Our Annual Christmas Letter 2008

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year
From The Wilson Family
Jim & Tina
2008

This year has been a year of change for us. Megan graduated from Wilmington University and is a fulltime middle school teacher at Red Lion Christian Academy. Matt, though he is still working with the Newark congregation, he is fulltime in the campus ministry at the University of Delaware. He received his masters degree this past July and has begun teaching at Wilmington University as an adjunct faculty member. Lindsay continues his position with Takeda Pharmaceuticals and is attending Wilmington University to finish his M.B.A. Degree. Jim continues with his position at Wilmington University and enjoys it to the fullest. Tina “retired” from her private music instruction this past May and enrolled in one course at, where else, Wilmington University.

Two life changing events that we had the pleasure to experience this year: The celebration of the marriage between Megan and Lindsay. It was a wonderful year of preparation for the special day. We are blessed to have a wonderful son-in-love who is already such a complete part of our family.

The other experience was being involved in the 1st annual Delaware Kidney Walk. Tina has been working with the National Kidney Foundation seeking to start a local chapter for the past 3 years. It was a wonderful accomplishment to see this become a reality this past September. Overall, the walk raised more than $85,000 and we thank everyone who was a part of Team Wilson!

We had the opportunity to work with Matt, who directed Intermediate-I session (10-11 year old) at Camp Manatawny this past July. As you may be aware, we directed this same session for many years and this responsibility has now been passed onto our son!
We are very proud of the good things our (now) 3 children are doing and the way they care for others. God is so good!

Travel wise, we took our annual winter trip in February to Longboat Key, FL as well as a business trip together to Indianapolis as well as a week vacation in August to Nags Head, NC.
As every year, we have had some losses in our lives of those close and dear to us. However, the blessings clearly outweigh the losses.

May your holiday season be full of family, friends, and blessings. May you see all the daily gifts that God so graciously and freely provides. May you be content and at peace with your choices in your life.

We look forward to hearing from you all.

Pictures: Kidney Walk:Team Wilson

Graduation:Beach House, NC:Camp Manatawny:The Wedding!

The Wedding

After enjoying the pictures, please indulge my blogging about the special day!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay Rice the Happy Couple

Receptions

Receptions



Father and daughter dance

The "other" happy and blessed couple!!! Thanks for sharing this memorable day with us!

Finally after a good night sleep, I'm able to share the events that took place this weekend without too many tears to blur my vision to type the "most beautiful wedding I've seen". I am able to recount these details due to having family members and close friends do so many things for us so we could "enjoy the day". How blessed Jim and I are, just so totally blessed. THANK YOU, Matt, Mom and Dad, Nina, Lisa, Connie, Wayne, did I mention Lisa :-D

The day began with heavy clouds and sporadic downpours. The bride was concerned about the weather and those making their way to our "little city" with the weather conditions.

Everyone in the wedding party that planned to attend the morning activity arrived at the salon for the morning of preparation. It was then time to head to the church building and we were blessed with a break in the precipitation. While getting dressed and relaxing a bit before the ceremony, the sun peaked through!!! The bride was assured that the guests had no problem traveling here. The church was filling up with good friends and close family members.

Excitement was beginning to build!!! The music and slideshow of the "life and times" of the couple were being viewed by the guests on two large sliding screens. The candles were lit and the lights were dimmed. The screens retreated as the ceremony music began to play. The grandparents were seated, then the mother and father or the groom, followed by myself, the mother-of-the-bride escorted by her first born, our son Matt. As I was ushered down the aisle I was able to acknowledge some of our dear friends and family members. You could feel the love and support following in the room. I felt God's presence blessing this union and it filled my heart so full that I felt it was going to burst!!!

The music ended and in the quiet silence, the men appeared in their places. The music began the the bridesmaids made their way down the aisle followed by the dear ring bearer and flower girl. The doors closed. In a few seconds, the music began, as the doors opened I stood and we all viewed the most beautiful sight I've ever seen. Our daughter, who as always been a beauty, was radiant. On her daddy's arm, they made their way down the aisle. I could see her entire life before my eyes, though I continued to see her as this grown, Christian woman walking towards the man of her dreams. Megan was nervous, but she kept her focus on her goal....Lindsay and you could see her calming down as she got closer. She gave me a smile and a teary wink and she arrived at her destination.

The ceremony began!!! Jim blessed the couple by affirming our pledge and affirmation of their union and placed Megan's hand in Lindsay's' after kissing her and tenderly touching Lindsay's' arm. Jim return to his place beside me in the pew...this was the beginning of a new stage in our lives. The ceremony continued and the parents were presented with a lovely gift of a candle that represented the ongoing commitment that both set of parents are blessed to be a part of in their own marriages and the candle also represented the example of strong commitment and love in the bride and groom's parents' lives. Megan and Lindsay made their way to both set of parents to present the gift. We kissed them both and told them that we loved them and we also said we are very proud of them. (I will admit with the presentation of the candle and short conversation, I fell a bit apart, but I immediately knowing God's presence was in the room, asked Him to remove this sobbing from within me and He did and I was able to get composed very quickly only having to pat the overflow of tears with a tissue.

In less then 30 minutes the lives of two families has changed dramatically and definitely for the better. The couple was introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay Rice and we know went from a family of 4, a dad, mom, son, and daughter, to a family of 5, a dad, mom, son, daughter and son!

Next was an informal receiving line and then the beginning of two receptions. The pictures were taking in record time and the bride and groom went to the 1st reception for appetizers and special designed cupcakes, which was held in the fellowship hall at the church and then a bit later the couple made their way to the 2nd reception, which was a sit-down dinner reception.

Oh, how I continue to ponder all these things in my heart!!! How truly blessed I am to be the mother of now 3 children. We have gained another, not lost anything :-D You can't ask for anything better.

I know that prayers for Lindsay and Megan have been giving since their announcement of their engagement over a year ago. I also know that prayers will continue as they begin their new life together. I also know that prayers will continue for Jim and I as we adjust to witnessing this powerful union on the level of being the parent of the bride.