Life is full of sunsets and sunrises, hellos and goodbyes, joys and sorrows. Ecclesiastes 3 says, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven..."  February has been such a month at CRC. On Monday, February 3rd, the President of CRC's Board, Sharon Brown, went home to be with our Lord. Sharon and her family have been a part of CRC since its inception and, because of that, she was able to bring to our meetings CRC's rich history, heart, and vision to bear on the decisions made. Sharon was steadfast in holding a unwavering course with a heart of compassion for missions, our guests, and staff. She will be greatly missed.

     A beautiful Memorial Service in celebration of Sharon's life was held here at CRC's Main Lodge, enclosed by the big snow storm that hit that weekend. Thanks to staff member Bryan Rutschman, our one mile gravel road was better plowed and more passable than all of Highway 214! Tim began the service with a time of worship, former CRC Director Terry Yarbrough shared a brief history of Sharon's life, and CRC Board member, Pastor Jim Holm, gave an inspiring message on the biblical truth that "We do not grieve as those who have no hope." The family then shared their stories and love followed by a slide show. The service ended with the reading of a poem that Sharon's mom Dorothy Wagner wrote, 'Where are the Flowers'.

     The same day that we said "Goodbye" to Sharon as she passed into heaven, we experienced an amazing "Hello" to Brandon James, the newborn son I gave up for adoption twenty-nine years ago, and whose birth was the means by which I came to Christ. Brandon contacted me on Facebook on that same Monday that Sharon passed away and, on the following Saturday after Sharon's Memorial Service, I met Brandon Clearwater for the first time. It was snowing the last time I said good-bye to Brandon in the hospital twenty-nine years ago, and it was snowing that day as I walked down the road, alone, to meet him as he drove up the final mile of our road from the Seattle area.

I cannot begin to share the elation and the grace given in the first meeting between us, family, and friends. Our family and CRC staff welcomed him with open hands and hearts, and I was overwhelmed with the goodness of God. Before Brandon left that weekend he left me a copy of one of his favorite books with this in the flyleaf, "...I went on my own adventure, as did you and now we get to share them as though we never parted..."  I believe that is how it will also be when those we love in Christ have gone on to heaven before us when we first get to meet with them again. Great will be our joy!

     That Sunday, since most services were cancelled due to snow, all of the CRC staff gathered together for home church and we had such an amazing time of fellowship. Bryan led worship and Tim opened up our time to have everyone share what God was teaching them that week. Some people pulled out Bibles and read scripture. It was so beautiful to see the unity and love for the Lord and for each other as we encouraged and exhorted one another in the faith.

     Last weekend we had a wonderful time at our Sweetheart Weekend. Our speakers, the Lutes, shared with great vulnerability the tragic loss of their son and the triumph of God's healing and leading. They were an amazing example of walking through suffering with the Lord. As the devil desires to sift us all in this life, how desperately we need to know that God is with us. We don't walk alone, God holds our hand.

     Our banquet dinner for the couples was called, "All Things Asian".  We traveled to the orient with d�cor by Lori, assisted by staff and a large crew of volunteers, and Asian cuisine by Peter, staff and those same beloved volunteers.

On the menu, for starters, was Mango Bubble tea, wonton soup, a Thai cucumber salad and delicious red curry-ginger bread.

The main dish was salmon and chicken in a Thai coconut-lime sauce served in banana leaf boats, and a rice noodle and vegetable stir fry. To top it all off, there was an Asian style "Opera" cake. It was multi-layered with a ginger sauce, matcha buttercream frosting and topped with a white chocolate mousse and served with Oolong tea.  A culinary delight!

L-R (Back row)-Yuriy, Josiah, Liza. L-R( Front row)- Ben, Benai, Peter and Lori R., Abigail, Allegra, Lila, Teresa, Oleseya, Liliya, Evnika, and Ian. (not pictured- Yuliya)

      Mingled with regular staff, Peter and Lori Riegelmann, Josiah Hansen and Ian Bates, are our volunteers for the weekend consisting of former staff members, Ben Huntford and Abigail Swayze; our good friends, The Sivyy family - Oleseya, Yuliya, Liliya, Yuriy, Liza  and their friends, Evnika Grigoryev (who has volunteered before) and her brother, Benai; Allegra Thatcher; Lila Pattison; and Teresa Maldonado, all of whom also volunteer occasionally. We are SO VERY THANKFUL for them. What a blessing! They are all hard workers and very creative! Most of the volunteers not only worked in the kitchen, but also helped decorate and serve! If you see these young people around CRC, volunteering, please give them a big pat on the back. 

Bryan and Becky Rutschman topped off dinner with singing love songs. It was an enchanting evening in every way. We had so much fun we are already planning next year, with the possibility of having a Russian theme! We hope to see you there as you won't want to miss it.

      In closing, my prayer is, as we walk through the many and varied seasons in our life, that God's love and hope would be branded on our hearts as we run to Him, 'the author and finisher of our faith'.

All for Jesus,

Julie Hansen