Good morning, it is Saturday morning, December 23rd. With only three days until Christmas, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Since this is my pre-Christmas blog, I thought I would take the opportunity to update you on the Brown household. Our daughter, Lori, continues to teach at Filmore school in Davenport where she has taught for more than a dozen years. She and her husband, Kevin, are preparing to adopt their second child to add to their brood with daughter, Kaitlynn, who is five. Daughter, Cheryl, who lives in Lake in the Hills, IL. recently sold her medical practices in Northbrook and Evanston and opened a practice with her husband, Greg, about five minutes from home in Crystal Lake. She was spending many hours every day driving to her offices, hospitals all over Chicago, or surgical centers in the area. Now she spends far less time on the road and has much more time with her three children, Maelynn 9, Ryan 6, and Brendan 5. They are waiting to adopt their fourth child, a little boy with correctable foot problems whom they expect to receive in February. Cheryl, being a foot surgeon, will fix his problems so as to give him a normal life. We can't wait to hold him in our arms as part of our family. Our son, Timothy, recently resigned from the States Attorney's office in Whiteside county and opened his own law practice in Crystal Lake. He is sharing a new office with sister, Cheryl, and her husband. I am looking forward to having all of the members of my family home for the holidays. Lord willing, Timothy is to arrive today and Cheryl and her family late Sunday. We look forward to being together and opening our presents on Christmas eve after we enjoy the Christmas eve services at church and eat the marvelous buffet food Barb cooks each year. Christmas day is filled with fellowship, games, food and celebration at our house. What a wonderful time of the year Christmas is for every one of us. I have SO much for which to be thankful.
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Why Jesus Had to Come. I hope to see you there and at the Christmas eve candlelight communion service.
Pastor Brown.