Jerry and Carrol Hanson Cook

Dear Family & Friends,

It is indeed a wonderful opportunity to write the first of, what we hope to be, our yearly family newsletter.

This is the most wonderful year of our lives. In January 2006 Jerry decided he could devote a few hours a week to helping update the class roll and locate missing class members when the class began planning the 45th Fair Park High School Class Reunion. Carrol was one of those members for whom there was no current address. It is amazing how God's Plans work things out that we never expect to occur and when they come about they are so unexpected that they blindside you. Well that is what the call Carrol received from Jerry on January 21st did - it blindsided us. After 13 years being single, Carrol never planned to marry again or even date anyone. Never in a million years did we ever imagine what God had in store for our future. January 23, 2006 was the 1st time we had seen each other since 1962 and yet it seemed as if we had only been apart a week or so. The feelings we had in high school and the 1st year of college were as strong as ever, if not stronger. We both felt that God had put us back together for a purpose. Two months later we were married and that began an adventure in happiness that we had never experienced before. We never knew that anyone could possibly love us so much. We have had a wonderful time the last few months getting reacquainted with each other and learning things which we never knew before. We now have a whole new set of family members with whom we have been blessed and whom we pray we can bless as well.

Needless to say, 2006 will be our most memorable and happiest year ever. The years to come will all be very special in their own right, but none will top this one. We appreciate all the well wishes, encouragement and love from all of you and pray that we can stay closely connected from now on.

At this time of year we each pause to celebrate God's love through His Son, Jesus. It is always thrilling to see the hand of God work but this Christmas season WE can look back and see God's hand at work in so many wonderful ways. It is a blessing indeed to know that the Relationships you have with others are so much more valuable than the Things this world teaches us to seek.

As you spend time with your family members and reflect on the year which is fast growing to a close, we pray, that you too, can see God's hand at work in your lives.

We wish you each the Merriest of All Christmas Seasons and the Happiest of All New Years. May God Richly Bless You and Yours Now and Always.