Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Once again, I apologize for not updating you sooner.  Many of you have been wondering how Erin Hope's Mom is doing.  She is doing very well!  I think she looks the best that I have ever seen her.  She finished chemotherapy and is still in the reconstruction process which we hope will be completed by spring of next year.  She missed very little work throughout this entire process.  She became very sick once after a little cut on her lip from dental floss.  She had a very high fever and had to receive IV antibiotics.  She works out and walks every day and is in the best physical shape she has ever been in.  Her hair is somewhat darker than before with a little curl.  Many of us are trying to convince her to keep the length short.  She receives many complements, even from people who didn't know she had chemo.
 
Hannah and Andrew are doing well in school and are growing up so fast.  We are so proud of them!  Andrew really enjoys sports and his soccer team did very well this year for the first time being in an older group.  Andrew was moved up earlier with the rest of his team who are older, because of his talent.  Hannah is taking advanced courses in school and doing very well.
 
This year on the anniversary of Erin Hope's homegoing, we took another vacation to Orlando.  Erin Hope's Dad also sold his motorcycle.  And, Erin Hope's Dad and Mom went to Las Vegas for the first time.  That was really fun and we drove into California just to say we did.
 
Erin Hope's Mom and Dad recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary!
 
Erin Hope's grandfather Robert joined her in heaven this past August.  He is Erin Hope's Mom's Dad.  He had been suffering from Alzheimer's for several years and his condition rapidly deteriorated while we were in Orlando.  The pastor at his funeral mentioned at the end of his sermon that he could imagine Erin Hope grabbing her Paw Paw's finger and leading him around heaven showing him the sights.  Wow!!!  Erin Hope and her Paw Paw were very close.  Please pray for Crystal's mother and family who miss him dearly.
 
I have been thinking of Erin Hope a lot recently, especially those final hours we had with her.  She would be thirteen years old, almost fourteen.  We take such comfort and joy in knowing she knew Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  We don't have to wonder or imagine what happened to her when she left us.  No more sickness or pain.  Only peace, love, joy, and continuous praise to Jesus Christ!
 
We would like to wish each one of you a very blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!  Our prayer is that you truly realize the reason we celebrate Christmas.  Because the God of heaven sent his only son to a sinful world, to die a shameful death, to raise victoriously from the grave and return to heaven, that you and I can have eternal life.  Erin Hope is experiencing that right now!  Don't you want to join her?  You can!  Say a simple earnest prayer such as this:
 
Dear Jesus, I know I don't deserve to be loved or have a place in heaven, but I need You. You said I could come and talk to you like this. I confess to You my sins. They've held me back and weighted me down for too long. So I bring them to You and I leave them with You. Come into my life and save me I pray. Cleanse me of my past sins and dwell in my heart. Thank you Jesus for loving me and saving me and giving me new hope. I confess You now as Lord and Savior of my life.  In Jesus name. AMEN

 
Congratulations! You're a Christian now! If you prayed that prayer or any sincere prayer of repentance and confession, according to the Bible, you're saved and born again. You can now join the celebration of the believers and rejoice that you are on your way to Heaven.
 
God bless you!  God is good...ALL the time!!!