2014 Christmas Letter

Dear friends and family, 

We would love to mention the highlights of our year so that you know what our family experienced in 2014. We also want to praise our Father, from whom we have received all manner of good gifts. This year was filled with some highs and lows, but throughout it, we have seen God working to show us how to further depend on Him, and He has been faithful to strengthen us when we have struggled. 

The end of 2013 saw us facing the eviction of the renter in our Helena home who only paid us twice, but ended up remaining in the house over eight months. It took us a couple of months to paint, clean, and ready the home for listing. We had a contract on the house within two months but it took five months to close and complete the sale due to issues with the lender and financing. As of this week, we are so very grateful to have only one mortgage! The beauty of God providing through the Body of Christ has never been so clear to our family as numerous folks helped us during this very stressful season of two house payments for over a year. He is faithful.   

Our last family photo at our first home for all of us together

our team and Pastor Welcome

In August, James, Isaac, Abigail and I again visited Swaziland, Africa. This year our team of 12 was able to love on nearly 300 children, as our CarePoint has grown tremendously again. We visited ten families in their homes and delivered needed food and supplies. We also worked with the boys to build a pair of swingsets for the children to enjoy. Overall, we sang, played, laughed, and prayed with these precious people. God is working mightily there to raise up leaders in the Lesibovu community, and bringing Truth to those who desire to know how to change their families and improve their lives. He is hope.

so many sweet smiles

even the big boys loved the swings!

before saying goodbye again

 As we headed home from Swaziland, our London layover contained the biggest surprise of the year. Unbeknownst to me, James had arranged with our precious German daughter, (our former exchange student) Julia Schrader, to have her and her mom meet us in London for several hours of sightseeing and visiting. Though we were travel weary and I was extremely emotional, I have never been so thankful to see a familiar face in the Underground station as when I saw Julia smiling at me. We were thrilled to meet Susanne in person since we’d only Skyped previously, and the bond our families share was only cemented. We are ready to count down the days till Julia arrives for a visit this summer - just 217 more days! He is joy.

enjoying a snack in the Heathrow airport

Our children continue to be wonderful gifts to us. Isaac is 15, has almost passed me in height and does outweigh me. He is a freshman at Thompson High this year, and enjoys his small class and the opportunities he has there. We are very glad he has a wonderful team of teachers and aides who we trust and who are helping us prepare him for his future. Abigail is 12 and a 7^th grader, with lots of spunk and talent. She’s a pleasure to teach as we continue to homeschool both Abi and the little boys. She is such a wonderful helper to me with work in our home and also shares my passions for creating. Finding time to work with her on crafts and art has been a neat area of bonding for us this past year especially. 

a gift of a beach trip was a wonderful September treat

our Christmas photo

Elijah just turned 7 this week and is still super tender-hearted, and very much all boy. He is doing great with first grade work and adores all things related to nature and outdoors. He lost his precious Pumpkin cat in the fall to a heart defect, and for his birthday received a new little girl kitten. Jellybean has been a delight to us all and especially to E. Owen is nearly 5 and is the loudest, busiest, and must fun preschooler we know. The whole family adores him and is entertained by his love for life and the excitement he brings to every situation. Unfortunately, the excitement found him in September, when he was bitten by a copperhead while cleaning out our chicken coop. After an understandably hysterical initial reaction and sad ambulance ride to Children’s Hospital, he was quite a trooper during our few days’ stay, eventually receiving 14 vials of antivenom. Never one to be slowed down by fear (nor common sense it seems), within an hour of returning home from the hospital, Owen was outside, hopping barefoot toward the chicken coop as we all looked on in disbelief. We are praying God gives us wisdom in raising these diverse personalities and abilities, and lean heavily on Him for guidance since we realize our inadequacies daily! He is the perfect Father. 

our favorite movie star

James continues to work in MICU at Shelby Hospital and also still misses his days in transport. We pray that the door may be opened for him to once again do the type work he loves and meanwhile are thankful for a good work environment, close to home. He also was glad to have the opportunity again for eight weeks this fall as he did last year, to work as the set medic for “Woodlawn,” the latest Erwin Brothers movie set at a Birmingham high school during integration in the early 1970s. He had a great experience and was even given a role in one scene, similar to last year’s “Moms’ Night Out,” though this year he had a line to speak. Watch for a major release of the film to theaters in the fall of 2015! James and I celebrated 18 years of marriage this summer, and value more than ever how much it means to stay committed to one another in times where many do not. We know that life will always be full of ups and downs, but are thankful to be by the other’s side. He is love. 

James as team doctor in blue jacket

I’m in my eighth year as administrator of the cover school for our homeschool group at Shelby Crossings. We have grown dramatically and now have over 150 families in our school. It is exciting to see that more people are able to choose the option for education that best suits their families and I love helping those who choose to homeschool. A friend and I are hosting a retreat for homeschool moms this winter and love seeing how God has brought dozens of mothers from multiple states to join us in our first year venture. We hope it will be a great time of encouragement and refreshment for these ladies, who can grow weary from being both mother and teacher every day. He is our strength.

This verse from Isaiah is especially meaningful as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

We also have had to lean on Him to be all these things recently and found these words to be true ~ He has brought comfort to us as counselor, demonstrated that He is powerful to solve our problems, loves us as the faithful and eternal Father, and is the One who brings peace that no one else can.  

We pray that your 2015 is a year of joy and peace, and are grateful for your part in our lives.

With love,

Jennifer, for the Vines family