January 4, 2013

Dear Thai Fam,

I have been thinking of you lots the last couple of days, and of course, praying for you, as well. The picture below is our family Christmas picture, although we kind of celebrated twice, since my daughter and her husband, Deanna and Kevin, went to his folks in Arizona this year. My grandson, Evin, had been sitting up for a couple of weeks by Christmas Day, so he actually was interested in the boxes, the paper, and all of his presents, AND everything went into his mouth! It was a fun day. I missed all of you at the Christmas program on Christmas Eve. My daugther-in-law, Ashley, and I went with the baby. Evin did great though the entire play, until right up to the very end, so we had to leave to feed him. Then, after Christmas, I got the crud, so I didn't make it to church last week.

And, the day after Christmas, it also started to snow here. We had storms, like three or four days in a row! The picture below is of the first day, and by the time it was all said and done, I got a foot where I live. It still isn't all melted! I'm glad I bought new tires for Bret's 4 X 4, because I had to use it a lot this past week! Anyway, I just wanted to touch base with you, and tell you to email and send me pictures sometime. I would love to hear what is going on in your lives. It really helps me to know how to pray for you, and I think it will help keep that connection we have going. We do, after all, have a personal God, and I think that is how He wants us to treat each other.

I am going to close with a funny story, not only so you can laugh at, I mean, with me, but also to tell you how wonderful a God we have, because He is constantly answering prayers for all of us. I was thinking that maybe I need to start journaling all the prayers He answers for me in 2013. That way, it will help remind me just how good He really is. So...when I got my T Mobile bill for the month of November, it totaled $3,000 (all Thailand roaming and data charges--Just so you know, if you don't shut off your smartphone, it is in constant update mode for Facebook and email and apps, etc., unless you shut them all off or your phone off, which I wasn't aware of.)! All of it was "data," charges, because if you remember back, my phone wasn't working. Just the voice part didn't work, but my email and internet were apparently fine. Anyway, of course I called and asked if I had been, in fact, charged ONLY for the international plan I purchased. The lady assured me that I had and that the bill was accurate. I asked for a supervisor, and she said there was nothing anyone could do, and that I would have to pay the entire amount. A few months before I had been having trouble with my data plan AND my phone at my house, to where I couldn't use it at all, so I emailed the president of T Mobile. He immediately responded to me personally, and sent out a technician to fix it (We have been T Mobile customers for over ten years, probably since they started up.). Guess what I did? Yea, I emailed him again, and in less than 24 hours, I got an email back saying someone was going to look into it. I had been praying and asking God to maybe only make me pay half of it, and thinking about changing cell phone providers, but my kids are on my family plan and didn't want to change. A few days later, a nice young man called to tell me they were lowering my bill from $3000 to $600. I called to tell my kids that we were keeping T Mobile, and my son, Jonathon, said something like, "I can't believe how much God loves you, Mommy." After thanking God, I thanked the president of T-Mobile and chalked it up to an expensive learning experience. Next time I go overseas, I am buying a prepaid phone and leaving mine at home!

I hope all is well with you and your families. May God richly bless your 2013. See you Sunday!!!

In His Love,

Denise