Simeon and I are so blessed to have such a large group of what we would consider our "friends and family." What a blessing it is to have godly people in our lives. Because that group is so large for us, we decided that instead of sending out hundreds of Christmas cards, we would give our Christmas/2014 update on our blog. I hope you don't mind! :) Please enjoy reading about what God has done in our lives during this past year. . .
Merry Christmas! I can hardly believe that 2014 is
drawing to a close. This year has held so many major life events for Simeon and
I. We have seen God answer so many prayers! As I look back, I can say God
truly has been so good to us!
One thing that has been special about this year is
that due to some of these life events, we have had the opportunity to spend
time with family and friends that we have not seen in a very long time! What a
blessing it has been to both of us to be able to catch up with some of our past
school teachers, Sunday school teachers, childhood friends, and more!
This letter has a twofold purpose. First, Sim and I
would like to update everyone on the many changes we have experienced in 2014.
Secondly and most important, we would like to take this opportunity to praise
the Lord for how He has led in our lives recently! We have so much to be
thankful for!
The first major event that 2014 held for
Simeon and I was our college graduation in May. We both received our Bachelor’s
degree from Crown College of the Bible. Simeon’s major was Missions with a
minor in Business. I majored in Secondary Education with an English emphasis.
Our college years were so special to us, and we learned so much not only
academically, but also spiritually. We will always be grateful for the
influence of our teachers and staff at Crown!
The next major event happened on Saturday,
July 12th . . . our wedding day! Outside of the day we accepted
Christ as our Savior, this has been the most special day of our lives! It has
been so amazing to see how God has brought Simeon and I together, and how He
has had His hand in our marriage. We have been married 5 months now and are
loving every minute of it! There is nothing like sharing your life with your
best friend! Simeon surprised me with our honeymoon- a two week trip to Spain!
This was my first time out of the country, and what an experience! We had such
a wonderful trip, learned a little Spanish, and enjoyed sampling a different
culture!
Since then, we have been busy with daily
life. . .
Simeon is nearing his 2nd year
working as a Financial Counselor at 21st Mortgage. He is also taking
online classes on web design, html coding, and a bunch of other “techie” things
I do not understand. Haha!
I have been blessed to primarily be a
stay-at-home wife and work from home. Two days a week, I work outside the home
as an office assistant for a Mary Kay Sales Director. I have been doing this
for 5 ½ years and love working with my boss! For the past 2 years, I have also
been doing the same type of work for other directors online. Another thing I
have the privilege of doing is to do office assistant work for Dr. Ed Reese. He
is an elderly man in our church who has written many books, compiled thousands of
books, magazines, articles, etc. on Christian history, and is the greatest Christian
researcher I know. I also teach piano lessons to three awesome kids, and I
occasionally substitute teach at our church’s academy. Whew! I think that
covers everything! God truly has blessed me by allowing me to do things I love,
yet be able to work so much from home.
Simeon
and I are enjoying being active members in our church, Temple Baptist. One of
the things Sim and I love to do together is sing, and are thankful to be
members of our church choir. We also enjoy participating in the weekly prayer
meeting and visitation. What a blessing it is to be a part of a church where
the Gospel is preached and the main goal is for people to be won to Christ!
Simeon
and I are so blessed to come from Christian families. This past August, my
parents moved back to Knoxville from Dover, Delaware. This was a surprise and a
huge answer to prayer! We have enjoyed having both sides of the family close. Another
very special family event was the Lord blessing Simeon’s older sister, Keanne
and her husband Brian with a precious baby girl, Paton. She is the first
grandchild on Sim’s side, so his parents are having the time of their lives
spoiling her, but then so are we. She is such a joy to us all! My brother,
Clay, is still serving in the United States Army in Ansbach, Germany. In May,
he will have been there for 2 years. Another answer to prayer was finding out
that his next duty station will be at Fort Campbell, Kentucky which is only 3
hours from Knoxville!
That about sums up what 2014 has held for us,
and now we are so excited to see where God will lead in 2015! Please pray that
we will continue to follow in His way for us!
As many of you know, God has called Simeon
and I to be missionaries to Australia. That is all the direction He has given
us at this point. We are currently praying through things, learning all we can
about the country and missionaries that are already there, and saving for a
survey trip we hope to take in the next few years. If you could pray for us in
this matter, we would greatly appreciate it!!
I know this letter is very much about my
husband and I, but I hope that as you read it, you didn’t just read an update
on us, but a testimony of how God is working in the lives of two of His
children. The only reason we have been blessed with anything is because of His
goodness and mercy! When I was a
freshman at Crown College, our Pastor preached on the story of Abraham’s
servant going to find a bride for Isaac. He read Genesis 24:27, “And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who
hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the
house of my master's brethren.” The point of his message was that as we follow
in the way the Lord has set for us, He promises to lead us. This verse has
resonated in my heart ever since, and I have seen it played out in my life over
and over again!
Thank you for the influence you have had in
our lives. We are so blessed to know each of you!
May God richly bless you and your family in
the New Year!
All for His Glory,
Brettnay Brazzell
Philippians 1:20-21
