2023 Review Newsletter

Another year has passed and I wonder how we were able to do all we did. Just looking back through my 2023 pics wore me out! God is good – indeed, we wonder, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me” (Ps 116:12 NASB)?

Family

• Holding at 4 kids, 14 grandkids, and Chery’s parents (93).

• We were with all our kids twice: once for a TN week of vacation and together for Thanksgiving in our home. It was a very full house!

Ministry & Service

• We continue hosting a LifeGroup and a House church.

• Ron is doing work for the NEO District and Chery is the shepherd of pastor wives with Assist Church Expansion).

• Through our Coach for You LLC (www.coachforyou.us) we coach and assess leaders for service.

• Ron continues: 1) symposium on role of women in the church, and 2) a book on biblical submission.

Other notable developments

• The furnace air ducts embedded in our home’s cement slab collapsed so we had to completely replace our HVAC system and have air ducts installed in our attic – a costly, weeklong job.

• While the furnace work was being done, Chery’s parent came to stay with us for a few days. Mom ended up in the hospital for four days and came back to our house for recovery. It was nice having them with us and very educational.

• Chery and I like to get away for a week by ourselves each year. In June we vacationed in Larry Byrd’s home town in southern Indiana, French Lick (he was “the hick from French Lick, a place we never heard of before this year). We enjoyed the slower pace and time for discovery.

• Our grandkids in the Akron area are homeschooled and in 2023 they awakened to organized sports. We could not possibly get to everything they did, but we tried to see everyone participate a couple times.

• Home projects: took a large tree down in our backyard and split the wood for our fireplace; the work of reducing our “stuff” continues slowly.

• The undercarriage of our 2005 Highlander rusted out and we salvaged it, then we took the occasion to reduce to one car, selling our Corolla and purchasing a 2018 Honda CRV. I hate car dealing but the Lord led, and we are pleased.

• We met a couple from Vietnam who lives close by and noticed that their English was very broken. Chery offered to help them learn English so they come to our house on Monday nights for an hour of instruction from her. This has been a delightful opportunity for Chery to use her teaching skills.

Health & Well-Being

• We are doing well. Ron continues participating in a Cleveland Clinic research project regarding Alzheimer’s, walking regularly and trying to keep his weight down by eating carefully.

• Chery has developed an eye twitch and two cataracts that she is trying to remedy. She’s had two treatments of Botox for the twitching and in February 2024 she is scheduled for cataract eye surgery.

In 2023 we hit 73, the required time to kick in RMDs, so we are slowly entering “retirement” but still able to be active in life and ministry. We are deeply thankful for the Lord’s provisions and health, and want to make the most of it.

As I reviewed my pictures from the past year, I was reminded how many relatives and friends are very special to us. Even though this letter features family pictures, we are also very grateful for our circle of friends who have enriched our lives in many ways. We appreciate you! God’s best to each one in 2024!

Grace to you,

Ron & Chery Boehm