House Guests

While we were in Florida, Cherissa and Lucas were having family in town for the holidays. Keith, one of Lucas brothers, was here with his wife Erin for the weekend. Keith and Erin stayed at our house while we were in Florida. We had a chance to visit with them briefly Saturday night when we got home. They left Sunday morning.

Sunday after church, we got to have lunch with Jacob and Laura. Then Vicki went to a movie with Cherissa and Laura while the men watched some NFL football. Jacob and Laura will go home today. We have enjoyed seeing them during the holidays. We always enjoy being with Lucas's family.

Cherissa, Vicki, and Erin on Saturday night.

Keith, Paul, Lucas and Jacob came over to watch the Razorback football game Saturday night.

Vicki and Laura share so much. Vicki feels like a kindred spirit with Laura.

We will miss them.

A Fox Thanksgiving

We got home last night from Florida. Our last day with Billy and Carol started with sleeping in late followed by a traditional Thanksgiving lunch together, even though it was a day after Thanksgiving day. We then went to Seaside, Florida, about 20 miles away, for the afternoon.

Vicki was so glad to be able to go see her sister for the holidays.

Vicki made Carol a fruit center piece for the Thanksgiving Lunch.

The table is set for our holiday meal together.

We went down to Seaside after lunch to enjoy the ocean view and to shop.

(Note the huge Christmas tree in the background flanked by the palm trees.)

Billy loaned me a Florida hat to wear. Not a good look for a Razorback fan.

Carol bought a new hair accessory.

*******!!! We stopped to get a snack on the beach and Vicki ordered coffee. This was the first cup of coffee that I have ever seen Vicki order in 34 years of marriage!!!! Shocking!

Sunset with the Foxes at Seaside, Florida.

Rescue Mission

Billy is the director of the Panama City Rescue Mission. Carol also is a valuable leader in that ministry. This Mission work takes care of homeless individuals and families while providing training and finding work for many. The Mission often feeds over 500 meals a day for the three meals it serves each day.

Thanksgiving was a very busy holiday as the Mission fed over 230 Thanksgiving Day lunch meals to needy individuals and families. Many volunteers came to help with the work. Carol and Billy and the staff work to show dignity and kindness to those in need. The volunteers come to serve the homeless. Thanksgiving Day is a sit down meal where all of those in need are waited on by the volunteers. Much kindness was shown. There were people arranging their own holiday plans around coming to help others. The humility of the volunteers and mission staff reminded me of a scripture I have been reading this week:

Philippians 2:1-11

Imitating Christ's Humility

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 
 6Who, being in very nature^[a^] God, 
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 
 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature^[b^] of a servant, 
being made in human likeness. 
 8And being found in appearance as a man, 
 he humbled himself 
and became obedient to death— 
even death on a cross!

Vicki and I got to go see Carol and Billy along with the staff at mission the day before Thanksgiving. There is real ministry going on at the Mission.

Billy and Carol are so busy and tired during this time of the year. Vicki just wanted to come cook some meals for them and to help Carol at her home some while they were finishing up the holiday meal time at the Mission. On Friday, we got to have our own Thanksgiving turkey and dressing that Vicki helped cook.

Thanksgiving on the Beach

Vicki and I are in Panama City Beach, Florida for Thanksgiving visiting Carol and Billy, Vicki's sister and brother in law. We spent yesterday afternoon relaxing and we watched the sunset on Panama City Beach. It is very different being here on Thanksgiving. It is warm, there are leaves on the tress, the beaches are deserted, there are no waves, and the water is very clear. It is very pleasant, just a different look than we have ever had for Thanksgiving.

What is the same is being with family again. We had not been to see Carol and Billy in Florida at their new home in 3 years. They have come to see Vicki 6 times in the last 18 months. Vicki wanted to come see Carol and try to help her during their busiest time of the year at the Mission. Vicki wanted to cook meals for Carol and Billy while we are here. It has been a very tiring trip for Vicki but we are glad we are here.

PS. Panama City Beach is on the very eastern edge of the central time zone. The Sunset yesterday at 4:42 p.m. with the temperature at 72 degrees!

A Thanksgiving Card

Vicki got a card from a friend in Owasso. The card brought us both to tears. It reminded us again of how the Lord has brought so many from the Body of Christ to minister this past year. The card was also touching because it reflected Vicki's greatest joy and desire during her illness, that she could be used by the Lord to point others to the great love of Jesus. Finally, after reading the verse below, we too wanted to give thanks to God for his wonderful deeds this year! Praise the Lord!

The card below was a nice Thanksgiving Season gift to Vicki.

Dear Vicki,

I am so thankful that you are feeling good and living life. I am so thankful you are such an encourager! You, my dear, have inspired me and turned my eyes toward God. What a blessing you are!

This verse in Psalms 75:1 reminds me of you:

Psalm 75:1 We give thanks to you, O God,we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.

May God continue to bless you and bless you! You are one of my Thanksgiving blessings this year!

Praise the Lord - Love, Blessings, and Prayers,

Bren.

Vicki's Testimony

Sunday night our church had a Thanksgiving church family dinner. Vicki was one of the three people asked to give her testimony of what she is thankful for this year. She spoke about being grateful for no fear, joy, having her kids near, being able to see Meagan expecting a baby, seeing grand children come to accept and know Christ, Jesus's love for her, and Jesus's perfect plan for her. Most of all she talked about how much she loves the ministry opportunities that the Lord has given her in her illness.

Below are pictures of the friends and family that we sat with for dinner. Vicki enjoyed a long visit with Marsha and we enjoyed Eric and Brandy, Jacob and Laura, Tyler and Meagan, Russell, Brian and Christina, and Lucas and Cherissa sitting at the same table together with us.

(Tyler filmed Vicki's testimony and we going to attempt to download it for access after the holiday weekend.)

Holiday Play Time

We always try to have a sit down dinner together for the holidays. After the meal everyone plays. Vicki likes to read to the kids, play games with the kids, watch a chick flick with the girls, visit with the girls and/or listen to Mitch play the guitar. You can usually see a kid on a computer playing games or watching a movie while some kids play with toys or games. There is usually some wrestling with the kids to be done. Sometimes we also go out and play Frisbee or play catch in the yard. There is always "Acquire games going on with the men. (This year we are playing a holiday tournament through New Years Day.)

After all of this, there is more snacking and eating as we go into the evening. The house gets very noisy and messy, but it is also great fun! This past weekend we had another great time together. Here are some of the pics.