Roth Christmas Epistle 2025

The Year That Was

January  -  Curtis turned 38.  *  Debbie spoke at a church-wide Ladies’ Birthday Party for Valley Christian Church.

February  -  Thomas turned 11.  *. Debbie spent 3 1/2 days in San Luis Potosí, Mexico getting Casa de Ninos ready for its new house parents and children.  *  Dewey got to see Anawynn in “SpongeBob the Musical.”  *  We thoroughly enjoyed the movie, The Unbreakable Boy.  *  On the 23rd, Shonda turned 42 and Kelly Jo turned 36.

March  -  Ivy June turned 5.  *  Enjoyed a meal with nephew-in-law Raju during his overnight stop in the Twin Cities. (Raju is a flight attendant.)

April  -  Anawynn turned 12.  *  Debbie was interviewed (mostly about her book Blue Tassels) by national women's speakers advocate, Marnie Swedberg.  *  Dewey preached at Valley Christian Church on the 6th.  *  Debbie spoke to almost 200 ladies at Hosanna Church.

May  -  Curtis & Abbey said hello to Shepherd Arlo Roth, born 10:18 AM, May 23, 9lbs, 9 oz, 21.25 inches. We welcome Goober to the clan!  *  Dewey preached again at VCC on the 25th.

June  -  The first weekend had us attending The Well Conference for Christian Creatives in Hudsonville, MI. Debbie sang for the assembled masses and they each received a copy of her book, Drenched: Only Hope in the Storm.  *  The 9th was our 46th anniversary!

July  -  Crazy month. Debbie drove to Grand Rapids, MI, to attend Carol Kent's Speak Up Conference, but skipped the final day to be able to see her oldest niece for the first time in 35 years! She then drove down to Fort Wayne, IN, to meet that niece's husband and son and hang out with dear, dear friends from Markle until I flew in on Tuesday to attend Norwell High School Class of 1975's 50th Class Reunion on Saturday. A lot of laughs and too much food all week long.

August  -  Dewey turned 68.  *  Road trip to Wyoming and back that included the wedding of Debbie's great-niece, Shania, and ended up being one of our most fun, spontaneous vacations ever, e.g., a helicopter ride around Mount Rushmore, a day in Yellowstone, the Wyoming State Barbecue Championship & Bluegrass Festival.

September  -  LOTS of birthdays: Ezra Ann 4. Clarence "Clay" 2.  Angel 45. Debbie 67. Maverick 9.  *  Debbie spoke and sang to a group of about 70 ladies at an area-wide retreat in Texas.

October  -  A nice-but-too-short visit in Arkansas with Shonda and her family. Their new house is fairly amazing.  *  Enjoyed the 3rd year of greeting trick-or-treaters as SantaDewey.

November  -  The 1st was the official release date for Dewey's book, The Best of Truth Is.  *  Dewey had a good time with Dustin and Curtis at a 40th anniversary screening of Back to the Future.  *  Shonda was thankful for the end of the government shutdown so she could get back to work.  *  Thanksgiving found us at Curtis’ in-laws, and the following Sunday, Angel and Curtis brought their crews to our place for round two. #TrueConfession: Curtis and Shepherd represented their household solo, as the rest were under the weather.  *  On Black Friday, our only excursion was to the movie theater for Wicked: For Good.

December  -  Jesse turned 14.  *  Debbie celebrated 27 years of cancer-free living.  *  Thanks to Angel's in-laws, we experienced the Hosanna Christmas Concert for the first time. What an impressive display of talent and creativity!  *  The 30th, Debbie had (will have) surgery on her left shoulder to repair the rotator cuff.  *  The Most Wonderful Time of the Year was celebrated with 3/4 of the Rothchilds gathered with their families under our roof (SOME year, Shonda!), an event that makes whenEVER it happens one of the best days of the year for us.

Many warm wishes to you all. May the light that has come into the world (Jesus) illuminate your life and fill you with joy all year long!

Roth Christmas Epistle 2024

 

The Year That Was

January  -  Curtis turned 37.  *  We spent a mostly rainy but mostly wonderful week in Rotonda West, Florida, at the beautiful Vrbo house of the mostly wonderful owners, Bobby & Connie Brown.

February  -  Thomas turned 10.  *  Had a fun double date with friends enjoying Comedy Sportz Twin Cities at their appearance in Rosemount.  *  On the 23rd, Shonda turned 41 and Kelly Jo turned 35.

March  -  Ivy June turned 4.  *  Debbie did a lot of work on her new 9-week devotional book, Blue Tassels.

April  -  Anawynn turned 11.  *  Dewey was MC at our church's 2nd annual Taste & See Fundraiser for our summer mission trips.  *  Blue Tassels was sent to the publisher.  *  Debbie spoke to almost 100 women at a one-day event at our home church in Markle, Indiana. (What a trip!)  *  We both attended, once again, The Well Conference for Christian Creatives in Michigan (enjoyed a day-trip to Holland as well).

May  -  Loved having everyone (except Shonda and crew) at the house for some Mother's Day pizza (but also loved that Shonda added her crew to the group photo)

June  -  Blessed by having Ivy and Clay for 4 overnighters and all the days in between while Curtis & Abbey were in California for a conference.  *  The 9th was our 45th anniversary!

July  -  A relatively quiet month highlighted by an overnighter with the 3 oldest grandkids and one with the youngest.

August  -  Dewey turned 67 (How in the world can that be correct?!?)  *  Debbie celebrated the release of BLUE TASSELS: 45 Devotions for the Desperate, Determined, and Delivered with a book launch open house.

September  -  Ezra Ann turned 3.  *  Clarence "Clay" turned 1 year old.  *  Angel turned 44.  *  The two of us traveled to Wyoming for some time with Debbie's niece and brother and a sobering visit to the Heart Mountain WWII Japanese Relocation Museum. Debbie also celebrated her 66th birthday at Texas Roadhouse. Maverick turned 8.

October  -  A nice-but-too-short visit in Arkansas with Shonda and her family. The drive down through the Ozarks was beautiful and their almost-completed house is amazing.  *  Enjoyed the 2nd year of greeting trick-or-treaters as SantaDewey. This time, we handed out candy canes!

November  -  We were overjoyed to be able to fly to Ohio for Thanksgiving. My (Dewey's) baby sister and her preacher husband open the fellowship hall of their church for both sides of the family to gather, gorge, and giggle. Curtis and Kelly Jo (and their families) drove to the event and were able to spend extra time with us and my sister and brother-in-law. Wonderful.

December  -  We will experience a Christmas Miracle: All of our Minnesota-based kids and grands will gather at our house at the same time for a big, old-fashioned Christmas dinner! And we're forever grateful.

In the face of seasoned waves of evil

that we would sing that old noel,

that we would hang lights on branches,

that we would give gifts to others

even if that gift is only ourselves --

this, this is a defiance seemingly impotent

against the principalities and powers who

daily conspire to convince us that

we are alone and love is a lie.

But do not be deceived for the demons themselves

tremble at such quaintness.

Sisters and brothers,

Christmas on.

-John Blase-

Have an Awe-full Christmas: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. XXV

 

TOUCHING WONDER: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas
John Blase

In this collection of short readings for Advent, John Blase helps us encounter the Christmas story ... with dirt beneath its fingernails. This is the incarnation as real as it gets, God-with-us in all our fleshly despair and hope. Smell the hay in the Bethlehem stable, soaked with birthing blood. Hear Mary's pants and cries as she pushes the living God from her womb. Look over Joseph's shoulder as he watches his beloved bear the child of Another, the Son he will raise who will raise all humankind. Read [this book] and remind yourself once again of the absurd, unexpected, unfathomable glory of God's arrival in our world.

It was a meandering path that brought me to this book. Carolyn Arends posted a poem written by Blase that I really liked, so I did a little research on who he was. On his website, I saw the other books, etc., he has written and the descriptions of this book really captured my attention and sparked a desire to own it. A few mouse clicks later, it was on its way to my mailbox. And let me tell you, the reading of this book lived up to every high expectation I had.

First Line: The author David James Duncan described the plastic shepherds from those Christmas dioramas of his youth as having "slack-jawed expressions of wonder."

Page 56 / Line 5: Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God's Sunrise will break in upon us, shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: [Zachariah speaking of his son, John the Baptizer] He seemed to live in the margins, somewhere between this world and the next.

Last Line: Remember, the Mighty One's favor comes in unexpected ways.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: Accidentally Seen and Positively Enjoyed

 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
Director: Dallas Jenkins (of The Chosen fame)

Nobody is ready for the mayhem and surprises that ensue when six of the worst youngsters disrupt the town's yearly Christmas performance.

*  *  *

Beloved and I saw this yesterday and are both giving two enthusiastic thumbs up.

I have to admit that it started off feeling a little like a made-for-television, Hallmark blah-blah-blah because of the heavy dose of narration (provided by Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham). But then the humor started kicking in and it became more fun and engaging.

Little did I know that by the time it ended, we would both be wiping tears from our faces. And I don't want to say anything more about it except that y'all should go see it.

Behind-the-Scenes Footage: We had gone to the theater with tickets in hand for the Tom Hanks/Robin Wright film, Here, but there was a technical issue with the projector and it couldn't be shown. The managerial apology not only included passes for a movie of our choosing in the future and free popcorn and a soda, but we were allowed to trot on over to another movie in the multiplex...which is how we ended up seeing this gem yesterday instead. Great deal!

Roth Christmas Epistle 2023

 

The Year That Was

January  -  Partly to celebrate Curtis' 36th birthday, he and Abbey spent an extended weekend in Orlando while Grandma Debbie and Grampa Dewey played and laughed with Ivy June and Ezra Ann Leona. We loved it, but also became convinced that God was wise in having humans create babies while in their 20s and 30s. * Loved having an overnight visit from Debbie's niece, Nikki, and her son, Asher, when they were "in the area" to check out a college that wants Asher to play football for them (The college is in Moorehead, but they flew into the Twin Cities).

February  -  Curtis and Abbey announced that a third Roth child should arrive in September. * Dewey booked a helicopter tour and a NaPali Coast sunset dinner cruise for our May/June Hawaii trip. * A surprise visit from Bill & Lisa Miller (from Dewey's first ministry in Indiana) made Valentine's Eve very special. * Thomas "MisterSquishy" Stanley turned 9. * On the 23rd, Shonda turned 40 and Kelly Jo turned 34. * Spent a lovely couple hours in a Saint Paul coffeehouse listening to our friend (and Dakota Chautauqua music director) Eric Peltoniemi play and sing.

March  -  Our dear friends, Bobby & Connie, said, "Hey, you should come down to our house in Florida and spend a week with us on the Gulf Coast. It'll be fun!" So we did, and it was! * Sorry that we missed Ivy June "WonderWoman" Roth's 3rd birthday party, though. * Work began on re-siding the house.

April  -  Anawynn "SweetCheeks" Haug turned 10. * Attended The Well Conference for Christian Creatives in Michigan. * Debbie led a one-day ladies' retreat and then spoke and sang for the hosting congregation's Sunday service in Syracuse, Indiana (thanks to the healing of her bronchitis and sinus infection). * House siding completed.

May  -  Having been the highest bidder for a week at a Marriot resort (and a supporter of Amnion Pregnancy Center at the same time), we took off for 7 days and 7 nights in Kauai, the oldest of the Hawaiian islands and home to "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific."

June  -  Celebration of our 44th anniversary included a weekend Up North officiating a wedding. * All of the interior and exterior house remodeling was finally completed (including the last-minute addition of fixing some cracks in our front room and redoing its ceiling, walls, and carpet).

July  -  Okay, okay...the carpet didn't get done until THIS month! * Debbie went with a group from Valley Christian Church (VCC) to help prepare Emmanuel Mexico Mission to once again care for children at Casa De Ninos in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. * Mini-adventure of a leaking toilet in the upstairs bathroom ruining the ceiling of the downstairs bathroom and it all getting fixed for free by our upstairs remodel contractor.

August  -  Debbie spent 9 days visiting her brother and a niece in Wyoming. * Dewey sermonized about the Good Samaritan at Valley Christian Church and also attended a youth group reunion for his home church in Markle, IN, in honor of the youth minister from his high school days.

September  -  Ezra "FuzzyWuzzy" Roth turned 2. * Clarence (Clay) Emmanuel Roth was born at 10:06 PM on the 11th. 8 lbs 11 oz * Debbie spoke and sang for a ladies' retreat at White Mills Christian Camp in Kentucky. Part of the joy of it was that the female half of the couple who manages the camp was in Dewey's first youth group in Northeast Indiana and Dewey had officiated their wedding. * Debbie also had a gig doing a ladies' retreat in Hackensack, MN. * Maverick "Maggot" Hall turned 7 * Angel turned 43??!!

October  -  Attended a concert by Carolyn "Seize the Day" Arends. * Drove to Cabot, Arkansas, and spent a few days with John, Shonda, and Maverick. * Saw the Thunderbirds rehearse their air show at Little Rock Air Force Base. * Won a power washer and a selection of Drooling Moose chocolates at the Amnion Pregnancy Center Fundraising Silent Auction

November  -  Attended a concert by Nancy Honeytree * Debbie signed a contract with her publisher and set in motion the timeline for her 2nd book, a collection of devotional thoughts based on the scores of programs she's done since starting Rest in Him Ministry, to be released in September of 2024. (You can help underwrite the cost by clicking here.) * Dewey made the first two of seven Santa Dewey appearances for this year.

December  -  Debbie celebrated 25 years of being cancer free! * Jesse "SkittleKid" Stanley turned 12. * The whole family (minus the Halls in Arkansas, sigh) were able to enjoy Christmas Eve Day together...we loved being "all" together and can't wait for it to happen again soon!

May the promise of the babe in the manger be fulfilled by the savior on the cross in your heart and in your world.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Roth Christmas Epistle 2022

 

Our weekly Thursday night visits with Anawynn (as Dustin and Kelly Jo do their dance class thing) have changed from Grandma and Grandpa reading to her at bedtime to the three of us sharing those reading duties. She is nine, after all, and becoming a beautiful young lady full of creativity and humor.

How is it possible that Ivy June is almost three??!? And baby sister Ezra Ann (1) is walking and handling stairs like a master, while her face lights up every time she sees us...heart-melting. Curtis and Abbey purchased their first home this year and Curtis became the full-time Children's Pastor at Valley...the church where HE was once a child and his daddy once was the youth minister!

Johnathan, Shonda, and Maverick (6) hosted us for a wonderful weekend at their home in Arkansas. We had a great time meeting their two white labradoodles, Calvin and Hobbes.

Phil is enjoying his work as an electrician,  Angel continues to help pump up the reading skills of her elementary-aged flock, Jesse (11) played both soccer and baseball (impressing both his coaches), and Thomas (8) seems to be on the verge of mastering some snowboarding skills and putting one on his Christmas wish list.

Debbie continued to add more in-person events to her resume with Rest in Him Ministry, and started working on a second book. She was honored to participate in Valley Christian Church's Advent sermon series this year. It was based on the women who appear in Jesus' genealogy, and Debbie's message was about Ruth. We both absolutely love the upstairs remodel (pictured below) that was accomplished thanks to an inheritance from Dewey's mom. And oh yeah...with the employment news in the following paragraph, Debbie was able to retire after 24.5 years as a para-professional with ISD 196!

Dewey went straight from his short-term contract with Securian Financial ending on April 1 to starting a full-time position with a company called EQ, with an enjoyable two weeks off in between...as Goldilocks would say, it was juuuuust right!  His creative outlets are still fired up, including some additional Santa gigs this year. Get caught up on all the info about blogs and podcasts and Facebook humor pages by going HERE. And oh yeah...on August 2nd, he finished his 65th trip around the sun.

Take some time to rest in the knowledge that you are loved, not only by us but by the One who knows you best of all. Heaven came to Earth in a small package, but it had big results.  Have a blessed new year!

Roth Christmas Epistle 2021

 

A year of blessings...

After a year of missing our weekly Thursday night visits with Anawynn as Dustin and Kelly Jo do their dance thing, it was a tearful reunion when she ran into our arms again. So happy to be in the process of putting the pandemic behind us (at least we're heading in the right direction). SweetCheeks is a bundle of artistic expression, be it dance, drawing, crafts...

That 21-month old joy-bringer, Ivy June, amazes "Debbie-Da" and "Deweee" with her intelligence and love of people. It came in handy as she, Curtis, and Abbey welcomed baby sister Ezra Ann to the family this year.

Johnathan, Shonda, and Maverick have settled into post-military life in Arkansas, even as Mom and Dad work on the Air Force base (and Maggot works hard on his social and verbal skills in pre-school).

Phil, though still officially on a temporary break from teaching high school art, is fully-engaged as an apprentice electrician and by all accounts is enjoying the change. Angel continues her work as a reading specialist, adjusting to the ever-changing Covid quirks of education. Jesse sent shock waves through the family when he became our first grandchild to reach double digits and Thomas is shining his own light of love and energy.

Debbie was so grateful to be able to get back to doing some in-person events with Rest in Him Ministry, the most notable of which was singing for the Sunday morning Boat-In Worship on beautiful Lake Wawasee in northeastern Indiana. It was an amazing sight as the boats just kept coming to hear the Word preached and sung. She would love to come to YOUR church or faith-based organization and share some encouragement and hope.

Dewey started working a six-month contract position in November, which got extended to April 1...though he is still seeking a full-time direct-hire position and has a couple irons in the fire even as we speak. Creatively, he started two podcasts this fall. You can find out all the particulars by going HERE.

Our deepest desire for all who read these words is for you to be healthy, happy, and secure in the knowledge that God put on flesh because he loves you. He thinks you're to die for! Have a blessed new year!

Free Guy: An Entirely Enjoyable Return to the Movies

 

On the strength of ActorBoy's recommendation, and paid for by a very old gift card from AngelFace, I went to see Free Guy, starring Ryan Renolds, today.

The reason it was a very old gift card is, of course, because COVID-19 hit soon after I got it for Christmas in 2019. And let me tell you, just walking into the theater lobby and smelling that popcorn was a little emotional. It very well could have been two full years since I had been to a movie theater; I don't really know.

"But what about the movie, Dewey?"

Oh...well...let me just say that I never expected to enjoy a sci-fi/romantic comedy/action movie this much.

Yeah.

It hit all the right beats and nailed every joke and I wish I had a copy of the script so I could lay some of the quotable quotes on you...including the obligatory rousing "come on, guys, we can do this if we all work together" speech that leads to the film's climactic battle.

[I originally wrote "...leads to the film's climax," but I changed it because there's ANOTHER climax involving the romantic comedy aspect of the movie that I will not say anything more about so as not to spoil it for anyone...because I'm thinking y'all should go see Free Guy for yourselves.]

Fair warning...there are just enough four-letter words used to give it its PG-13 rating. And as always, they could have done without them and no one would have noticed. But I don't know...it may have gotten a PG-13 anyway for the amount of video-game-style violence.

On top of the humor and action, the movie also has some decent things to say about life-as-we-know it and how people can make a difference if they try. That's another reason why I like it so much.

There IS one quote that I'm pretty sure I'll be using in real life: "Don't have a good day. Have a great day."

Roth Family Christmas Epistle 2019

What a loverly year...

For the past 6 years, Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Dewey have spent the overwhelming majority of Thursday nights in Saint Paul pouring out our love on Anawynn Haug while Papa and Mama enjoy an evening out...most of the time together and most of the time at the dance class Papa teaches. We are so appreciative of this time and for the love of this sharp-as-a-tack little girl.

A tremendous bit-o-news for us this year was when Curtis and Abbey let us know that Grandchild Number Five was on the way. Ivy June Roth is due to see the light of day in March 2020. It was a deep, deep joy to spend a few days with them between Christmas and New Year.

Grandson Maverick has left California and is temporarily in Southern Ohio while daddy Johnathan transitions from active duty in the Air Force to the reserves and a civilian job. We were able to enjoy two days together in Alexandria, Ohio with them because of Denise and Kevin Hull hosting Thanksgiving at their church building again. Probable big news in the works for Shonda and family...that has to wait until next year.

Can’t believe that Jesse Stanley turned EIGHT this year and that “little” brother, Thomas will soon be six. Congratulations to Jesse for braving the top bunk on a couple overnighters with Grandma and Grandpa!

Our second-greatest blessing in life is being grandparents to this growing group of love bugs...made possible only because of the first-greatest blessing of being parents to their parents. 

And the actual greatest blessing of all, that so surpasses everything else that it doesn’t get numbered with these joys, is being loved by Jesus. 

Our prayer as the new year begins is that all of us in this family, and all of you in yours, “may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Roth Family Christmas Epistle 2018

 

Anawynn’s Mama and Papa, Kelly Jo and Dustin Haug, celebrated her 5th birthday and marveled at her transition from preschool to kindergarten. Kelly Jo stopped nannying and started working at Dustin’s school as a proctor for students making up tests or who need a calmer environment, etc., however, she continues to be available as a doula, helping couples through the birth process (www.uffdadoula.com). Dustin will start 2019 in a new position at the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists: cutting back teaching to half-time and becoming a co-administrator/principal.

Curtis and Abbey Roth celebrated their 3rd anniversary May 2nd, then made the move to New York City May 15th. They feel absolutely at home with their church family and absolutely assured that this move was in the center of God’s plans for their lives. They were able to fly back home to Minnesota for seven days to be able to spend Christmas with both the Roth and Lindstrom families. Hooray!

Maverick’s Mommy and Daddy, Shonda and Johnathan Hall celebrated his second birthday and are pretty happy living life in the Air Force and in a well-equipped RV.

Jesse and Thomas’ Mommy and Daddy, Angel and Phillip Stanley, can hardly believe that Jesse is now in 1st grade and Thomas is in preschool. The whole Stanley clan had to say goodbye to Emma, one of their two cats, but it was a good teachable moment. Jesse celebrated Christmas Eve by noticing his first loose tooth.

While Dewey is ending this year in Job Transition Mode (having been laid off from his technical writing position since the end of June), he is still glowing from his first-ever gig as Santa. It was three hours filled with joy and laughter, and he’s already penciled-in for two dates in 2019. Debbie racked up a lot of accomplishments this year. Her book, DRENCHED: Only Hope in the Storm, was finished, published, launched with a couple fun events, and is now available through Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com, Redemption Press, and by contacting her directly. She passed another decade milestone birthday in September, and December 4th became 20 years cancer-free!

Life is a series of challenges and blessings. Friends and family are the hugs that help us get through the challenges and celebrate the blessings. And through it all, God is amazing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Roth Christmas Epistle 2017

 

Kelly Jo and Dustin Haug continue to work on their house in Saint Paul (that’s not it in the picture; that’s from their trip to the Black Hills) and are now raising chickens! Kelly Jo’s doula-ing (www.uffdadoula.com) is a blessing to families (if you or someone you know is expecting, check her out!), Dustin started his 10th year of teaching at the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, and Anawynn, AKA SweetCheeks, turned 4 at an Alice in Wonderland Party and started excelling at preschool this fall. Grandpa Dewey and Grandma Debbie are so happy to be able to spend time with Anawynn almost every Thursday.

Curtis and Abbey Roth made a major change this year. After two years at Crown College, they realized the rest of the degree program they were in would not really benefit them in the ministry they have a clear sense of calling for...so, while grateful for what they learned, they stopped sinking money into college, moved in with us, and started saving money to be able to move to New York City next May. Times Square is about to benefit from a prayer and worship ministry dedicated to praising God and letting individuals know that they are loved! And to answer your questions, yes, we love having them with us again, and no, we aren’t worried about them moving to NYC. It is clearly the Lord’s call for their lives right now, and He will supply their needs. Besides, Curtis lived there for several years and knows what they’re signing up for. We also welcomed into the household the beautiful puppy you see here, Zeke, who is being trained to be a good urban citizen.

Shonda and Johnathan Hall have settled into life at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. It seems like Johnathan just keeps getting promoted, and we are proud of the service he gives through the Air Force. Shonda loves the kids she cares for at the base’s early childhood center and is the best mommy ever to one-year-old Maverick! Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Dewey were SO happy to be able to spend Maverick’s birthday with him in late September and also enjoyed a day in San Francisco for Debbie’s birthday!

Angel and Phillip Stanley, are living the dream. Jesse started kindergarten this fall at the same school where Angel is the Reading Specialist, and about-to-be-four Thomas pretends to be shy except when he and his brother are wrestling with either Phil or Grandpa Dewey. Phil is still teaching art at Rosemount High School, where the students all think he’s pretty cool.

No big news for Dewey this year, other than being happy with the opening of a Skyline Chili in Fort Wayne...30 miles closer to Mom’s place than Anderson! He’s still blogging up a storm and invites you to check it all out at www.almostthetruth.com. Debbie, however, has gone from “learning about writing at Carol Kent’s Speak Up Conference” to “The Newest Author at Redemption Press”. It’s officially self-publishing, so the publisher’s expenses (for editing and coaching and featuring Debbie in a two-page spread of the program magazine for 25,000 ladies at the Women of Joy conferences) get paid upfront, instead of coming out of book sales. This means, of course, that Rest in Him Ministry is in fundraising mode again. You can find out more about that by clicking HERE.

In the midst of the presents this year, may you also experience His presence.

  

Roth Family Christmas Epistle 2016

 

Yahoo Yippity!

As you might be able to guess from this photo, Kelly Jo and Dustin Haug bought a house this year (making Gramma Debbie and Grampa Dewey very happy; roots are being placed)! In other news: Kelly Jo took the first steps of doula certification, has launched a website (www.uffdadoula.com), and has been blessed to serve six families. Dustin started his 9th year of teaching at the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists and performed in several dance productions, including in the Fringe Festival. Anawynn, AKA SweetCheeks, turned 3 at a Princess Party, where all the guests got to be royalty.

Study Break and Impromptu Meet-Up with Daddy Roth at the MOA

Curtis and Abbey Roth are halfway through their 2nd year at Crown College, in St. Bonifacius, MN, where they are majoring in international studies (with emphases on cross-cultural ministry and humanities, and minors in pastoral leadership and worship, respectively). If you would like to make a financial investment in the life of ministry these two are preparing for, please consider participating in their GoFundMe campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/curtisabbeyfund). Curtis continues his youth and worship work at a small church in town, while Abbey is making the best coffee in Chanhassen. They are already looking forward to the fall semester of 2017 when they plan to be both studying and serving in the Dominican Republic!

Shonda and Johnathan Hall had two major changes in their lives this year. They moved from Arkansas to Travis Air Force Base in Northern California, and then, just a few weeks later, on September 28th, they were blessed with the birth of their healthy, cute-as-all-get-out son, Maverick Ethan! Gramma Debbie was able to fly out for a 10-day visit...just long enough to fall in love and make it terribly hard to go back to the Sacramento airport for the flight home. Another treat was having Shonda in Minnesota over Memorial Day weekend for a baby shower and much-longed-for visit with siblings.

In the backyard, Jesse gives life a thumbs up

Angel and Phillip Stanley, having moved to Elko in 2015, had a less-eventful calendar year. Jesse started attending an interesting preschool this fall, where they spend the majority of their time outdoors, and then he turned five on December 4th. Thomas (turning three in a month-and-a-half: February 15) has really amped up his verbal skills and has gotten used to being in daycare without his big brother. While Phil is still teaching art at Rosemount High School, there has been one big change: after 12 years of teaching first grade, Angel accepted a position of Reading Specialist at her school, so now, instead of riding herd over a classroom all day, she is spending time with a series of small groups of students as they come to her for her Master’s-degree-level help.

Not sure what Marco is worried about, but Dewey is obviously happy to have married above his paygrade

In April, Dewey went from being on a 9-month contract to Permanent Big Shot Employee with Ricoh...very grateful for the steady income! Also in April (maybe in March...I don’t remember) Giant Step Theatre’s founding director, writer, and Life Force, Pete Martin, let us know he was retiring and that February 2016’s production of Wizard of Oz was his last. We still don’t know whether there’s any future for Giant Step...it would take 3 or 4 people to take Pete’s place, even IF we could find someone with the needed skill sets...but the free time in September and October felt kind of nice, to be honest. We even took a trip together in October out to Debbie’s siblings in Wyoming...first time in 3 years! Debbie went to the speaker’s training conference in Grand Rapids, MI again (and has already signed up for 2017, but in the writer’s track), and I was able to “work from home” at Mom’s house. What a pair of blessings. Debbie continues to seek (and accept) speaking and singing opportunities. Please suggest her to anyone planning a women’s retreat or event (http://www.restinhimministry.com). Dewey continues to write a pair of blogs, one inspirational, one humorous. Please suggest them to anyone who knows how to read (http://www.almostthetruth.com).

Be well. Be at peace. BeYOUtiful. May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be filled with the love of Christ and family.

Roth Family Christmas Epistle 2015

 

KELLY JO continues to nanny, but has added a new life goal: becoming a doula; providing physical and emotional support during and after childbirth. Husband DUSTIN, while still teaching dance with Zenon Dance Company, is back to teaching Chemistry, etc. at the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, this time as fully-licensed staff. Our only granddaughter, ANAWYNN, turned two in April and is just the most-adorable free spirit in Saint Paul.

CURTIS and ABBEY tied the knot in May, toured the western half of the U.S. on their honeymoon, moved in with us for a few months, and then began their joint educational adventure at Crown College, in St. Bonifacius, MN. They are excelling in their classes and keenly aware of their dependence on God for their living expenses. Abbey is a barista at a Starbucks in Chanhassen, and Curtis is providing youth ministry and worship leadership at a small church in town while also doing a few hours of PCA work a week. If you would like to make a financial investment in the life of ministry these two are preparing for, please consider participating in their GoFundMe campaign (now closed).

No major changes with SHONDA and JOHN. They are still living in Cabot, Arkansas, serving in the Air Force and working in child care. We were thrilled with their surprise attendance at Curtis and Abbey’s wedding, and are glad they had the opportunity to visit family and friends in Cincinnati over the Christmas holiday, in preparation for John’s forthcoming deployment the first of the year.

ANGEL and PHIL and JESSE (turned four December 4th) and THOMAS (turned one February 15) had a mini-adventure this year. They sold their house in Farmington and bought a beautiful, gee-now-we-have-room-to-grow place in Elko. It’s a shorter commute for Angel and a longer one for Phil, but the most exciting thing (for Jesse) is how close they are to the raceway! The whole gang got through a few weeks living with Phil’s parents with flying colors and are happily settling in.

36th Anniversary

DEWEY is now gainfully employed full-time, after 10 months of searching. God was surely chuckling under His breath as He arranged for the quickest hiring process in history during the final week of unemployment benefits. Not kidding...it went from a recruiter saying “may I put you in for this position?” to the manager saying “I’d like to offer you this job” in three days. Three days! It’s a contract position that ends in April, but there have been a couple interviews about a full-time position that’s being created. DEBBIE went to a speaker’s training conference in Grand Rapids, MI this summer and was extremely encouraged by the critiques received and contacts made. She is newly revived in spirit and ready for opportunities to speak or sing or both. Please suggest her to anyone planning a women’s retreat or event (http://www.restinhimministry.com).

THESE WISHES may be late, but they are sincere...may the comfort and joy that Jesus brought on the first Christmas be yours throughout the year!

Roth Family Christmas Epistle 2014

KELLY JO has been a nanny for three families this year, all while raising her own precious ANAWYNN, who turned one in April. Husband DUSTIN, having completed a second Masters degree, received his official Minnesota teaching license (yahoo yippity!) and also performed and toured with Arena Dances, a Minneapolis-based dance company. Debbie was overjoyed to be able to spend several Thursday evenings hanging out with Miss Anawynn while Mommy enjoyed being in one of Daddy's dance classes.

CURTIS had a major change in his life this year, making things official with ABBEY LINDSTROM and setting a wedding date for the first weekend in May 2015. He has also been accepted as a student at Crown College, in St. Bonifacius, MN, where he plans to major in cross-cultural ministry. We're still waiting to hear about Abbey's application at the same school. In any case, they plan to live here at the Roth Household until school starts in the fall. For the record, we think this gal is pretty sweet and will be a great partner in ministry (she is currently our church's worship intern).

SHONDA and JOHN are still...still living in Cabot, Arkansas; still serving in the Air Force and working in child care; still enjoying their dog, Rocky. Editor's Note: Don't blame me for this picture; it's what Shonda sent me. Apparently, John still doesn't get too excited about having his picture taken. GO REDS!

ANGEL and PHIL and JESSE (who just turned three on December 4th) welcomed the newest member of the Stanley Clan on February 15, THOMAS ELLIOT. All the adjustments and sacrifices it takes when a new baby comes home to stay have been more than made up for with the little man's happy demeanor. And those brothers really love each other. Mommy and Daddy are still teaching (1st grade and high school art, respectively) and are grateful for the two-week Christmas break this year.

DEWEY and DEBBIE had both highs and lows this year, as we're sure everyone else has, too.

LOWS: In July, Dewey's dad suddenly passed away. You can read his take on it all in these two blog posts from Almost the Truth (http://www.almostthetruth.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-king-is-dead-long-live-king.html) and Truth Is... (http://deweytruth.blogspot.com/2014/08/live-on-dad.html) Also, Dewey's job as a technical writer for the world's 2nd-largest computer network came to a close on September 30th. Harris IT Services lost their bid to become prime contractor with the Department of Defense, so the whole team was laid off. 'Twas an honor to be Last Man Standing after everyone else left in phases, but the result is the same: looking for a position in corporate communications or technical writing.

HIGHS: Debbie got word that she will be a speaker/singer/worship leader for the Lake James (IN) Area Women's Retreat; something she has wanted to do for some time (http://www.restinhimministry.com). And we got our own addition to the family in the form of MARCO, a Pom-Chi born September 9th. Mom is a Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix, and Dad is a teacup Chihuahua, so he's a cute little guy that doesn't eat much.

OUR WARMEST WISHES for a comfort that's deeper than circumstances and a New Year that's full of the joy of Jesus in your hearts!

Roth Family Christmas Epistle 2013

KELLY JO (24) – The milestones this year were the birth of Anawynn Cecil in April (after 50 hours of labor!) and the wedding to Dustin in June (a beautiful outdoor ceremony, at which it didn't rain until the clean-up was over and Dewey shut the car's trunk). Kelly Jo is now nanny for just one family, with two children, plus caring for Anawynn. An excellent situation. Not so excellent was Dustin's teaching position being lost at the end of the school year, but he has been able to be busily substituting in the schools and teaching dance, with a few performance pieces to boot.

CURTIS (26) – A short-term missions trip to Romania in late June was an amazing experience. The loss of his soon-to-become-a-manager position at a local restaurant was not so amazing, but Curtis was able to see it as God's way of steering him into some kind of Christian ministry/leadership...whether it leads to vocational ministry or what is often referred to as "tentmaking" (working a "secular" job while performing spiritual service in volunteer positions) remains to be seen.

SHONDA (30) – John and Shonda were able to attend and help out with Kelly Jo and Dustin's wedding in June, and it was wonderful being able to spend a little time with Daughter Number Two after far too long. December saw an addition to their family...a 4-year-old German Shepherd named Rocky. He's retired from his service as a bomb-sniffer and has been very active giving their Arkansas home a thorough checking.

ANGEL (33) –is in the middle of her 10th year of teaching first grade, but won't be completing it...she and Phil are expecting a little brother for Jesse in late February. Jesse turned two December 4th, and liked the idea of people singing to him and giving him things! ( A week or two later, when Dewey started singing "their" song - ♪♪♫ I love you forever; I like you for always ♫♫♪ - Jesse said, "Birthday...done...Papaw.")

DEBBIE – January marked the 15th anniversary of working as an aid with disabled young adults in the school district’s Transition Plus program.  Also, Debbie is still spreading hope and encouragement through her speaking and singing ministry, Rest in Him. (Now's the time to get her scheduled for 2014. More info at http://www.restinhimministry.com) While she still enjoys vocal coaching members of a special needs choir and working with Giant Step Theatre, being a Grandma is the best and fills her with joy.

DEWEY – Added another hat/plate-to-spin this year. Let's see now...1) Technical Writer @ Harris IT Services (a position that may or may not last through 2014); 2) Actor/Choreographer/Acting Coach with Giant Step Theatre and the Dakota Chautauqua; 3) Humor Blogger for Almost the Truth at http://www.AlmostTheTruth.blogspot.com; 4) Spiritual Blogger for Truth is... at http://www.DeweyTruth.blogspot.com ; and now, to be able to make car payments on a vehicle to replace the one that died in March; 5) Key Holder/Sales Associate at Lifeway Christian Store in Burnsville.

Life continues to happen at the rate of 60 seconds per minute. Our hope is that your minutes will be filled with purpose and joy and comfort from the One who invented time and whose birth the calendar revolves around.