God has been so faithful to us through all of the highs and lows of 2022!
We have seen extreme lows and battled through situations we never imagined. We have visited doctors, pharmacists, tutors, and counselors more than we could ever desire.
We have danced on mountaintops, trusted in the valleys, taken family trips out of state, explored Alabama, hosted friends and family, and put down roots where God has planted us.
Nate helped launch a brand new department in Praying Pelican Missions, seeing pastors around the world being cared for and encouraged 365 days a year and launching two brand new locations (Peru and Kenya). He also began serving in the youth group at our church and is enjoying being involved in the ministry that all three of our teenagers are active and engaged in.
Laura continued her part-time job at PPM, providing administrative support to different departments. She was also able to serve in Hawaii for 10 days with Reagan. In March, she also took up the sport of tennis, which she has enjoyed way more than she thought she would (and is good at too!)
Darrell was moved to Fort Drum in upstate New York after graduation from Basic Training in February. Much to our delight, he was able to come home for 2 weeks over the holidays.
Reagan began her senior year, decided to not play soccer this year so she could have more time to spend doing other things, was named co-president of FCA in her high school, and served in Honduras and Hawaii.
Abbi tried Cross Country for the first time (her team made it to the state meet!), continued playing soccer, pet-sits a lot for our neighbors, and has pressed in closer to God for her security and identity.
By the grace of God and lots of prayer, Malachi has made a big turn around from the beginning of the year and is doing much better. He tried Cross Country for the first time and came in first or second place in almost every meet, made the basketball team, and made the soccer team that starts this winter.
Isaiah cut off all of his curls and has grown them back out again. He has faced some challenges in school this year, but has worked really hard and made progress with the help of tutoring. He played soccer in the spring and fall and loved every minute of it.
Nate's parents moved down here temporarily for the school year. It has been so great to have family nearby for a season!
We Normans are marching into 2023 shouting from Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" With many unknowns on the horizon, we are getting ready! Ready for what? Reagan will be graduating from high school this year, Nate will be sharing PPM365 in USA churches and traveling more this year internationally (including Mexico, Peru, Kenya, and who knows where else!). We will continue to plant deep roots here in Alabama through serving in our church, community, and beyond. Reagan and Abbi will be traveling to Honduras with our church's youth, Malachi will be playing soccer with his first school team and Reagan will start her freshmen year in college...all in 2023.
We won't shrink back, we won't be silent. We will be about our Father's business serving others. It may not be all rainbows and roses along the journey, but our God is so great and faithful to us. We owe Him our all and are thankful for those whom we call friends and family throughout this journey.
God bless you as we all prepare our hearts for what God has for us in 2023!
