1999
Merry Christmas and Blessings from Wisconsin!
He rules the world with truth and grace... and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love!
This has been a
very
eventful year for the Gardiners. The Lord in his Providence continues
to
lead us into directions we would never expect. Mary moved in, Lesley is
about to finish graduate school, and Richard is still teaching at
University
Lake School.
Mary moved in with us in August. She is doing quite well at University Lake School. She was advanced early into high school as a result of performing above grade level in math, Spanish, English, and history. This is Mary as a magazine cover-girl. As you can see Mary enjoys being creative with computer software. Mary was on the middle school field hockey team, played a clarinet solo in the winter concert, is in the school musical (the kitchen wench in "Once Upon a Mattress"), is in marketing club, plays in the handbell choir, and attends youth group Wednesday evening and Sunday school on Sunday mornings. She is eager to get her laptop in a couple of weeks.
Lesley went on a
Star
Trek cruise to the Caribbean in May, made some friends, and generally
had
a wonderful time. She highly recommends to everyone cruising as a form
of recreation.
Lesley has been working full time as both a Triage nurse and Quality Assurance Auditor (what is that anyway?) for Prohealth Home Care in Hartland, Wisconsin. Lesley has one semester of graduate school left and plans to graduate in May 2000 as a Master of Science in Nursing. After this she will take the national certification boards in order to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Stinky (Thomas)
the
ferret is just as nutty, and into socks, as always.
The sad news this
year
was the passing of Lesley's grandmother, Nellie "Mimi" Hieronymus
Boaz, 
who
lived a long full life and will be missed by all the family. Lesley
also
turned 30 and was none too pleased. However, Richard and Lesley both
traveled
to Arkansas for Thanksgiving this year and had a Boaz family photo made.
This summer
Richard
preached a half dozen times as pulpit supply in various Presbyterian
and
Congregational churches in the area, including Delafield, Pewaukee,
Genessee,
and Wales. 
In
the first part of the summer, Mary spent much of her time creating
music
videos with her new friend, Lyndsey Gerritsen.
Richard's book Never Before In History has been selling well through Amazon.com and other locations. Don't forget to get your copy! Rick was on a morning talk show in Pittsburgh being interviewed about the book in October, and next month he will be on 200 more stations across the U.S. for another interview.
This year Richard moved back into teaching at the high school level at University Lake School; his courseload includes Psychology, American History, Ancient History, Modern History, and Anthropology, as well as soccer and softball. The school has embarked upon a very innovative laptop program in which each student will have his or her own laptop. Rick received his back in September and has been using it every night. On December 5th we hosted a party for the Rick's 10th grade class. As part of their service project they all went to sing at a local nursing home.
We
visited Fort McHenry in January, the location of the flag which
inspired
the Star Spangled Banner during the War of 1812. You had to know we
would
throw something historical into the mix. The rockets were not glaring
and
the bombs were not bursting but the site was impressive and
awe-inspiring
nonetheless. On the way home from a Maryland trip this summer the
Gardiner
clan also stopped at Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland and Fort
Necessity in Pennsylvania.
We hope you will make your way north to the frozen tundra of Wisconsin to stay with us or stop in for a visit. We have at least one month of summer for those who don't enjoy the cold weather though. If you are lucky the pool may be warm enough for swimming!
As this thousand year chapter in history comes to a close, we are reminded that Christ is the Author of all of History and that He has written the book of History with His ends in view, assuring all who believe in Him that they have been chosen to be the recipients of His grace. At this epoch in history, whatever Y2K has in store, it is our desire that you might have the confidence in knowing the serenity of trusting in the benevolent plan of History's Author.
And we hope you will call, write, or stop by:
Rick & Lesley
Gardiner
W359N7146 Fountain
Lane
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
(920) 474-3200
http://mysite.verizon.net/richard.gardiner
[email protected]