WHERE'S KING HAROLD?

That's what my three-year-old grandson asked when positioning the characters in the Nativity scene I sent him. He loAoked at each piece and then said, "Hey, where's King Harold?" A good question, actually, considering this King claimed to be interested in worshiping the Child.

Let's see, this is the time to look back at 2006 and recount all its happenings. I'm finding that a little hard to do, not because I'm growing senile (at least I don't think so) but because the years fly by and there aren't a lot of stupendous events to write about. For that, I think I'm grateful. Also, I try to keep you updated on Staley Times every few months along the way so at year's end I, for the most part, have already shared with you what has gone on in our lives.

Last December, we had Christmas with our neighbors here, then one in Phoenix with two sons, then another in Spokane with our other son and his family. Great times together. While in Spokane we got the great news that we were going to be grandparents to another little one. Our son told us the exciting news while driving us from the airport to his home. He mentioned, "oh, by the way, we are expecting again" in much the same way he might have told us that they were getting a new crockpot. And from the back seat, came "What?", not sure I heard right. It wasn't that Jonathan and Robyn were not enthused about adding to their family, but concerned because he had chosen to quit his job just then and get training to be a Lineman. They weren't feeling very financially secure at the time. Now, a year later, they have wonderful stories about how faithful God is. How He has been totally Enough for their needs.

In March we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. I could tell hundreds of stories there too about the faithfulness and 'enoughness' of God through the years.

We took our neighbor kids to California in the summer and had a wonderful time with these precious two at Disneyland, at the beach, at my sister and her husband's home, and in particular, their swimming pool from which we had difficulty extricating the kids. We don't have much water out here in the desert and they were like fish, unable to get enough.

Most of the month of August was spent in Spokane awaiting and then enjoying the arrival of little Lillian Louise. I am NOT being a prejudiced Grandma when I say that she is the most beautiful little girl ever. Her two older brothers adored her from day one. I got to be with them for three weeks helping out as I could. Greg got to come for a few days when we celebrated Jonathan's 31 st birthday. Micah, the three-year-old mentioned earlier, wanted me to play his video game alongside him. I love games but couldn't really get the hang of using the joystick to make figures on the TV run and jump and fight enemies. Anyway, at one point, exasperated Micah said, "Grandma, one of us needs to drop out......You really aren't very good at this."

In October I got to go to a Ladies' Retreat in the Bay Area. Getting away and surrounded by loving sisters was a real spiritual high for me, and I came home with a new enthusiasm for being a part of what God is doing here. A couple of Bible Studies resulted.

For Thanksgiving we went to Denver and enjoyed our youngest son, Matthew. It was wonderful seeing the Inner City ministry that Matthew works with. He would love to do this full-time if the Lord leads. He works with minority kids from the Projects and there is such great needs.

Those are bits and pieces that I can remember, but what really fills my heart today are not those individual happenings. I want to tell you what a wonderful Companion God is. Day by day, when nothing momentous was going on, He was there. The days and weeks when Greg was bombarded with jobs to be done, constant demands, and the spiritual needs of the church and community......God was there giving patience and strength and love. When our Bus Mechanic was discouraged and quit......God was there pouring out his grace. When our 85 year old neighbor didn't want to get strong after her hip surgery and wanted someone to care for her around the clock; when she required many trips to town to the Orthopedist; when she was unhappy and complaining......God was there. When many of our staff family announced they were leaving and we questioned if/how we could continue.......God was there.

Well, now we are nearing the end of another year. Our focus is Jesus. Jesus stepping into earth to rescue us from our mess, to give us back all that had been lost. Jesus, come to be our constant Companion through this life, supplying all our needs. We see this little baby surrounded by people who are amazed at him. "Hey, where's Kind Harold?" He isn't there because to him Jesus was a threat, not the Greatest Blessing ever. He wasn't a worshiper. I want to be right there, don't you? Looking intently at God Himself, wanting to understand the implications in this simple scene, wanting to respond in love and worship.

As this year ends please know how your love and prayers and financial support have enabled us to be here. A lot of the time we don't see clearly what God is up to but we do know, as we experience it daily, that God came as a Baby at Christmastime.......and He is here.

With love,

Greg and Kathy Staley