Family and friends,

As 2011 comes to a close, this year has brought it's share of trials, hard times and sad times as well as some good times. We have seen some changes which have been very good and some changes which we could have lived without, but some things haven't changed.  I turned 60 in June and although usually I don't feel my age, there are other days, especially after a hard day's work ( I'm a city/county bus driver ) when I feel a LOT older.  Ruby had an uneventful birthday because she had surgery on her right foot.  She now has a new metal joint in the top of her foot and after years of pain, is pain free.

Then in October, I decided to take a little time off from the "Weekly Messages" to rest and re-group.  I thought I would take off about 6-8 weeks but little did I know at the time that this would stretch into almost 3 months. I upgraded from Windows Vista to Windows 7 and that brought forth some changes that I was unprepared to deal with.  It was only through the grace of God and Tom G. that this problem was resolved.  Tom G. has been a friend of mine for a very long time and has always has fixed the problems on my computer ( many of the times, something I did in my ignorance ) but this problem really tested his resolve. But Tom is a very determined person and after a LONG time, was able to revolve this latest problem.  God most definitely blessed Ruby and I with Tom's friendship and help when we needed it, and Sharon, I'm not forgetting you.  Sharon is Tom's wife and a most wonderful and caring person and we have broken bread with them on several occasions.

Needless to say, God blessed Ruby and I this year beyond description.  We're both employed as professional drivers (I'm a bus driver and Ruby is a shuttle driver), we both have our health, and it has been two years now since receiving my new hip replacement, and I am doing very good except in wet and cold weather...it hurts then.  A little side note there....the other day, as I was walking from my bus to the base, my hip and knee was aching pretty good.  I asked the Lord if He would take my pain away and in that little voice which all Spirit Filled Christians are aware of, He said  "My Grace is sufficient for Thee".  Well, I just continued on my way, thankful for all the blessings He has already showered on me and forgetting about the pain.  Most importantly, we both have the love of Jesus Christ and He continues to live in our hearts and lives.

As if that wasn't enough, Planting His Seeds continues to grow.  Much of the success of Planting His Seeds rests on my "family and friends"....those beautiful folks who continue to receive our "weekly messages".  Many of you have shared your inspirational stories, poems, articles and other writings with me and of course, many of those writings appear on the website.  Folks like Graham who shares beautiful PPS displays with me...displays that touch my heart and fills me with wonder....Brenna, whose beautiful graphics I use often as part of the "Weekly Messages"...Dixie and Anna and Mariane and Joan who share their writings and much more with me, which many times I in turn share with my family and friends.  Many of you have prayed for Ruby and I and believe me, those prayers have been answered. In fact, I have visited with some of you via the telephone and mail.

As I state in our personal statement on the home page of Planting His Seeds, "We have made some very good Christian friends, both on and off the Internet and although our sole purpose was, and still is, to reach out with our inspirational stories, poems, articles, patriotic messages and other messages and touch someone's life and perhaps encourage them or to help lift their spirits or just simply cause them to pause and reflect on what they read here, we have found that more times than not, WE are the ones who have found ourselves encouraged or have had our spirits lifted by the many contributions of those who have shared their inspirational stories and poems and so forth with us."  And that statement still rings true today.

And, of course, we can't forget our family, who not only are part of our "family and friends" but have blessed Ruby and I in many different ways.  Our daughters Daphne and her husband and their children, our grandchildren, Tony, 'Tasha, Diego, and Shauna and her children, also our grandchildren Kianna and Ricky and Melissa and her children, our grandchildren, T.J, Roman and Raquel.  And of course Ruby's favorite uncle, Kenny and Madeline....also special mention here of my sister-in-law Carolyn and who can forget our very good friend, Janice (Carolyn's best friend too).

So, even though this past year has brought some sad times, all in all, it has been a very good year for Ruby and I.  We look forward to the new year with eagerness and hopes that our site will continue to reach out and inspire our readers, to change the way they may look at some things and lift their spirit to new levels.  We thank all of you, our family and friends, for all the many blessings you have showered us with this past year and please know we love all of you.

Ruby and I pray each and every one of you and your families have a VERY Merry and Blessed Christmas and we pray a most wonderful New Year for you.  We pray that God will shower you with His blessings throughout the New Year.

In God's Love,

your servants,
Rick & Ruby