It’s always intriguing to look back on the past year as we prepare for a new one. As you can tell by our family photo, we’ve added a son to our family! We love Paul Bartholow!!! He is such a gift from God. We started the year with Maggie and Paul’s beautiful wedding. Throughout the year, we’ve enjoyed time together in the Sierras, time visiting family in Santa Barbara, time with the church, time with dear friends and family visiting us here in Santa Rosa, as well as time on East Coast during which we were thrilled to see many loved ones. Sweet times. And more than ever we know with complete certainty that God holds all time. “My times are in his hand” (Psalm 31:15). We thank Him as we reflect on the time He’s given us in 2021.
Carl: Carl is now in his 23rd year of pastoring Grace Church of Santa Rosa. He’s enjoying watching our kids grow up and is thankful for a new church intern, Liam Mock. Carl was thankful for a trip back East to be a part of a friend’s wedding as well as have a visit with his aunt and uncle. He just finished preaching through the book of 2 Corinthians. His verse of the year is 2 Corinthians 5:14-15: For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Kerstin: Kerstin loves being married to Carl (28 years now!), managing household and garden, maintaining school and activity schedules for 2 amazing teenagers, keeping up with 3 amazing adult children, loving the people of Grace Church, the neighborhood, the community…, playing viola, visiting family and friends, teaching art to junior/senior high school students, working on commissioned art projects (loves!), and working on illustrations for a children’s book being published in 2022. In her spare time, you can find Kerstin exercising in order to keep going (truly!), swimming, running trails (finishing the Santa Rosa Half Marathon one more time), planning a trip, reading through the Bible, or enjoying a decaf latte with someone fun. After studying James with the women of Grace Church, the perspective of James 4:13-15 reminds Kerstin to hold plans loosely and lay each day into God’s hands. “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” If the Lord wills…trying to continually be praying like Jesus (Luke 22:42), “Not my will, but God’s will be done.”
Hanna: Hanna has been very busy this year and so grateful for all of her new adventures. She has been working two jobs at two different ambulance companies while taking classes to get into nursing school. Hoping to work as an ER Tech soon in a local hospital, she is on track to pursue a nursing degree and wants to specialize in pediatric oncology. Hanna has been dating Andrew for a year now, loves going on hikes with him as well as working on the ambulance together. She has also loved family time and growing her relationship with her family and God each and every day. Through the crazy of Covid and added stresses to her job and life, she remembers an old friend (Mrs. A) who often said, “The Lord is in charge, He makes no mistakes, and His timing is perfect!” Hanna’s favorite Bible passage this year is Psalm 23: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Paul & Maggie Bartholow: Maggie graduated from college with a degree in Communications Design in December, and got married to Paul Bartholow (who is her high school sweetheart) in January. They moved to Pleasanton, CA to begin their new life together as well as new jobs as a graphic designer (Maggie) and mechanical engineer (Paul). Maggie and Paul are loving married life, their new church, their jobs, and exploring the neighboring cities in their spare time. Their favorite Bible passage is Romans 1:16-17. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Lily: Lily is a high school senior! After spending time serving at Victory Bible Camp in Alaska this summer, she is spending her senior year taking college classes while exploring what to study next, where to attend college, and what the future holds. Step by step. Lily enjoys babysitting, designing gorgeous floral creations, playing piano (for our worship too), and ballroom dancing. She is a Junior Dance Instructor for a local dance company. Lily will hopefully spend several months in Germany this spring, immersed in the language and culture. She is encouraged by Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Trey: Trey is a high school sophomore! He is also taking college classes concurrently. Trey continues to play piano and violin (he’s phenomenal), enjoy video gaming, skateboarding, leaping in the air doing 360s, and dirt biking, but he is longing for snow boarding season to start! He continues to keep us laughing with his humorous remarks. He wanted to share John 16:33 where Jesus encourages, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
It is our prayer this Christmas that you would trust in the God of all time today, through Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Merry Christmas and the grace of God in 2022!
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