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Holiday Greetings to everyone!

From Dennis:
We pray all is well with you. This has been an exciting year at the White House, with much happening. We have left Fredericksburg, VA and moved into military housing in Newport, RI (actually the house is in Portsmouth, 5 miles from the base). I am working (mostly being a gopher) for the instructors of the school that I will start on 05 FEB. The school is six months long, and we will probably leave Newport around the first of August. I will find out where it is we are moving to sometime around April-May. I will take a Department Head position aboard a ship. Although we thought our Naval days were numbered, the Lord has other plans!

Before we even left Fredericksburg, we had made some friends here in Newport - I called the local Calvary Chapel, and Pastor Rich gave me the name of a fellow Department Head School classmate that was already here (Paul & Sandy Shock). They welcomed us when we arrived here in Newport, giving us a place to stay and providing much needed advice about the area. Unfortunately, they left 17 DEC - but thank God He provided us with these friends for even this short while.

We were very active in the Calvary Chapel in Fredericksburg, and because we were only to be in Rhode Island for a short while, I thought we might "relax". NOT! We took over leading the Newport home fellowship (from Paul & Sandy), as well as about 3 or 4 other projects!

DJ continues to work hard at educating the girls at home. Due to the move, they have had an extended Christmas break, but will hit the books after the new year (we plan to school through the summer again this year to make up, and to get ahead before we move in August).

This summer we had the thoroughly pleasant experience of hosting a Japanese exchange student for three weeks. Her name is Chie Moriyama - she is a Junior in High School, and will attend here in the states. She was scheduled to also spend Christmas break with us, but got very homesick, and went to Japan instead. We hope to see her during spring break.

From DJ:
This past year has been such a mixture of laughter, dreams, spiritual stretching and tears: As a Mom: The challenge of teaching two spirited "young ladies" (dare I say that, and admit that my little babies are growing up!) As a wife: keeping house and home together... Creating dreams, dreaming of creations (you know - sewing, crafty things - practice makes perfect!)… support to husband, church leader and best friend.

As I look back, every experience, every challenge, from the "Calvary Kids" production at Christmas to the women's retreat to the early service music ministry gave me growing friendships and deep relationships. The memories are plentiful and precious. I guess you could say I stayed busy!! Never bored, anyway! I think I'm getting too old for this moving stuff... It took me 2 weeks to get this stuff unpacked and pictures on the walls. I'm losing my touch!

I found a good home for K.C. in Fredericksburg with a family that loves him very much... even so I miss him terribly. The other two kitties did very well traveling. They are back to their normal selves. Marshmellow (Mammoth Cat) is the same, while Minuet (black little girl) is more lovable and affectionate then ever. She continues her moods of following me meowing till I sit somewhere, so she can lay at my feet. Spoiled? Whatever gave you that Idea?

The weather here is a hoot! Snow did you say? - don't count on it! Rain, overcast, and lots of cold wind... Our cup runneth over! Here's an example... The new England area just experienced the worst winter storm the area has seen in years... we got snow... 3 inches of very wet snow which was gone the next day with the rain! There is the wind - that's fun... when the temperature drops... the wind doesn't. I don't think I will ever get used to walking out of a door, only to have my breath stolen, by a cold blast of wind.

I keep asking myself if I'm having fun yet? Actually YES! I am so grateful to a Lord that goes before us to take care of little details. Such as?... Well, "friends". The Calvary Chapel here is smaller than VA, but the warmth, the genuine Love and caring about people is the same (only they talk funny!). I prayed, "Lord please just send me a friend in heart and spirit. I couldn't say who that one is, He has given me more than the one I asked for. Warm, sweet friends... just like so many we've known before. The Lord is so good!

I've spent the last 2 weeks reading many of the girls' books for school... It will be a challenge for all of us because there is so much reading and writing, but I am looking forward to getting into a routine once more. In addition to the readin', writin' and 'rithmatic (geometry & algebra) the girls are learning to bake and this spring will be ready to begin the quilts we cut out this summer (in hopes of finishing before this move- Ha Ha). The shopping on the island is [stop laughing guys - this is important stuff] very limited and tends to be more expensive than off the island. But, I got the scoop on all the good shopping centers off the island (that includes the outlet places in Massachusetts - about a 20 minute drive from our house).

As for the future, as usual I have more projects planned than I have time for, but for the first time I'm willing to wait on the Lord's timing.... I trust that He is still in control, seeing the entire picture (while I only see now) and He's so much better at planning by life than I am (are you taking notes? I may need a reminder!) These next few months will be tough my experience tells me... so remember us in your prayers, as you are in ours. God bless you and yours this holiday and throughout the Year!

PS - The doors are open to those who want to visit New England's playground of the rich. You should see the mansions! One would make a great Calvary Chapel!

From Bridget:
Hi! Things have been pretty busy for me. I have jobs to do both at church and home. At church I do two things: First, I help down stairs with the kids, and second, I do a job that I like very much - I help cut doughnuts for after church fellowship. The only thing I don't like is dad won't let me taste test them! We haven't started school yet (yeah!), but mom says we will start the week after Christmas. New England is a new experience for me. When the first winter storm hit I was totally unprepared for a real winter. We only got a couple of inches, but since then we have had really bad winds and we stocked up with gloves, mittens, earmuffs, and heavy coats.

God Bless all of you !

From Jenny:
Hi all!
(Jenny is a girl of few words)

Take care, all, we will continue to pray for you. May the God who loves us and sent His Son be with you this coming year.