Dear Family,
Thank you for all the love and joy that you showered on me on Saturday, November 5th, as we all gathered at Brandy and Tracy's home in Wilmore, Kentucky, to celebrate my 60th Birthday. That was an appropriate place to meet, because it was in Wilmore (Asbury College Campus) that I met Judy Ripley (Believe It or Not) on Oct. 6, 1966.
The longer I live the more I realize that if you "cook life down" to the basic essentials, it's all about "Faith and Family", "Heaven and Home". Loving God and loving one another is the real stuff of life that outlasts all other stuff. We love you all so very much, and I am so proud to call you "Family", the most "familiar" people in my life.
Special thanks to Judy (The Bride of My Youth), and to Lori, Tracy and Brandy and Ali-Hope and Anna Grace for all the planning and preparation that went into the beautiful day with all of you. This time next year, we will have our 3rd granddaughter, as Brandy and Tracy will be going to China in March, and bringing home their adopted daughter, Abigail Joy. The Lord is so wonderful in "enlarging the territory" of our family.
During this beautiful Thanksgiving Season, I remember a song from my childhood: "Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go...". I'm happily married now to Grandmother, or "GiGi" as the kids call her. Now, Judy and I are the Matriarch and Patriarch of the Family. On Saturday, I missed my Mom and Dad and Judy's Mom and Dad so much, but God takes care of all those whom we love and place into His keeping.
In Christ, Who Brings the Very Best People into Our Lives,
Terry and Judy Faris (Papaw and GiGi)
