Christmas Letter 2015, The J Fulks

     Happy New Year! We think of family and friends often and have enjoyed hearing from many of you. Thank you. When you think of us, here is the lean review of our 2015.
     Our third grandchild’s birth was THE top highlight of the year. Diane was present for sweet Isla’s birth to our daughter Shayna while Jeff was in El Salvador on a missions trip. Isla met the world on March 2nd, an 8½-lb. smiler. She studies her two big brothers’ every move. Crawling is now conquered, and she begins to walk, grabbing all furniture. 

     Grandson Jackson turned 5 exactly 5 days ago; Will is 2½. For Halloween, the 3 "littles" dressed up as Iron man, The Hulk, and Super girl. But, we think Will’s heart is still with another superhero, as he regularly wears his 2014 Buzz Light-year costume. Their daily play times at the YMCA will no doubt keep them lean.
     Our August vacation was a quick get-away to Miami to celebrate a milestone of 120 combined years of life. Walks on the beach and spending a day with Diane’s high school Buddy Mary were better than visiting the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls. Over 20 years apart melted after the first 15 minutes together.

Miami Bike

Hostess Mary introduced us to a variety of Amazing Race sights, like her Everglades alligator friends (better than Shark Tank friends any day) and to crab shack meals. Thank you for tirelessly working with (former Haitian refugee) students. We’ll keep sending our box tops Teacher Mary’s way.

     Jeff's almost 81-year-old Mom continues to do well. 2015 family visitors to her nearby home included Jeff's overseas Brother Ron and other family members. Five extended visits to Chicago yielded Diane opportunities to savor time with Aunt Bettye, Sister Elaine, and Brother Brian's family.

     High-tech gizmos are a daily part of our lives. These new and exciting items impact our overall health:

• First is the electric toothbrush, firmly prescribed by our dental assistant (yes, we consider ourselves early adopters). Hopefully our teeth will last decades longer than the 6-month life span of a toothbrush head.
• With our two grown children living hundreds of miles away, we were finally coerced into our second technology. The iPhone and its FaceTime feature. (Jeff was holding-out his hopes that a Windows phone with Skype would more than suffice.) Diane’s day could not start any better than to receive a “little’s” FaceTime call. Diane dabbles in using iFeatures, like Notes, the Calendar, and (more than necessary) Photo Editing functions.
• The third technology, introduced to us just this Christmas by Favorite Oklahoma Son Nathan, is the Fitbit family. In yet another way, Jeff needs to stop using his Windows phone as a tracker. One added bonus is the Fitbit’s ability to track our sleep behaviors. We say we had a bad night’s sleep and now have clear proof of the claim on the tracker.

     Our lives continue to lean-in, lean-out, and maintain leanness. Diane has almost daily afternoon walks (sometimes with neighbors, many times not) and Jeff heads out with almost daily morning runs (now sans bulky phone). Diane continues as a homesteading and intensely artsy Facebook fanatic and thrift store shopper, who every so often temps at Evangel University. We attentively follow the 4 reality TV shows that are italicized in the other paragraphs of this letter.
     We are glad that 2015 is over! It was a fine year in many ways, but overall colored with frustration and disappointment. One down[ton Abbey] blow was to Jeff’s Evangel responsibilities, transitioning to his original role of 22 years ago at the University… to enlarge minds and help teach students to think and problem-solve. With God’s mercy and help, Jeff will be a Survivor with Diane included in his alliance. In this one move, Jeff's busy work calendar becomes leaner with the removal of 7 committees and teams from his university responsibilities.
     In 2016 we hope to continue to be mindful of the importance of removing extra weights and burdens that may entangle us and discover new opportunities. We hold to faith (and cradle Grandbaby Isla Faith) knowing our true strength, source, and song. We lean not on our own understanding, but look to God’s wisdom and direction.
     May the Lord’s face shine on you and your family as you leap through this New Year. Enjoy the extra day in February, find unscheduled time, and seize the opportunities to which you are presented.

Love, Jeff & Diane