’Twas the week before Christmas in 2016
We hadn’t yet written about all that we’d seen.
Looking back at a year full of changes galore
Let’s try to wRap up what this year held in store…
In late February, after David’s tenth birthday
Gary returned from Brazil, from the rig home to stay.
An unexpected career shift, with our plans all askew,
We prayed and we wondered, “What the world will we do?”
So instead of this loss seen as “struggle in straits,”
We decided to pack up and drive through twenty states.
So here’s what we did with this sweet gift of time:
Drove ten thousand miles (without losing our minds!).
From the Mississippi River to the great big Pacific,
O, the places we’ve seen, it was just plain terrific!
From mountains and deserts to temperate rainforests,
Sequoias and Glacier, amazing sights all before us.
We found tide pools, a shipwreck, and sights from The Goonies
And hiked the baddest of Badlands way out in the boonies.
Historic trails out west, and Custer’s Last Stand
Seeing waterfalls noted by Lewis & Clark’s hand
Mt Rushmore, and Mackinac, and Independence Rock.
Sault Ste Marie where we gazed down at Soo Locks.
At historic Sutter’s Mill, we all panned for gold
And at Yellowstone Park watched Old Faithful blow
We drove from Gateway Arch to the Golden Gate
then trekked back across plains to four Lakes that are Great.
Then Isaac turned two and Stephen thirteen.
In September, David played in a “Street Robber” scene
(And also joined Stephen on our church’s puppet team).
Then we loaded once more for state 39
Mounts Mitchell and Airy we saw in North Caroline.
What else did we do? Campouts and field trips
(Like the life-sized replicas of Columbus’ ships),
A trip to Oklahoma for a Thanksgiving break.
Then Levi turned eight with a rollercoaster cake.
As winter falls upon us with the cold December wind.
We think of a time when there was no room at the inn.
A Savior was born in Bethlehem town,
A King who had given up His glory and crown.
So as we ponder this gift of Heavenly Light
We wish a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
With love,
Gary, Brandy, Stephen, David, Levi, and Isaac Ferrell
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days. Micah 5:2