Dave, Henry, Sara, Avery, Matt, Ali, Krista, Jacob, David, Anders, Emma, Barry, Pam, Benjamin

A post a from Barry this year:

Pam is so much busier than I of late that this should have been on my plate right along. Here it is, Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years yet again, and there is so much to be thankful for, and we are, thanking God in this season for every remembrance of every one of you.

Pam is busy with and flourishing in using her teaching and shepherding gifts as Minister for Women at Bethlehem Baptist’s North Campus location. Very full days and weeks but loving it. And she loves being Mimi and spending as much time as she can with Benjamin, Avery, Anders, and Henry. They grow so quickly!

Matt and Ali are in Denver, Matt with Medtronic and Ali busy serving their neighborhood school and together trying to keep up with Benjamin (almost 7) and Avery (4). They are becoming quite the Spanish speakers! We are so grateful that Avery continues to do well with her Cystic Fibrosis and is an energetic trooper, with retriever Kota her treatment buddy (consider Cystic Fibrosis Foundation if looking for a worthwhile charity!)

David and Emma and Anders (March 2017) and retrievers Wilson and Bergen are in Rochester with David already into his 3^rd year as an otolaryngology (ENT) surgical resident at the Mayo Clinic. Emma is a tennis professional at the Rochester Athletic Club and Anders keeps them both busy! Praising God for the anticipation of Baby #2’s arrival in April 2019!

Sara and husband David Merritt are closer, living in Grant, between White Bear Lake and Stillwater. Henry (June 2017) keeps them hopping with work days sending Dave to Faegre Baker Daniels as an Intellectual Property attorney and Sara to 3M where she recently took a position in a new division that poses new challenges but a little less international travel, which is good as they have Baby #2 on the way as well, expected in June 2019.

Jacob, living in Richfield and working at Spok in medical communications had a big summer/Fall, proposing to his girlfriend Krista Smith in a big way on the St Croix River on a blistering hot day in September – and we are thrilled to report that she accepted! (whew – we love her!) Looking forward to an August 2019 wedding (hopefully a little cooler than engagement day!) Krista is a nurse at United Hospital in St Paul and a Young Life leader. Jacob loves working with youth at Eagle Brook Church’s Blaine campus, where they both attend.

I continue in my work with the frail elderly, visiting about 7 long-term care facilities with my geriatrics group Genevive as a staff geriatrician. I love this population of folks who have done so much for us, their kids and their country. I receive much more from them most days – object lessons in love, perseverance, resilience – than what I am able to bring to them. It is humbling work and I’m blessed to do it. I love being a Papa with Mimi to the little ones, and am so blessed by a good and gracious God through all the kids and our amazing in-law kids.

We can’t thank God enough for all of you – you are in our hearts, prayers, and memories this Christmas and always. May Emmaunuel – the God with us at that first Christmas – bless and keep you all now and in the year ahead.