Greetings from the Jeschke clan! We send our warmest
wishes for a joyous Christmas season and a blessed New Year! We had hoped for a
calmer year, but 2017 brought its share of challenges & blessings. Some of
our biggest challenges/sorrows: both my son Mark & I (Melanie) had to undergo appendectomies (with the same surgeon
but in different months); I also endured artificial knee replacement the end of
May; and during my hospitalization, my dear mother Betty, who had suffered from Alzheimer’s, entered hospice
care. She peacefully went to Glory on June 1, with her devoted husband of 68
years Earl by her side, holding her
hand. Among her last words were a
recitation of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus!” Her older sister Margie followed
her 6 weeks later. Earl has moved to
an assisted living facility nearby us; at nearly 93, he is sadly declining and
in need of frequent care. We were also sorry to have Scott & Eliza move away to LA in May, but are excited to see
how God will use Scott’s talents in the film industry there. Our biggest
blessings: welcoming grandson Mark
Devereux, Jr. (Mark & Beth’s
2nd), on June 11; and the weddings of our two youngest: Brendan to Annie Luther on August 12 and Kevin
to Kirsten Mendelsohn on Dec. 2.
Right before Brendan’s wedding, he
was able to join me in Oxford for the triennial C.S. Lewis Oxbridge conference,
where I conducted “Inklings” walking tours on my new knee. Brendan is now serving the youth at The King’s Chapel (TKC)
fulltime. Kevin graduated this month
from the Prince William Police Academy, and we are so proud to have a police
officer in the family. We are now (at last:) officially empty-nesters!!! Raising
these nine wonderful children has been our greatest joy, and we are so blessed
that they are all following the Lord and are involved in ministry. Bill is especially glad to have Brendan and Mark serving alongside him at TKC,
sharing the burdens and blessings of our wonderful church family.
We are grateful for
our times together with family and friends, and look forward to hearing from
you, dear ones, over the holidays. May the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Christ, our Savior and Lord, be born anew in our hearts
today! Merry Christmas! God bless us, every one!
Many blessings,
Melanie,
Bill, & the Jeschke clan
