them.  It has been a great day here in upstate, and then I topped it off with talking with my buddy Matt in NZ.  What a day.  What a blessing.  Sorry I forgot the camera Ma.

Cliff

Not making any...

headway it seems.  Between trying to keep up with the normal things of a house and family, having the church right across the street is like having another property to take care of.  I can do simple things and can be handy but I need to learn more to do this right.  It is very frustrating to know there is so much to get done, not a lot of help, and living up north the weather will have its own way of slowing me down.  I understand why some pastors say they don't like living on the property or real close to it now.  But, I grew up watching our pastors do this same thing, because that is what they had to do.  I never heard them complain, even they probably felt this way.  And they always kept going because it is a part of not the job, but the calling.  The greatest part is, I wanted trade it for the world.  This is where we are suppose to be.  This is where the Lord wants us, and even with all the "stuff" I love it.  For that, I say Praise the Lord!

Cliff