November & December, 1992

LANYON FAMILY NEWS

The Time has come to

CHANGE OUR ADDRESS Effective October 21, 1992

Our New Address

47 Long Hill Street

East Hartford, CT 06108

203/ 528-7205

GREETINGS

Special thanks goes out to each one of you who have prayed for us. Thank you for your letters too. We trust that these months of special holidays and family get togethers will have special significance for you. It will certainly be so for us, for which we will have much to thank God for. Why? That is "the rest of the story!"

GROWTH

It seems that Christian Growth is accomplished in a slow way over a long period of time. We thank God for His gracious patience and work in our lives.

Our Growth of Needful Possessions is more obvious. Many things have been given to us which we felt worthy of keeping, but these have reduced quite a bit of the living space in our apartment. To cope, Chris has "wise"ly (pardon puns!) packed and repacked, boxed and re-boxed, and moved and removed things all along.

Family Growth, God-willing, is coming. In January, we discovered we were expecting after returning from a Colorado trip. However, Chris had a miscarriage 2 months later. God comforted our hearts, and we are expecting a so-far very healthy baby in late January, 1993.

Business Growth has testified to us the faithfulness of God in the midst of a lingering recession which has been especially hard on the New England area. Office and some residential cleaning occupies Pat's evenings and Saturdays -- this has kept the bills paid. Floor-finishing, carpet and upholstery cleaning and window cleaning have sporadically given us what we call "Work Orders." Making a living on this kind of work is not as certain and requires more faith. It also requires loading and unloading the van for each different kind of work.

For such GROWTH we felt it was time to pray and act toward the goal of buying a house with a two-car garage to use for meeting the needs of our family and for work.

Since before 1987 we have gladly supported our church building program. In December, 1989, we moved into our new church building, which was built debt-free.

King David was told by the Lord in 1 Chronicles 17:10-12

Furthermore I tell you that the LORD will build you a house. And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be one of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

King David's response was given in verses 16, 17, 23, 24

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: "Who am I O LORD God? And what is my HOUSE, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; ... And now, O LORD, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning HIS HOUSE, let it be established forever, and do as You have said. So let it be established, THAT YOUR NAME MAY BE MAGNIFIED FOREVER. ...

It is our prayer that what God is doing this month will result in a great magnification of His name:

On September 9, 1992 we made an offer on a home which was accepted without a counter offer! We received our loan approval on October 16. And then asked for a closing on Wednesday, the day I've taken as a family day each week, October 21.

The man who is selling the property and house has shown great spiritual interest, and he even came to a couple church services. He was greatly encouraged to sell the "family house" to a family he felt would keep it as nice as he had. For over a year he had been preparing it for his daughter to live in, but she decided not to remain separated from her husband.

It is only one mile from our present apartment, and about the same distance from our church as we now live! God has provided help in a qualifying down-payment for the house. We thank God for this most gracious kindness to His undeserving servants.

GRANDPARENTS

Grandma Wise was with us for a while. We are not sure if she entertained David or if David entertained her! Much joy and love overflowed in our house during her days here, and we are thankful for such a helpful Grandma.

Grandpa and Grandma Lanyon came for their second trip ever to Ct and stayed 3 weeks in August. Though Pat was busy with his work schedule, it was a very enjoyable time. David, who did not talk at all over the phone, amazed them with much talk. He also sang Christian songs he has heard on tape each night before bed, and of course his "A B C s" song Chris has taught him -- all to the great delight of Grandma and Grandpa!

DADDY'S BOY

David must open and close the door for him when he comes in! He stays until Daddy's van is out of sight before going in. A bike ride to the park with dad brings overwhelming joy. What a joy to hear "please" and "thank you" -- now with less and less prompting! But Dad and Mom still find reasons often to rely on God and His wisdom to train him in "the way that he should go" (Pr. 22:6).

Our Kindest Wishes Flow Out to You and Yours!

Pat, Chris and David LANYON