A Blessed Christmas to you with Prayers for a Happy Year in 2013

 

 

Life’s Sunset years can certainly be beautiful… because of friends and family like you and a world filled with many wonderful people we have not known, but who wish others well and live lovingly with their neighbors. Creation is a huge school in which we learn with awe and humility. In March, we relived a TCU Astronomy class as Venus and Jupiter drew close together in the western sky. We have categorized our year as:

 

“SCHOOL DAYS, 2012 for

    Nancy and Don Brewer”

 

 

READING –Book reports:  Among the year’s literary experiences Don worked to decipher Nels Ferre’s The Universal Word and applauded Marilynne Robinson’s When I Was A Child I Read Books, along with some history.  Nancy was entranced by Mark Helperin’s Soldier Of The Great War and moved deeply by Zusak’s The Book Thief.

 

 

WRITING–Nancy published a chapbook, Unpacking Words, poems of students and experiences during her career in adult literacy.  Volume II of The Adventures Of Super Heroes, Jake, Luke And Nee is also ready to go to press. Don was in a two-year committee process which put the finishing touches on a new and somewhat unique Constitution and By-Laws for Cherry Log Christian Church.

 

 

ARITHMETIC –Always an “I” for “Incomplete” or a “N” for “Needs Improving.” …  Doing tax Returns and budgeting for the New Year.   We continue to be grateful to the Pension Fund of the Disciples, which does a great job for Ministry retirees.

 

GEOGRAPHY– We learned more of Alaska during a July trip with all the family except for Henry and Stacey.  Some enjoyed ocean canoeing, halibut fishing, glacier walking, and all learned much about marine wildlife in Seward and Homer.

 

 

HEALTH AND PHYS ED– Fortunately not much to grade, but much to applaud, with no major health events in 2012.  We walk often, though not often enough, on the Lake Chatuge Dam and at the Towns County Rec Center.           

 

ANTHROPOLOGY –The Alaska/Eskimo World Olympics in Fairbanks gave a glimpse at the lives and history of these Native Americans, who preserve much of their culture while enjoying 21st century innovations. Native games such as the ear pull, blanket toss and knuckle hop required different and difficult skills. Many games mimic the pain of very cold weather.

 

 

HISTORY– The history of three Ohio Presidents was the theme, and conversation the highlight, of a grand two-couple Elderhostel designed and conducted by Bob and Barbara Boyte in May. Pictured are The Reverends Bob and Don with a better known Disciple minister, the 20th President of the United States!

 

 

 

 

HORTICULTURE –Watering the trees planted for Don’s 80th birthday during an extremely dry year, and working with son Robert to prepare beds for the organic vegetable garden he has long planned.  Robert, with pets Dilly and Ella, are living here now, with him working in Atlanta, and looking forward to Stace’s arrival for Christmas

 

MUSIC AND ART –  We heard Willie Nelson early in the year, right here in Hiawassee, GA. All year long we enjoyed TV’s “Classic Arts Showcase”. A highlight of this year was Nancy’s art show at Cherry Log in the Spring, featuring 18 of her larger watercolors.

 

 

RECESS – For Nancy was a spur-of-the-moment decision to spend Thanksgiving in Alaska with the Riza family, leaving 11 to fend for themselves at her dining room table in Hiawassee.

 Being with Jake and Luke was, of course, the best game at recess, but snow-machining with Shane along the Alaska pipeline in minus 16° weather was surely memorable for 80 year old Nancy.

 

 

 

GRADUATION –  Ours, from TCU in 1953, (just seven weeks after marriage) was sixty  years ago next Spring. Now, granddaughter Katie has been accepted into the Frog Freshman Class of 2013 (though Transy is still in the picture.) Grandson Henry Brewer-Calvert will graduate from Lynchburg College in the coming year.

 

 Henry’s four years certainly seems much shorter than ours! But that is just the way humans experience time! A year for us is a much smaller fraction of life than a young one for whom another year to wait for Santa or a birthday is akin to eternity.

 

 

The Kingdom of God is a quality of life which is inspired by neighbors and kin who define love and mentor us to be among the givers of the human family. One born only twenty one centuries ago set many on the ancient road “to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. “ Few have lived upon the earth who would not swap their problems for ours. May we be so grateful for our blessings that these days of our training prepare us for another year of true care for one another!

 

 

REPORT CARD ­ The year has brought unexpected hurt to lives in many nations. When any suffer, sensitive souls around the world feel with them. Truly, the Church was born to pray and help those whom the Bethlehem Child treasures. We should be thankful to live in a age when we can go into the entire world in a few seconds – to ponder, pray and aid as we can. Ancient hurts are yet with us, but we are optimistic that old balms from a Holy time have a place on the world’s horizon. Christmas had a real beginning, an Advent. It lives on where good will is shared among people.

 

May Joy and Peace be Yours, Christ be with You!

 

Don and Nancy Brewer