As we look back upon the year Twenty Twenty-Four,
Now it’s time to wrap up all this year had in store…
We started the year with subzero temps
While half of us escaped on a Honduras mission trip
Crowder and Cain made the Winterjam scene
On Valentine’s Day, David aged to eighteen.
At Congress Levi acted as 4-H State Rep.
In archery Isaac shot his best arrow yet.
Local hikes: Rock Island and Fall Creek Falls
And Narrows of the Harpeth, a tunnel waterfall.
At Crater of Diamonds we dug for some gems;
Camped at Daisy State Park in Arkansas and then
We set off to Oklahoma to see Brandy’s family,
Tent camping at Doris and climbing Mount Baldy.
We hiked Heart Rock, Slick Rock, and Quanah Parker Dam
And toured Fort Sill’s Artillery Museum.
After David’s graduation, Stephen started Oak Ridge
Enzyme lab research was his summer gig.
For Isaac’s tenth birthday, there was a wild west theme.
We sang with KidZ Choir and eXalt Choir teens.
Stephen turned twenty-one. We toured AMSE.
David started Tenn Tech. His major? E.E.
We joined a small co-op called Expedition Earth.
Poultry Judging & Chick Chain showed what chickens are worth.
In “Cross Behind the Curtain” the two youngest portrayed
An annoying tourist and underground Christian betrayed.
Other things that we did? We camped at Defeated.
Campfires and kayaks and bike rides oft repeated.
At Lost River Cave we road a boat in the dark
And watched a Blue Star dedication at Aviation Heritage Park.
The first of December Levi aged to sixteen —
One step closer to operating earth-moving machines.
In mid-December a graduation gift for S. & D.
An intense 3-day trip to Big Island Hawaii
Where we snorkeled at Kahalu’u, hiked to Papakolea Green Sands
And trekked 25 miles across volcanoes and lands.
We drove to the place where lava meets sea,
Hiked into a caldera, Kīlauea Iki,
Devastation Trail and Nāhuku – Thurston Lava Tube,
Lots of beaches and parks and waterfalls, too!
Although we neglected to “cuddle a cow,”
We did visit the historic Pu’ukoholā Heiau
(And a place of refuge called Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau).
We beheld Waipiʻo Valley and Pololū Overlook
And at Kealakekua Bay, a monument to Captain Cook.
At one time fifty states seemed so far out of reach,
But we finished it up with Honaunau’s “Two-Step” Beach.
Although we enjoyed making memories this year
We also waded through a deep valley of tears.
This fall we mourned the loss of Isaac’s best friend
And said goodbye to Brandy’s mom over Thanksgiving weekend.
And even though dementia had stolen her words
“I love you” — a miracle, the last words Brandy heard.
As we continue to press forward through sorrow and grief,
We rest in God’s promise and this one belief:
God sent His Son, well-acquainted with sorrows
A babe that would hold all our todays and tomorrows.
From a manger to a cross, he died for each sin.
He broke the power of death, the third day rose again.
So we rest in this hope, He will dry every tear
And we’ll worship him forever with all those we hold dear.
May God bless you this Christmas and in the coming year,
Gary, Brandy, Stephen, David, Levi, and Isaac Ferrell
He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:3-4