Happy Thanksgiving! We are indeed very thankful to be where God has placed us and to love those he has placed in our lives. I finally have a chance to write again as I have 4 days off of homework. It’s great to be studying the Bible, but among many things I have realized about it…it is a big book.

I must share first off what is one of the coolest things I’ve seen God do. This past week, while we were studying 1^st Corinthians (which has a lot about spiritual gifts among other things), the discipleship training school here in Montana (which is the school we did last year in Kona) was having their last week of class. They have a girl in their class who has been deaf for her entire life. Well, last week, she was healed by God. It was totally awesome. Just stop and think about it for a minute. She could not hear. Now she can. We serve a God who can and does heal. I just have to stop and shake my head when I read over this. It’s just too cool. Whenever I see her on campus now I am just so amazed and refreshed by God. I can’t imagine how she feels.

It’s kind of hard to follow that up, or even move into another topic, but I will. We are enjoying Montana more and more despite the weather getting colder and colder. Actually it’s been unseasonably warm, on average 10 degrees above typical in the last month. Of course that means highs of about 50 and into the 30’s at night. And then the night after thanksgiving we woke up to about 5 inches of snow blanketing our little world. It’s so beautiful. Just the most awesome thing. Unfortunately it is supposed to plummet in temperature this weekend to as low as –10 (yep, that’s a minus sign) next Monday. Ouch. It’s starting to get real. But today we had a great day of playing in the snow.

The next fun thing on the list was an all day party we had on Tuesday before thanksgiving. We were celebrating that the campus is now officially paid for. We had an awesome day of worshiping God and thanking him for providing this great place to learn and teach about him. Many of the leaders shared testimony after testimony about how God provided this land, the staff housing and many other things. It is so cool to look back and see the miracles God has done in this place. We also had lots of cookies that day. (I know that some of you really enjoy me sharing about the food)

Speaking of food, I almost forgot to mention another huge miracle that God has done. Ruth had to work on Thanksgiving Day, so I was left in charge to cook the turkey. Don’t get me wrong, she did all the legwork, but I had to care for it all day long. The miracle is that it actually tasted good and I didn’t screw it up. I actually took a picture of it I was so proud.

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that keep me going :).

Jess and Jonny are loving the snow. They beg me everyday to take them sledding. I’m not sure if they love it for the sledding or for the hot chocolate mommy makes them when they come in. But they love it. I got some skis that fit them both at a garage sale and Jonny has really been doing well on them. Jessika borrowed a snowboard the other day and did awesome on that. Jonny tried it once and nearly killed himself. Somehow he fell hard enough that the board hit the back of his head and gave him a nice big bump. I think he’ll be sticking to the skis for now.

I am still loving my Bible class. We have now studied 13 books (out of 66 total). It is definitely a whirlwind of a class. Every time I have the satisfaction of finishing a book I have another to start. Funny how that works. I figure at this point I have typed at least 3 or 400 pages…who’d a thought? I think my favorite is still Mark. But I really enjoyed 1^st Corinthians last week. I spent a lot of time in chapter 13. I really enjoyed the message of Love throughout the book. It challenged me to live a life of love in all that I do.

Well, as I typed this I think we had another inch or two fall. God bless you all.


A note from Ruth:
Greetings from the snow! I have to say it is so strange to be living in the snow (so different from sunny California) . . . driving, dressing, etc. But it is so beautiful and awe inspiring! Sometimes it just takes my breath away . . . literally!
I am enjoying working at the nursing home. With all its challenges, I always find something there that makes me smile and laugh, usually one of the residents!
My weekend at my sister's house was amazing! She was blessed with a healthy and beautiful baby boy, named Caden. It was such a blessing to be a part of her miracle!
As I sit here, the snow is falling, the kids are playing Skip-Bo with daddy, and Frankie is "trying" to jump up on the couch (keep trying!). All in all, life is good . . . God is great!
Remember . . . our home is open for all who need some time away in a snowy wonderland . . . fully stocked with hot cocoa and home baked goods!