It's hard to believe but in November Veva turned 50 years old. Where has the years gone? As Veva looks back over the past 50 years she realized how blessed she is.

Blessing # 1: a Savior and Lord of my life. For the past 30 years, I have had a relationship with Jesus, as my Lord and Savior. During this time of the year we celebrate what Jesus has done for you and me. "Yet in the midst … of Christmas joy, we can't help asking one question: Why? Why would this king forsake the glory of Heaven for a dark dirty stable? Why would He turn His back on multitudes of angels bowing before Him for a world that could not begin to fathom who He was?" (by Russell Mauldin) Love - the Bible says "God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Blessing # 2: a fantastic husband, Steve. Steve and I have been married 24 ½ years of my 50 years. Steve continues to work at Southwestern College in the Computer Technology Center and he has celebrated 14 years this month. CTC did some remodeling and moving offices around. Steve's office has now been moved into the back Northwest corner. His job has supplied us with a home, clothing, and food. I don't think we in the United States realize how rich we are. Fifty-three percent of the world only brings home $2 a day. I am rich. I continue to be a housewife managing our household and our schedule. Whoever said that your life slows down as you get older didn't know us! With SC, we continue to enjoy watching sports. Basketball season has started and we are attending home and out of town games riding with our friend Barb. We also have been trying to get the SC Republicans going on campus. Each year we get a few more students involved and we participate in a few more activities. At our church, we started back helping with Awana at our church working with 3rd and 4th grade girls and boys.

Blessing #3: two wonderful children, Peter and Ruth. For the past almost 22 years, I have been a parent. Parenting is an experience I enjoyed as I watched them grow and change into the young adults.

Ruth continues to be our world traveler. The first of the year, Ruth had a wonderful experience studying abroad in Costa Rica her spring semester at Veritas University in San Jose. She even celebrated her 20th birthday there. (No more teenagers!) Ruth spent part of July in Mexico as staff for Mission Discovery, helping students build houses for people in need. From there, she flew to the east coast for two weeks to spend time with family and friends. Ruth is a junior at Kansas State University, studying Human Resource Management with a focus in International Business. She is a resident assistant for 67 girls in Boyd and loves it.

Peter started out 2008 turning twenty-one. Wow a legal adult! Peter continues to attend Southwestern College. In the spring he finished his junior year of college in Bio-Chemistry. Peter continues to be involved in Discipleship. He was in charge of fund raising for their mission trip to St Louis. In May Peter and 12 other students went to St Louis and worked with inter-city youth. It was an eye opener for Peter as he realized how sheltered his life is to things like gangs and etc. This fall Peter started his senior year at SC. He will be graduating May 10, 2009, so if you can make it we look forward to seeing you there. Peter is now looking at several options for his future, most of which include Graduate School.

Blessing #4: Great parents, Lyman and Doris Adams and family. Who would have known that this cute little girl would grow up to be the women she is today. Having a sister and brothers growing up was a blessing to me. They helped spoil me and also inspire me to be who I am today. In January, my family celebrated my mom's 80th birthday and had our 1st Adams Family reunion in August at Colby. We had a great time getting together. Helping out my sister, Gloria, was a project that we did (Mainly Steve, I was a gofer). We rewired and blew in insulation in her attic. We went out twice this year working on her house. We probably have at least one more trip to finish up. You will need to ask her about her reaction to coming home to a hole in the wall and the basement ceiling torn down.

Blessing #5: in-laws, Melvin and pearl Ruggles and family. Twenty-four years I have known the Ruggles Family and they have open their arms and hearts to welcome me into their family. It is nice to have Mom and Dad living near. This year we found ourselves heading to Kentucky in August for the Ruggles Reunion with Steve's cousin, Merrill. It was great to visit with our Kentucky cousins. Mom, Dad and Aunt Sarah also attended. While in that area, we were able to make a quick stop at "Answer In Genesis" Creation Museum. What a blessing to have the Truth told!

Blessing #6: friends all over the world. With our moving our first 12 years of marriage, we have friends in every part of Kansas. We also have made friends in other countries as I have been on five mission trips and Steve has been on six. Most of all I am blessed to have friends here in Winfield from my church and our community. These past 14 years here in Winfield has been a blessing to me and I'm thankful for my friends. A group of them helped me welcome in my 50th Birthday by coming over to our house for dessert and visiting.

Blessing #7: Freedoms. I am blessed to be living here in the United States. Where else could you have all the freedoms we have in religion, speech, etc? This year during the election it made me thankful for the privilege and responsibility I have to vote. What a great country we live in!

We hope that you had a good year like we did. We pray that the days to come you will experience the King of kings, Jesus Christ.