Prairie View

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas Letter 2008

Dear Friends,

This letter is a means of re-establishing connections that are important to us. It is, as well, an excuse to reflect on the major events of the past year. Since this letter goes to a variety of people, we always run the risk of repeating things you already know, or skipping important things that you wish to know. We settle for doing what is possible here–not what would be most ideal.

In February Joel returned from having spent five months in Bangladesh working for the same company he has worked for for many years. He also got in some travel time to other parts of Bangladesh and India. After he got home he crammed for taking the first level (of three) of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam in KC in June. It’s usually done as post-graduate work, and is a rigorous test that many people do not pass on the first attempt. Joel’s fears of failing turned out to be unfounded. This year he has also begun serving on the board for Mennonite Manor, a retirement community that our church helps sponsor. Recently he has been asked to serve as administrator for a financial organization that our church is putting together to provide investment opportunities and loans for members. Hilda Yoder has been an important part of his life and time commitments for more than a year now. She is a teacher, dividing her time between our church high school and grade school. Later: They’re engaged, and hope to marry on April 11!

Shane was married to Dorcas Kuepfer on his 22nd birthday, August 9. The wedding was a memorable, worshipful, and fun day and we love having Dorcas in the family. They live in the house that Shane had bought and prepared in Abbyville. He bought it after it had been improved with three entirely new rooms, new heating, plumbing, and wiring throughout, new windows, and new “skin” inside and out. He finished the job almost entirely on his own, except for the help of a few friends, and cleanup help from the youth group. The landscaping was the final task, involving lots of dirt work, tree removal, and grass and tree planting. Soon after New Year, Shane and Dorcas plan to move temporarily to Canon City, CO to work for 18 months as volunteers for Choice Books. When they move out, Joel plans to move into their house. The mixed quartet that Shane sings with is in the process of producing a recording before he leaves.

Grant has two three-days-a-week jobs. One employer is a landscaper, and the other has a vehicle dealership. So far it’s worked well except that he doesn’t have much time at all off work. Working at the dealership offers more variety than such a job typically does. In the past year, he’s helped design and install an underground irrigation system, worked on the farm, and helped with remodeling and construction. He enjoys the variety, and, at this stage in life, we’re happy that he has the opportunity to explore various options. Right now he’s deer hunting in the mornings and evenings and keeping at bay the varmints that raid the cat dish . Last year he got a big doe and processed it for the freezer. Grant’s friends stop by often for help with fine-tuning their guns. He knows how to do that for bows too. Grant turns 20 tomorrow. Later: He got his deer, a little 8-point buck.

Hiromi and I took a fun train trip together to Chicago in September. Soon after that we exhibited at a Health and Wellness Expo at the state fairgrounds in Hutchinson–a new experience and way to share information on Mannatech products. His manufacturing job continues to provide nicely for our financial needs, and if he continues to enjoy good health as he does now, he will likely continue to work past retirement at age 66–2 ½ years away. Another variable we need to take into account is the health of the company’s finances. Yesterday a notice on the bulletin board at work informed everyone that there would be a reduction either in the work force or the number of hours of work. The company makes components for agricultural and industrial equipment, so any economic downturn eventually filters down to this company also. Hiromi has worked at the same job for approximately fifteen years, and he gets along very well with the new Japanese president of the company, but we are mindful that financial security can be very tenuous, and all income is a gift from God.

I have taken a one-year Sabbatical from teaching–something I had planned to do when I first started teaching again six years ago–if I lasted that long, that is. I did, and have been grateful many times that this time off is possible. I have slowly begun to add back into my life things that I took pleasure in earlier and have had to forego for the past few years–things like baking bread, attending the monthly sewing, reading for pleasure and information, teaching Sunday School, and being part of a women’s Bible study. Next summer I hope to garden again as I love to do. I am trying to adjust to having a smaller household. With Shane leaving in August, and Victor (who had lived with us for 15 months) leaving at the end of September, and Joel leaving in January, we will have gone from six to three people in about six months. I miss the boys when they’re away, but I am trying not to be a clingy, whiney Mom. I miss my students too and rejoice in every success I observe or hear about. They have good teachers this year, and school seems to have gone well.

The past month has been a trying one for my parents. Four weeks ago yesterday my mother was admitted to the hospital and underwent open heart surgery about a week and a half later. One valve was replaced and one artery was bypassed. Yesterday she went back to the hospital again, after having been at home for only four days. She is 80 years old, and recovery is going slowly. There were several major crises during her first hospital stay, and the biggest concern right now is that her blood thinner has overdone what it was supposed to do, and put her in danger. The decision to have surgery was not easy to make, but seemed the only responsible choice, given the options. Her quality of life was very poor immediately preceding that, and very little improvement could have been expected without remedying the problem of severely restricted blood flow to and through her heart. My parents have asked very little of their children and this is the first time that they have needed a lot of help. We’re grateful to be able to offer it. Later: Mom is home again and doing much better.

The descendants of my Miller grandparents met for several days over the July 4 holiday. This was a wonderful reunion, and precious, with all twelve of my grandparents’ children able to attend–something that surely can’t last much longer, with all of them between the ages of 71 and 86 (now almost 72 and 87).

During the past year, our sister congregation built a new meeting place near Arlington. It was dedicated within the past month. With that project completed, attention is turning again to building a school at a new location. The space constraints at the grade school are the biggest issue. Numbers are up at our church too. Even without visitors, our attendance often spills over into the overflow seating areas. This is a good kind of problem, of course.

At this time last year we were several days into a power outage that lasted ten days. For some, it lasted two weeks. It was due to a massive ice storm that butchered trees and power lines and poles with seemingly reckless abandon. The electric grid has recovered but many of the trees have not. With only the biggest branches left on many trees, new growth appeared in bottle-brush-like protrusions along those big branches, leaving the tree silhouettes looking very odd.

While the past year has had its challenges, we have experienced God’s goodness too, and had time to reflect on it. Especially now we are grateful for the gift of Jesus, Who gives meaning to life in the middle of experiencing the good, the bad, and the ordinary. May God bless you.


Sincerely, Miriam

2 Comments:

  • I enjoyed the news. We enjoyed getting to know Joel while he was here in Dhaka. I have some photos at www.marlandphotos.com

    We had some relatives working here in Bangladesh. John Beachy's Jerry's two sons were here for two weeks. I met them when I did the orientation for CAM. Today two of my Miller first cousins who had been working on the CAM project left. Marland Miller
    Marland

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12/25/2008  

  • Some of your Miller cousins from Ohio were my students when I taught in Holmes Co. in the '70's. Several were Betty's children and one was the child of your late uncle Edwin. (I never met him, but I think that was his name.) I wonder who your visitors were.

    Thanks for writing. Being part of a big extended family brings many unexpected blessings. When Joel was in Bangladesh it was good to know he was not only among friends, but relatives as well.

    By Blogger Mrs. I, at 12/26/2008  

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