I love what John Piper has to say about the economic situation:
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1588_John_Piper_on_the_Economic_Downturn/
Peace,
Mark
Monthly Archive for January, 2009
It’s been a little while since we posted last. Really, not too much has happened. I started the year off with a ripping case of flu, running a fever of just under 102deg. (F) four days in a row and just feeling wretched. Just about the time I was coming up for air Ange came down with a nice cold that put her out for a few days, so we were just a ton of fun. Viva la 2009 so far!
Other than that, I’ve been working. Ange’s sewing class started again this week. We had a flat tire and found out that they didn’t give us a tire iron when we bought our car. We found out that they’ve started making episodes of Agatha Christy’s Poiroit again (one of our favorite detective shows and first-year-of-marriage date nights). We started studying through 1 Timothy, along with the rest of the MAC churches. Life is good.
We are looking forward to continuing to partner with God in 2009. This is the greatest adventure ever.
So we’ve moved into 2009. The last 2 days have been quiet for us (minus Mark’s coughing spells) as we’ve had the house to ourselves for the first time since my return from the States. Whew! We had a wonderful time, though, I must say. Bekah, a friend from Muncie, was here when I returned home and she stayed to celebrate Christmas with us.
getting the fire going, waiting for breakfast
bekah showing off the shawl she got from campbell & kristi
After breakfast and opening presents (all from family and friends – we still got spoiled without buying each other presents!), we went to Murlough House where Richie and Ewilina had made a feast. We ate until we couldn’t eat any more. And we opened crackers, which all have crowns in them…
the royal guinn's
We stayed for a while and hung out with Richie’s family, then went to Campbell & Kristi’s and watched Enchanted. (That movie was one of the white elefant gifts we scored.) Such a clever movie. I’m always in the mood for one that leaves you feeling so happy.
Boxing Day, Dec. 26, is not called Boxing Day because of any sport-related celebration, like I’d always assumed. It’s turned into something quite like Black Friday in the States now, though it was originally (I think) a day that people who had to work on Christmas (servants, etc) got off to celebrate and would be given gifts by their employers. Anyway, we spent Boxing Day saying goodbye to Bekah in the wee hours of the morning, then picking up Mark’s parents in the afternoon. Of course, we skipped into Ikea for a few minutes since it’s only 5 minutes from the airport. I have been truly blessed by the family I married into, and we had a wonderful week with them here. Gary & Mary Ann have spent a good bit of time in Northern Ireland themselves, and they were showing us around Belfast and listing a few places we needed to get to yet. We took them a few places, too.
spelga dam
Probably a highlight of activity was the New Year’s Eve party at Thomas & Ciara’s. Lots of musicians, old friends, complete strangers. It was a great mix of folks, food, music – I think you all would have loved it!
getting the music started
mom & dad guinn doing a number
toast to a new year
We hope you all had a great celebration and reveled in the love of Christ and the hope that comes with new beginnings. Keep us up on what new things are going on with you!
