Christmas Letter

Christmas Eve...a great time to reflect on the past year. I will try and give a recap of what each of us is up to.

Dave continues on as Children’s Pastor at Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ Church. He loves what God has called him to do and feels very blessed to work with the staff and volunteers that he works with each day. He has also added many balloon gigs to his schedule this past year, ranging from birthday parties to mall events, grand openings and even tabletop decorations for a baby shower. In January, he will begin twisting at Red Robin--his favorite restaurant--twice a month. Another of Dave’s activities is twittering. He truly enjoys this mode of communication. You can check him out there or on Facebook. This is an outlet for his techie side.

John is 10 years old (double digits!) and in the fourth grade this school year. He is a crossing guard and very much enjoys the responsibility of “having a job”. He also plays the cello and sings in the school chorus. He is just beginning his basketball season and has decided not to play baseball again this year. John has really enjoyed the times he has gotten to perform this past year. He and his brother were in their school talent show doing a clown routine. They did the same routine later in the year at the Fellowship of Christian Magician’s conference in Indiana in front of a couple of hundred people and it was so successful that they were invited back the following night to perform in front of a couple of thousand people. We were very proud of both of them for their boldness in doing that and in doing it well.

Josiah is 7 and is in the 1st grade. His passion has now been applied to his school work and he is progressing really well. He is also very social. He will play basketball for the first time this year and will play baseball again in the spring. He continues to make us laugh with his perspective on life and with the things he says. He is very much in love with his mommy and tells me at least once a week (and often more), “Mom, I love you. You’re my best mom ever!” He says it so genuinely and heartfelt. I reply by telling him that he is my best second child ever! :) Last week he was belting out the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. He must’ve learned it at school. He began at 5 days since that is the verse that is so easy to remember. “On the 5th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...5 Golden Rings! 4 calling birds, 3 la la, 2 da da da.....and AN OSTRICH in a pear tree!!” And with such gusto... I can only smile and hold my laughter inside. There’s no way I’m correcting that one. Too precious.

John and Josiah both also performed in our church’s easter musical this past year, “The Tale of Three Trees.” John was a member of the woodcutter posse that danced to a rap song, and Josiah was Happy Tree. They are both interested in pursuing more acting opportunities in the future.

As for me, I have entered new territory. My boys are both in school all day this year. I have felt like God has told me to take this time to rest, heal and get with Him (meaning spend more quality, devoted time with Him--reading His word, praying and worshiping Him). I am truly grateful to have the opportunity for this time. It came at a time when my health was at a pretty low point and I was struggling to have energy and patience to get through my everyday tasks that needed to be done. I was having lots of neck and back pain and my digestive system was a mess. I was definitely not the most pleasant person to be around. After praying about it for a long while, I began going to a chiropractor and had some nutritional testing done. I am very happy to say that I am beginning to see some improvement and feel hopeful about the prospect of healing. It is certainly a process, but one that I am thankful to have the opportunity to pursue. There are a hundred different ways that I could fill up my time each day and it is taking some discipline to slow down and really wait to hear God. He is teaching me that He is still there and that He wants to speak to me. He is also reminding me of how loved I am. It has been easy to lose sight of this truth and to question it as I have struggled with my health and wondered why I have not been healed over the last number of years. But as I spend time with God, He is showing me that being in His presence is better than any physical healing could ever be. And my faith is once again being restored. This is the greatest gift I could ever ask for. I feel like I am beginning to smile once again from my heart.

Well, thanks for coming on the site to check out our update. I hope to write more frequently, so feel free to check back sometime.

I pray that all of you have a very blessed Christmas...one full of hope, peace and love...filled with sweet family times and times of special remembrances of years past.

Blessings to you!

Beth (on behalf of the Truitt family)

Mental Jello

Lest I begin to think that our family is somewhat close to normal, I occasionally come across certain reminders that we are not. Last evening I had a dinner meeting. Dave and the boys took care of getting their own dinner (i.e. heating up leftovers) and cleaning up the kitchen. After I returned home, I walked into the kitchen. Something on the dish drainer caught my eye as I walked by...

That would be a jello mold in the shape of a brain. I'm sure you all have one too, right?!?! My husband certainly keeps things interesting. This month during our Kids Service we are studying the virtue of Knowledge. I had to miss this past Sunday because I was home with our youngest who is sick. I guess they used a jello brain as part of an object lesson. From what I understand, the volunteer they called up was not at all interested in sampling it. Can ya blame him?? Hee hee

After seeing the brain mold, I began wondering if maybe I could create another brain for myself...or get the one back that I had before children. I am in a new phase of life...the kids are both in school full day this year. For the first time in 10 years, I have moments of quiet. I can actually think without being interrupted. So far, my brain hasn't caught up yet. It remains in a fog part of the time. I can't grasp words that I am reaching for. I can't recall facts that I am certain I really should know. Is this early onset alzheimer's? I don't think so...and would refuse to admit it even if that was the case :o) This year, I'm looking forward to doing some mentally stimulating things to revive and recharge my brain--one of which is writing, and this blog is the first step. Am I saying that raising my children did not require the use of my brain? Hardly!! I have been stretched in so many ways and I wouldn't change a minute of it. But there hasn't been time to express myself in the way I once did.

I'm also looking forward to throwing the windows open, cranking the worship music and dancing across my living room floor. It really is better to do this before dark when the neighbors can see in!

Like I said...our family is not completely normal. I don't need to give the neighbors any further evidence to this fact.

I love my wifey!

This is my wife's first blog - and I love her!  She has many great thoughts and ideas that I think most will enjoy!  

She's an awesome wifey!  A wonderful mother!  She's in love with Jesus!  And she has a heart of gold!  

What more could you ask for?!?!?!?