Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings to you this blessed holiday season! I pray you are
well and that the counting of your blessings in November has laid the ground
for increased joy in December while we celebrate the birth of Christ our Savior.
This wonderful season gives us a much-needed time of pause that enables us to
reflect on all that has happened over the year. In those reflections, it’s
interesting to see what weighs heaviest for us—the trying times, or the good of
the times. We all have both every year. It’s easy to get weighed down by the
things of this world and the incredibly unstable times we currently live in--but
take heart! Though life in this world is a topsy turvy ride, the one constant
that matters most is still very present and ever true. Jesus is the same
yesterday and today and forever—Hebrews 13:8. Counted blessing #1—His mercies are new
every morning!
Though employment has changed much in recent times, we are
thankful that the men of the house still have their jobs and are doing well in
them. Kellogg continues to be the employer who stretches and grows John’s
abilities as they wrestle with company expansion during the supply and demand
issues of our current time. John is eyeball deep in numbers all day long and is
the numerical puzzle master as the Forecast & Sales Analyst for the company.
Chick Fil A continues to stretch and grow both Jozsef and Nikolas as they learn
to best flux with the daily changes of employee shortages during high customer
demand. Both boys have done incredibly well and have been blessed with leadership
positions. Despite the growing pains, we still attest to them having the best
location and team to work with. While Jozsef is continuing to work towards his
seminary degree, Nikolas is taking a gap year this school season to better lay
the education and career path before him. Blessing #2--Employment
The school setting and lifestyle may have changed for
countless students this year, but our students are thankful to press on in the
security of a homeschool routine many years in the making. Connor, now in high
school, is most enjoying science and good literature. Sonja, now in junior
high, is appreciating her step up in social circles but is still grappling with
the higher demand of scholastics in this tier. Riley, a sixth grader, is kind
of feeling like he’s floating in middle ground—he’s finishing elementary school
this year but he’s on hold for all the “cool” things he’ll be able to
participate in during junior high. However,
he’s doing quite well in school and is enjoying reading much more and it’s been
great to see him grasp bigger concepts across the board which allows for us to
dive deeper into conversations and concepts, and that’s exciting. Hannah, a
fourth grader, is blossoming at her own rate which is not surprising and
completely historic for her. 😊 We
plug along and meet her where she is. For as challenging as it can be, there is
great reward in watching her hit a new marker with success. She is absolutely
making progress, and for that we are thankful. Blessing #3—Home Education
Hudson and Charlotte have been with us a year now. They are
healthy, happy, and a great addition to the household. Hudson is a gentle soul
who loves close proximity, exploring the scents of the outside world, and playtime.
Charlotte is our watch dog. She alerts us of all sights and sounds that are not
of the normal routine. She’s high energy and loves to run and play. They get
along very well and can play together for hours at a time—oh the puppy days! 😊
We often reflect on how Hudson and Charlotte came to us, and their unexpected
story still leaves us in awe and gratitude for their placement here. Blessing
#4—Animal Companions
As for me, I’m predictably in the middle of the mix. I am wearing several hats daily while trying
to impart the how-to knowledge of tasks, tradition, good character, and strong
faith onto the up-and-comings of the household. It’s truly a never-ending job
that causes me my own growing pains, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything and
is only truly carried out by the grace of God. These are my people and I love
them dearly. Blessing #5--Family
Who knows, but God, what the next year holds? And who better
than God to know it and hold it all? Come what may, I pray hope is greater than
fear for us all, as we are called to live not in a spirit of fear but rather to
live as courageous. And courageous we
should be as we walk in the way and security of the Lord. The Lord is the
one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail or forsake you.
Do not fear or be dismayed--Deuteronomy 31:8.
Now, if you are reading this and cannot relate to the security of
living in Christ, I’d be remiss to pass up this moment and not be clear that
Jesus came for sinners (we’re all sinners) and He sacrificed himself, in love,
that all who believe may live beyond this life, in heaven rather than spending
eternity in hell. The bible is clear, that
if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in
your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with
the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation—Romans 10: 9-10
(emphasis mine). So, there it is—you now have your personal “how-to” in
salvation. This is your eternity and He’s invested in it. He made a way, you
must act on it, and I pray you do. Blessing #6--Salvation
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so
that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the
glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of
His power toward us who believe—Ephesians 1:18-19. Peace be with you.
Merry Christmas from the Bartoks
John, Gina, Jozsef, Nikolas, Connor, Sonja, Riley, and
Hannah
