(Warning: This is one of those annoying Christmas letters.)

For those of you who may have recently received one of our Christmas cards and are now checking our blog to catch up, this is for you.

This past year, while containing crazy unexpected occurrences, has seemed more normal.  I'm getting used to the idea that with God, life is unexpected.  So unexpected events are normal.  Here is a quick synopsis of what God has done for Rick (and our family).

January 2006 - Rick ordained and hired on as Assocoiate Pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Port Hueneme

June 2006 - Ron Fisher, pastor at the time, gets accepted into Chaplaincy Corps for the Army

August 2006 - Rick begin seminary at Kings Seminary

September 2006 - Parkview votes Rick in as new Senior Pastor

November 2006 - Rick's term begins

December 2006 - just need to say "WOW!"

Rick has been moved, challenged and poured into by the Holy Spirit this year in exceptional ways.  I have seen God use Rick in physical healings, deliverance, preaching, pastoring, and worshiping.  God has made him an even better husband this year than he was last (if that is possible ).  We got to take a vacation this year to Northern California and the wine country by ourselves (thanks to Nana and Nancy Miller who endeavored and endured the famous NANA CAMP 2006).  It was our first getaway alone since our honeymoon.  It was like new fire to the flame!  Whew!  What a fabulous time in so many ways.  I fell in love with Rick all over again.  The kids got a break from us too!  Speaking of which, Rick of course has been an awesome father since day one, but this year he has become much more intentional in pouring into them the things of God.  Praying over and anointing them daily and teaching them consistenly and trying to live Christ in front of them.  This is one of the best things I have witnessed this year as a mother and wife. (Rick's note: "I can still be a jerk and play a little xbox 360 too much sometimes!")

As for me and the kids, we stay busy.  I have ventured into the uncharted realm of homeschooling this year.  It was intended for beginning Abigail in a preschool program, but I had to buy an extra set of consumables for Brennan.  He wanted to be involved and do school too.  So at two and half years old, Brennan began preschool with Abigail and myself (yeah, consider me in preschool too).  And he keeps up amazingly well.  Brennan constantly baffles us with his grasp of concepts and language and life period.

Abigail has proven herself to be quite the artist.  She loves to draw, color, paint, design, cut, mold, create, pretend, and dance.  She is just simply an ARTIST...of all sorts.  She has been doing pre-ballet now for about seven months and will be moving up to ballet/jazz next summer.  This past week we got watch her in a small performance of The Nutcracker.  I cried.

Caleb is just Caleb.  He is daring and vocal and fearless, but yet he is quite serious most of the time.  He is not overtly smilely, unless you put on music.  Now this kid can DANCE!  He has rhythm and is so excited and energized by music.  He is the one child that I actually led worship with up until the last week of my pregnancy.  Then two weeks after delivering him, I would lead practices with him in my arms.  He was definitely enveloped in musical influence.  He is also SO CUTE!

I have been able to quit my website business (with the exception of a few jobs I'm managing) since Rick's pay increase as Senior Pastor.  This has been the hugest (is that a word?) blessing for me!  I am actually able to devote ample time to mothering, spousing (is that a word?), and homemaking.  Sounds boring, but it is really NOT.  I'm experiencing the wonder in why God set up the family as He did.  I feel more fulfilled as a person than I ever have in caring for this family God has given me.  It is amazing and wonderful!

Of course, I am still the Worship Leader (Rick's note: "Worship Pastor - be offended or encouraged, you choose") at Parkview, but this year God brought a great intern who has really helped carry the load.  It has been a blessing to pour into someone else all that God has taught me.  This guy, Mike, has even become like one of the family.  Speaking of Mike, who is a gifted songwriter, God allowed the worship team to hit the studio this past November to begin recording an album of orginal music that Mike, myself, and Rick have written and that the team has helped complete.  We are very excited about what may come.  So we are pressing on to have it done by February or March and then will leave it in God's hands to with it what He deems best.

Now, to finish this discourse, I just want to say that I really am uncomfortable going on and on about US.  But I know that we have friends and family at substantial distances from us that really want to know what's going on.  So, here it is.  But please know that all good and perfect gifts come from above.  God deserves all glory for EVERY wonderful thing in 2006.  And I only hope that we can turn all these blessings around to do greater things for His kingdom.  Let's all seek after that for 2007.

To you and yours now and in the new year,

Melissa Wood