28 December 2017 Ray, Becki & Thano early 2017

Greetings, dear ones.

Finally—we’re getting off this little piece of communication before the year comes to a halt. It has been a very full year, so there’s no way we can reasonably disclose much detail—only a brief hop, skip and jump-kind of overview. At least it confirms that we’re still here and still functional—even if we are feeling some of the effects of our vintage.

It would sure be fun to have the freedom, time, and resources to lay aside all our work and responsibilities and just spend time running around and visiting every one of you up close and personal. But facing a big pile of work, and not yet having the freedom to “retire” like normal people, I guess that wish will just have to wait till the hereafter. To be sure, the hereafter is looking pretty good these days.

Let me close out the year with this great expression of confidence by David in Psalm 27:1—“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (KJV) Of course, the correct answer to those two rhetorical questions is this: NOTHING/NO ONE—NO MATTER WHAT!

May that orientation be a source of stability, peace, and joy for you personally as you approach the uncertainties of 2018.

Love to all,

Ray Sparre—with Becki, and Thano.