Family Update

I just finished talking with Hannah for a couple of hours via Skype and will talk later to Martha. After driving for 2 days from Texas, both made it safely back to Virginia where Martha begins her last year in college and Hannah her last year in graduate school. I will make a trip back to the States next May for their graduations. Jonathan could graduate next May with his Associate degree in Computer Networking, but we’re thinking about him staying on another semester or 2 to also earn a degree in Computer Security. We’ll see. But all of them had a great time together at David’s house for the past few weeks.

As for their future plans after graduation, Hannah is considering a 2 year service with the Peace Corps, maybe in a needy country in Africa or South America. She may also start sending out her resume after Christmas to museums and government agencies. Please pray that the Lord will guide her through it all. The Lord has placed missions in Martha’s heart, but she will need to work at least a couple of years in a hospital setting in the U.S. to develop her nursing skills. She will be seeking the Lord’s direction on where to do that.

But before either of them set off on their careers, they and Sara are hoping to take a post graduation vacation to Europe next May for a couple of weeks. Sara has always wanted to visit Scotland and Ireland, Hannah wants to visit the World’s Fair next year in Milan, Italy, and Martha would just enjoy spending more time with her sisters. When Jan graduated from college she traveled to Europe with her mom, so the girls want to follow in their mom’s footsteps, literally.

Sara has chalked up 6 years with Neiman Marcus in their graphics department, which gives her the privilege of more vacation time each year. David continues to do well with his job as lead programmer at Texas Wesleyan University, as well as teaching a Sunday School class. Jonathan is earning some of his own money with a part-time job at a Chic-Fil-a. All of them will get back together at Christmas time, but Daddy will have to wait until next May to be with them.

Folks here often ask if any of them are close to getting married. David turns 29 this week and has his own house. The girls are all of the marrying age. Jonathan will be leaving his teen years before too long. We have discussions about it now and then, but as yet, each is waiting for God’s best. None require marriage in order to be fulfilled. Each has learned to maximize their single years to serve the Lord, learn skills, and develop a trust in the Lord for their future. I expect at some point the wedding bells will ring. I just don’t know for who. Nor am I in a hurry to know. In God's time.

Thank you for those of you who join me in praying for my kids. Nothing in this world is more precious to me than each one of them.