Thanksgiving/Christmas Letter 2009

Since we have much to be thankful for this year, we decided our annual letter should have a Thanksgiving theme.

T is for Thankful. We are thankful for the end of this trying year of cancer treatments and a good report for Peggy: cancer free. The diagnosis of breast cancer came just before last Christmas. Surgery in January, chemo from February through June, radiation July through September, and continuing side-effects and fatigue … made this year a long one. But we now seem to be near an end and coming through victoriously.

H is for my wonderful Husband who stood with me and supported me, holding my hand and sometimes my head. Sitting through chemo treatments, cooking me macaroni and cheese, buying crackers and cheese, milkshakes and whatever else sounded good at the time. But most of all carrying me through this tough year with love, courage and strength, cheering me on, never letting me give up.

A is All the prayers our many friends and family prayed for us. Without those we would never have made it through. It was all of you lifting us up in prayer that held us together through this tough time.

N is for Never giving up hope that God is in control and is still on the throne.

K is for the Kindnesses we were shown by helpful friends who sent cards, phoned, cheered us on, visited, emailed, brought meals, prayed some more, went with us to chemo treatments, cheered us on some more, and basically carried us through this past year.

S is for Simplicity. We have learned to appreciate the simple things of life more … like life and health.

G is for God, the center of our lives and to Whom we owe everything.

I is for Incredible. That is what all of you are, and what God is, and what our lives are post-cancer. (Both of us are now cancer survivors.)

V is for Victory. We’ve got it.

I is for Ice. (We usually have an ice storm around January.)

N is for Next Year. It is going to be a lot better than this one!

G is for the Grace and Goodness of God, which we feel so very much.

Ken continues to keep busy, though with my treatments, he cut his travel way back throughout 2009. I once again did taxes for the elderly though on a more limited basis than normal. My bookkeeping for the beautician also continued but my loss of hair ceased the varied hair colors that were a fringe benefit of the job!

We found a home for our extra kitty. She decided that she wanted to fight with Purkitty so we had some problems with them living together. She found a good home with a college student here in town and soon had new toys and outfits! Her name was changed to Lily. We received several emails on her escapades.

Ken and I also completed four book projects. When Ken spoke at a Writers’ Conference in Arizona, I went along to visit my cousins in Scottsdale. Ken did some other teaching on writing, including a couple of classes for doctoral students at the seminary. We had Garage Sale #4 in May for Mom and Dad’s house and the house is finally on the market. We continue to sell items on Craig’s List.

In May Ken attended the Evangelical Press Association Convention in Oregon and won another EPA award, this year for “Grizzly Attack,” a pastor’s story of survival in Alaska. He went fishing in Texas with good friend Carl Miller. And we celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary.

In summer we went to Orlando, Florida, for General Council. We also went to Dallas together.

In October Peggy was surprised at a major Convoy of Hope event by being awarded with the first Key to Compassion award, named in honor of Matt Key. Matt died in an accident last year. The award recognizes an individual deserving of recognition for touching needy people with genuine compassion. (Ken wrote this part and is really proud of his wife.) The International Pentecostal Press Association Board (Ken is the president) met here in Springfield. We ended the sessions with dinner at Lambert’s Home of the Throwed Rolls.

As we look back we realize God has been faithful, and has blessed us with many things … the richest being faith, family, and friends. May you be blessed with these gifts at Christmas and all year through. Merry Christmas.


Love, Peggy & Ken & Purkitty