Dear Friends

Greetings to our "dear special people" who have touched our lives through the years. We do hope that the year 2006 has brought some wonderful memories into your lives.
Our children are all doing well. Leah and Todd Beaver teach in Bolivar, TN. Todd is a high school math teacher and Leah teaches the 3rd grade. They both enjoy working and beautifying their home and land in their spare time.
Jenny and Robert Johnson are a very busy couple as a team. They recently bought a new house in Columbia, TN. Jenny is the Pre-school Director at Columbia Academy where she runs a tight ship with 125 pre-school children and 15 teachers. Robert teaches Spanish and is the Jr. High football coach.
Tim and Lee Ann Childers stay busy with their jobs. Tim has recently taken a new job in Columbia, TN and will be a Project Coordinator helping adults with limited abilities. Lee Ann enjoys her work as a caseworker at the West Tennessee Children's Home.
Our children have blessed us with five precious grandchildren who are healthy and growing. The two children of Leah and Todd Beaver are Anna Beth who is six years old and Trace who is four. Anna Beth is a blonde, with big blue eyes like her Mom. She loves horses and hopes to have one of her own in the near future. Trace likes frogs and especially dinosaurs. They love to go camping with their parents.
The three children of Robert and Jenny Johnson are Zachary who is thirteen years old, Zane is seven and Zoe is four. Zach plays football, basketball, and already has the girls "turning their heads." Zane is the artist in the family. He is also a very fast runner and plays football very well. Zoe is the "drama queen" in the family. She loves her dolls, cheerleading, dressy up, and being a ballerina. They all five love to come to Dat and Nana's house. A special treat they enjoy is Nana's homemade biscuits.
Tom is dealing with some serious back problems at the present time. A recent MRI indicated he has a bulging disc and a fractured and slipped disc. To avoid back surgery, he is taking thirty-six treatments in Jackson and exercising two hours each day. The back pain has slowed him down some but he is still is working with the Southside church of Christ in Dresden,TN and does other part-time duties for Freed-Hardeman. He has completed 65 hours toward an 85 hour Master of Divinity degree at FHU. He has been invited to teach at FHU next fall.
As for Carole, she continues her work as the voice of FHU. She is the Welcome Center Coordinator at Freed-Hardeman University. She has several college students who assist her and they keep her young.
Tom and Carole have been very busy taking care of Carole's dad, Waitstill L. Day. On Dec. 7, 2005, Mr. Day moved from his home in Ripley, MS to Southern Oaks Assisted Living in Henderson. He adjusted quite well, but in August he had an urinary tract infection and was hospitalized for several days. In a matter of days, he went from being very active to being confined to a wheel chair. For three months he was in skilled nursing in Henderson and his health continued to decline. He is now living in Morningside of Jackson, TN which is about twenty miles north of Henderson. He is content there and we are very pleased with the care he is receiving. He is now walking with the aid of a walker. We are so thankful that we have him close by. He will be 90 years old next September.
We treasure the precious memories we have of our relationship of years gone by. While distance and busy schedules may keep us apart, we think of you often. For 2007, our prayer is that "above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3 John 2). And by all means, if you are in the Henderson area, come by and see us.

Tom and Carole
Note: The above was mailed to friends we have made in the Lord's church in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana.

THE POOR HOUSE

It was several miles down the road from where we lived when I was a teenager. It was a big, rundown, white house. I never got close to it, but we all knew what it was. It was called the “poor house.” It was operated by the county for destitute old people. It was the place where old folks went when no one loved them or they did not have a family that could take care of them. It was considered a disgrace to put a relative in the poor house. Sometimes people would kid about times getting so bad that they would probably have to go to the poor house. They were only kidding because no one wanted to go to the poor house.

Some people, especially older people, tend to confuse modern nursing home care with the poor house. For that reason some older people who live in their own house and are not able to take care of themselves would rather die of malnutrition than to go to the nursing home. One of the hardest things to get people to accept is the importance and need to get good nursing home care. The poor-house syndrome causes many people to be filled with guilt about putting their relatives in a nursing home. However, the poor house of years ago and the modem nursing care are not the same.

(1). The poor house was only for destitute, abandoned people who had no one who could care for them. The nursing home is a place where loving relatives are encouraged to visit and support their relatives. (2). The poor house provided the minimal of care for the resident. The facilities were not adequate, the personal was not trained very well, and the place was little more than a holding station until death came. On the other hand, the nursing home has modern facilities like any modem home. The personal is well trained in health and social needs. There are religious services conducted on a regular basis. Usually there is a program director that has activities planned for the residents that can make life enjoyable. (3). The poor house did not cost the resident anything. In contrast, the care provided in a nursing home can be very expensive.

Almost all who wear the name of Christ want the very best care for aging relatives who can no longer care for themselves. It is a proven fact that residents in our modern nursing home care will live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

The Bible says children and family members have the responsibility of taking care of aged parents (1 Timothy 5:4; James 1:27). How this command is fulfilled is a matter of judgment. If a family can care of the aged in their private home, this is well and good. On the other hand, if we choose to seek the services of trained professionals to aide us, then we are free to select that method.

Above all, we are to love, honor, and always seek the good of our parents and near relatives, even if the choices are sometimes painful.

Tom L. Childers

WAMPUM
Christmas, he come soon now. Holly and mistletoe all over. White man make big medicine. Advertise in newspaper. Spend much wampum. Squaw, she go buy every place. Wrap in bright color. Tie with red string. Go next day, buy more. Papoose all time talk Santa Claus come down chimney. Talk north pole. Talk reindeer. Go hang up stocking.

Brave, he fuss! Say spend too much wampum! Say “What good Christmas, when wampum all gone? How pay tax if go no wampum left?” Say, “How pay bill without wampum?”

Squaw, she no listen! Buy more! Buy for papa, buy for other squaw. Buy more all time! She think wampum grow on tree! Papoose no listen either. Talk more Santa Claus. Talk more chimney! Talk more north pole. Can’t go sleep! Drive Brave nuts! Ask how Santa Claus get down chimney.

Brave fuss more. Tell squaw she headed for poor house. Tell papoose he headed for jail. Tear hair! Jump up and down! Cry! No good! Squaw bring home more package. Wrap half night. Package under bed, package in closet, package all over. Can’t walk for package! Papoose play Santa Claus. Get stuck in chimney. Squaw have fit! Everybody have fit! Christmas, he no good.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

The Director of Nursing at Morningside evaluated Mr. Day today and decided it would be better for him to be in the Memory Gardens wing which is for Alzheimer and dementia residences. It was not so much due to his memory, but because he would be in closer quarters which would provide him with easier access to the dining hall and other people. Carole and I plan to move him to the other wing Tuesday morning. Please remember us in prayer.

Tom

I received the report on my MRI which I had last week. Some of it was as expected, but one report unexpected. I have one bulging disk and one that is fractured and 14 cm out of place.

What was not expected was the report of the "ectasia to the abdominal aorta" which is about 2.6 cm in diameter.

I underwent more x-rays today and will go Thursday for more evaluation for back treatment. The other problem will be handled by my local physican who will monitor the aorta to determine if it is growing any larger. Please remember me and my family in your prayers.