This week I spent some time reading some of the Christmas letters I have written for the past 25 years. I was especially interested in the letter I wrote 10 years ago. I was not texting and didn't have a smart phone. In ten years, our family has from 5 to 12. We are now living in 3 different states, non of which is Alabama. My parents and mother-in-law have died.
The verse that I've been claiming this year has been Matthew 6:34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." As I think about what is ahead in the new year, this verse keeps me focusing on today. It is the only day I have - I do not have tomorrow or yesterday. I wish I could say I'm inviting you to take a look back with me to simpler time in our family - 2006 - but that is not the case. 2006 had its own trouble just like 2016.
I'm sure this old hymn was written with this verse in mind.
I don't know about tomorrow, I just live for day to day
I don't borrow from the sunshine, For it's skies may turn to gray
I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what lies ahead
Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand
Christmas Update 2006
To borrow a phrase, life comes at you fast!!!
2006 has been that kind of year for us.
2005 ended with Erin graduating from college and the celebration of my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary.
2006 started with Erin looking for a job in the real world. After attending a theatre job fair in Memphis, she
took an internship the end of February with Olney Theatre outside Washington DC. She worked January
and February substitute teaching at Tuscaloosa County High School. The internship has now turned into a
full time job with benefits that she will start January 2. She has spent the last few weeks at home with us and
working for my brother. In addition to finding a job, she has also found a relationship with a guy named Dan
from Jacksonville, Florida who also works at the theater.
Buddy has continued working for the athletic department at Alabama. Need I say more. The last few weeks
in that area have been in turmoil as well. Buddy is also in a relationship. His girlfriend, Haley, is in medical
school at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She will begin her clinical in Tuscaloosa starting in Sep-
tember. I would send a picture of them but I have a rule that until you are officially a part of the family, no
official family photos!!
In February, my mom fell one morning while taking her daily 3-mile walk. She was banged up pretty bad.
Her shoulder had to have physical therapy and her walking stopped. By April she was just getting back out
when she fell while working in the yard and broke her jaw in three places. After surgery, she suffered a stroke
that has left her unable to walk. She spent from April until August in the hospital, rehab, a nursing home and
back to rehab. She came home the first of August and has had to have round the clock care. While she was
in the hospital, her only brother died and she was unable to attend the funeral. The week before she came
home, my dad suffered a heart attack and had to have 4 stints put in his heart. When I read back over this, I
hope you can even believe it!!
Bill’s mom has had several health problems as well. She has been at the doctor almost every other week and
in the hospital twice in the past month. Please pray for our parents. It has been a very difficult year for our
family. My mom has been receiving therapy at home for the past 4 months but still cannot walk. I go to
Birmingham every Monday while John Andrew is at school. I’m a lot of things but a nurse is not one of
them. I usually take a few meals for the week, clean up, and give my mom a manicure.
This past summer, I turned 50. In January, Bill asked me what I wanted for my 50th birthday and I told him I
would like for him to take a month off work. He talked with the church leaders and we began planning for a
month sabbatical. We spent the 4th of July in Atlanta with John Andrew. We then went to a cabin in north
Alabama for a few days of solitude (John Andrew stayed with my sister and her family). We picked him up
and headed to Callaway Gardens in south Georgia. Since my mom was still in rehab, we didn’t want to go too
far from Alabama. The night we got to Callaway Gardens we learned of my dad’s heart attack. We immedi-
ately headed to Birmingham. We stayed a few days and spent our last week at a great resort condo in Orange
Beach.
Bill continues to do a great job pastoring Capstone. Several ministries have been started this year that are
reaching out to our community. For example, we open our café on Thursdays to feed whoever wants to
come. Some of our college students have gotten involved and come and serve and talk to the people that
come. Our church is also on the parade route so whenever Tuscaloosa has a parade (ie. Christmas, Home-
coming), we open the café once again to serve hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and provide a much needed rest-
room. Buddy continues to have concerts on Thursday nights. The University of Alabama chapter of FCA
also meets at our church on Wednesday nights as well as the leadership group for Campus Crusade and a
non-profit group that teaches music to underprivileged children.
Not only does Bill preach, he also is our main janitor!! We have seen the church grow this year and started 2
services in the fall. God continues to bless us with just what we need to do the work He has called us to do.
John Andrew is in 2nd grade at Verner Elementary. This is actually the more sane part of our family. He had
his 8 year old birthday last week and celebrated with a bowling party and sleepover. He had 11 at the party
and 8 stayed to sleep over. Our picture this year was taken at the party last week. He wore a shirt that he
picked out while at the store with Bill. The shirt says “Parents for Sale—Buy one Get One Free.” When he
came home I asked him who was free and he said, ‘You are!!” Was I surprised!!
I have many funny John Andrew stories and his quick wit and happy spirit keep us laughing. While in the
CCU waiting room after my dad had his heart attack, he was asked by a young boy pointing to my brother in
law, 'Is that your dad?' His response--'No, that's my uncle. The old guy that was sitting over there is my dad!!'
Once again, in spite of us, he is growing in his faith. Miss Amy, our children’s director e-mailed me this little
story a few weeks ago—
Ok, so we are talking about what Jesus was like. I was trying to get them to perhaps describe him...if
they thought he was friendly, caring, etc....then we read the Bible story and learned that Jesus cared about his
people’s praise, his father’s house, etc . . . So, I asked again based on the story what the kids thought he was
like . . . All of the sudden, John Andrew breaks into song . . . “Indescribable, In-can-tanable!” It was a great
moment! Funny and appropriate, thought you might enjoy, too.
Another song that reminds me of what Jesus is like is a much older one—He Giveth More Grace. The sec-
ond verse is actually how we have been able to get through this difficult season in our lives.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
when our strength has failed ‘ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth,
and giveth, and giveth again.
May this Christmas be a time when you have a moment to reflect on just how much his giving has meant in
your life. For God so loved the word, he gave . . .
Merry Christmas from the Overstreets
Bill, Allyson, Buddy, Erin, & John Andrew
