December Days

December has been such a rich and rewarding month. I was so privileged to assist the Troy Police and VFW Post distributing baskets to families struggling to make ends meet in our Michigan economy. The bulk of the work was done by the Police and VFW, but the Pastors & Intercessors Network Ministry (www.pinmtroy.blogspot.com) raised money to assist in the purchases during our October prayer walk, and it was a blessing to be a small part of seeing their mission accomplished.

I had the cutest little assistant at the Cultural Christmas Extravaganza hosted by People of the Book Lutheran Outreach Ministries. I researched traditional Armenian Christmas traditions and shared some of them along with my book, Bachik, the Birthday Kiss, and other Affirming Faith resources. It was a fun evening and I was glad to have my daughter Hope with me in coordinating holiday fashions.

On a personal note, my husband delighted me with fresh roping this year, something I've always admired and wanted to do at my own home. Bill works on stilts in his drywall business, and that really came in handy when he and Charles were putting up the outside decorations.

Of course, there were Christmas concerts, a school play, a church children's musical, family get-togethers, and my first-born daughter Noelle turned 18 this month. Along with all the activities, I have found some time to write, because there was much on my heart to write about. I invite you to check out some that is posted on the "Message in a Bottle" blog at www.affirmingfaithmiab.blogspot.com. And as always, if the Lord gives me the opportunity, there will be more forthcoming on the blog and in some magazines I have been asked to write for.

I forgot to mention the Michigan National Day of Prayer Coordinator, Sylvia Turbergen, asked me to speak in a Lansing area church to some of the Michigan folks who couldn't make it out to the annual NDP conference. She wanted me to share the message I gave in Colorado Springs this past October called "You Have a Field to Defend." I forgot to take my camera, but here's a picture of Sylvia and me at a training we hosted in my neck of the woods previously.

So that's the synopsis of December although there is one day yet to finish out the year. May God richly bless you in 2010.