Christmas, 2004

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas! The three of us have been reflecting on the past year and all that has transpired. We'd just like to share a few things that we've enjoyed individually and collectively from this past year as part of our Top 10 Memories of 2004.

Katharine’s Top 10 List
10. Having her bedroom painted her favorite color, pink
9. Hanging out with her best friend, Elaina
8. Playing the Pooh memory game with her cousin, Melodie, during our Stacy/Clapp Reunion in Utah
7. Singing, playing, and doing crafts at Vacation Bible School
6. Playing in the sand, eating ice cream, and seeing "Rudolph" in Arcadia, Michigan
5. Spending the night at "Camp Carla" or Carla & Phil Blum’s house in Colorado Springs
4. Making tracks in the snow while hunting woozles and heffalumps (see A.A. Milne books for reference)
3. Leaping into mom’s waiting arms in the pool during swimming lessons
2. Playing Sequence and Pooh Uno with Mom and Dad

Jennifer’s Top 10 List
10. Listening to Andrew Peterson live in concert
9. Getting new living room furniture in time for her birthday
8. Tickling the ivories of our "new," 40 year old piano
7. Kissing Mark after he returned from a 17 day business trip to Wyoming
6. Showing my brother’s family the beauty of Northern Colorado
5. Reuniting with the Blum family and basking in the sun on the shores of Lake Michigan
4. Sharing in Katharine’s zest for life and boundless imagination
3. Playing Sequence marathons with Mark and Doug in Utah
2. Performing a tribute concert to the "Greatest Generation" with the Larimer Chorale (on KJ’s 5th birthday)

Mark's Top 10 List (not necessarily the most memorable, but what I mostly remember)
10. Playing softball with a team from the office
9. Hiking up 1,000 feet to a cool, exhumed cave with Jen and Doug in Logan Canyon
8. Digging out a 22.5' by 9' by 6” deep section of the backyard for a drive extension
7. Planting shrubs and trees in the backyard
6. Fixing the drainages in the backyard
5. Placing weed fabric across all the mud in the backyard
4. Moving 9 tons of river rock and 3 cubic yards of mulch via wheelbarrow to various parts of the backyard
3. Watching a local contractor form, place, and finish the concrete for the drive extension in, you guessed it, the backyard
2. Resting up for spring so that I can finish the south half of the backyard

And our Number 1 favorite memory for 2004 would be... (insert your own drumroll)
1. Finding a sponsor for Ronald Esnaider Gusman Palomino

Ronald, like 1 out of every 4 children in the world, lives in extreme poverty. Without assistance through Compassion International, kids in similar circumstances will likely receive little or no education, may struggle with constant hunger and poor health, and worse, may come to believe that their lives have little or no value.

But his circumstances can be changed. You and I cannot change the whole world, but we can change the whole world for one child! Through Compassion you can reach out to a little girl or boy like Ronald and build a relationship with him through your letters and prayers. We know. We currently sponsor Katherine (that's not a typo, believe it or not) in Peru, and Pedro (the next Moises Alou, perhaps?) in the Dominican Republic. Through the letters they've written us, we've seen the hope that our sponsorship and Compassion's care have brought to their lives. For just $28 a month, you can do the same for Ronald or another child by providing improved health, education, personal development, and the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. We've also seen Compassion consistently utilize more than 80% of their funds to directly serve the children, and receive an “A” rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

Ronald is one of the children on Compassion's waiting list right now. He needs a sponsor. If you want to sponsor Ronald today, then click this link: http://www.compassion.com/cwc-1100108-2 and begin to change the world, one child at a time.

Hoping you make wonderful memories in 2005,
Mark, Jennifer, & Katharine Stacy
6745 Brittany Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970.223.0146
HydroBiblio@lpbroadband.net

First Coming

He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait

till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
- Madeleine L’Engle, A Cry Like a Bell<