We are in Boise, Idaho

Dear Friends,

I missed my "Southern California" update as I mentioned in our final blog from Alaska. Let me say the handful of days we were home were very fast...and good. We found ourselves driving to Idaho to visit our son Wesley, along with Cynthia and their four children, before we knew it!

Our days here have been full- children's school Christmas program, (the kids attend a private Christian school,) along with basketball games and generally, living life!

I should also say we took a three day side trip since being here in Boise to visit my mother, sister and brother-in-law in Redmond, Oregon. But if you have been following the weather in the northwest it has been cold, snowy and in some parts rain mixed with lots of snow. For example Spokane, Portland, sections of Interstates and many other places in the Northwest have been shut down because of the weather! We did have a great visit though.

Back to us. What are we going to be doing in this next chapter of our lives? Once again we do not have the definitive answer yet. To be very up front, with Christmas activities rolling in on us (and all of you) we have not be working as hard listening, talking and sifting through the various
possibilities. Once again we trust the God who speeded this whole process up for us to be in total control of what the future. Consequently we are no anxious.

Now to the story of Christmas. This is the first year in all of our past years of ministry that we are not involved in Christmas productions and Christmas Eve services. You might think "ah, what a relief for Judy and Graydon!" But if the truth were to be known we miss the preparations, the planning and ultimately, the presentations. We are planning on taking in as much as possible here in Boise when it comes to Christmas programs and Christmas Eve services. This is such a special time of the year. I hope you take advantage of everything you can wherever you might be living so that the Christmas story burns brightly within your hear.

Having said all of that we are going to be involved in a very special Christmas Day meal. Our children here, Wesley, Cynthia and children, have invited a refugee family from Bhutan to eat that special lunch with us. Two adults with preschool children along with a grandmother will be eating Christmas dinner with all of us. Only the father speaks English. What a fun opportunity to demonstrate positive Christian hospitality to a refugee family- something Mary and Joseph did not receive that night long ago in Bethlehem.

Judy and I wish and pray for all of you a Christmas that is full of meaning and memories.

With love and prayers,

Graydon and Judy from Boise, Idaho, Christmas 2008

Final installment from Alaska, December 2008

Dear Friends,

We leave this little retreat spot and the incredibly beautiful state of Alaska and return to our home and incredibly beautiful Southern California. Judy and I have truly enjoyed this little break from the regular responsibilities of life. This is the first time in 46 years that we have been afforded this kind of opportunity and we want to acknowledge our kids here, Jody and Carolyn, for the use of their four wheel drive vehicle...for seven weeks! We also want to say a tremendous thanks to Ron and Carol for the opportunity to "housesit" their beautiful home while they were out of the State.

So, "what have we learned...or heard...or decided," in terms of the next chapter of our lives? As I told Judy early on, "I would not commit to anything until after January 1, 2009." So we do have a little more time. But let me highlight some very important points:

• We have been able to rest!
• We have been able to connect and reconnect with our Alaskan Family: Jody, Carolyn and their three wonderful children- out grandchildren!
• We have been able to visit with a number of friends from our years in Alaska.
• We were able to "reconnect" with the land- the unusual beauty of this unusual place!
• We were able to keep our self imposed schedule.
• We prayed together.
• We talked together.
• I was able to read the entire Bible during these seven weeks.
• Judy was able to spend quality time in about three Biblical books.
• And as I mentioned in earlier entries, we have a sense of the direction we are to head...and that is a good thing.
• All in all, we both believe that these seven weeks have been exactly what we needed at this stage in our lives.

My next entry will be from Southern California, even though we are home only for a few days. We will keep you posted in our spiritual journey. We thank you for your interest, your prayers and your support as we seek God's Heart in this next season of our lives.

With Thanksgiving,

Graydon and Judy from Twin Lakes just outside of Wasilla, Alaska!