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We so very much enjoyed hearing from many of you over the Christmas holidays! Receiving mail from friends and family during December is always a highlight of the month. Many of you had joyous things happen during the year…marriages, births of children or grandchildren, graduations, promotions, and personal victories. Some of you, though, faced some of the hardest situations of your lives….sicknesses, deaths of loved ones, job losses, and hurt relationships. We shared in your joys and in your sorrows. You encouraged us by telling how you saw the hand of the Lord working in your lives, whether it was happy happenings or sad happenings. Truly, Romans 8:28 continues to sustain and bless us all. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.”



Recapping the happenings and things we learned throughout the year 2004 reminded us of God’s faithfulness and mercy in our lives. He helped us with eating better and exercising more, working through time management problems, addressing attitudes of the heart, and most importantly, trusting Him for every concern we faced. How thankful we are for His patience with us growing and for the wisdom He gave us daily from His Word!

Our first annual Bollinger Reunion was in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, over Labor Day weekend and the Mitchell reunion in Denver later in September. It was great to see many extended family members. All the aunts, uncles and cousins are so good to come and visit here often, so we always enjoy rich times of fellowship with lots of laughter. We also enjoyed a variety of dear friends from all over the states come by for visits, along with missionary friends on furlough. Of course, we are so thankful to have Granny and Papa Bollinger living just one mile away and Grandma Mitchell living right next door. They abundantly enrich our lives with their constant love and support!

In October, I was able to take Mother to Chickasha, Oklahoma, for my father’s squadron reunion from WWII. What a blessing it was for me to be with those dear veterans and their wives and to feel the intense patriotism they each possessed! It was encouraging for Mother to be with these people again after having missed the reunions for several years. It was special for us to represent Daddy there and hear how many of those men loved and respected him…we miss him!


Nathan had the opportunity to travel to the Northwoods of Michigan in October to attend “Eternal Impact Summit”, a retreat for older young people desiring to keep an eternal focus in ministry and business. It was great for him to be with other like-minded young people serving the Lord in various ministries and businesses. In November he traveled south to San Antonio to the first annual Christian Film Fest, hosted by Vision Forum. Film Fest Site This film festival encouraged young film makers to produce films and videos with a Biblical world view. It also provided an arena where those works could be critiqued and awarded.