What's up?

It's been nearly a month since our last post which leaves some of you asking, "What's up?" Well, we'll tell you. . .

What's up with Mitch?

Church life always keeps Pastor Mitch busy. There's the big stuff like preaching through the book of John, teaching a key doctrines class on Wednesday nights, and a myriad of pastoral concerns. But recently he and two men from the church had quite a project in getting a motor home that was donated to the church running, insured, and licensed so that it could be moved from a nearby community to Rachel Baptist Church (a mission of our church) in Rachel, NV. The motor home will serve as a make-shift parsonage while the Rachel pastor is in town.

Mitch also recently endured sinus surgery. He had his deviated septum repaired, a sinus cyst removed, and his sinuses scraped. As he recovers he has to wear a "mustache" bandage, sleep sitting up, and try not to sneeze for a week or so. It's not been fun (in fact, it's been quite painful) but he's looking forward to a future without terrible sinus headaches. To cheer him up, some of our members gave him a little dancing dog that sings "Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News."

What's up with Jane?
Jane continues to sub at Pioche Elementary as she's called. This month she subbed once in 3rd (Nicole's class), twice in Kindergarten, and twice in 6th. Jane is also busy with church things like a new daytime ladies' Bible study on Tuesday mornings, exercise classes twice at week, a new kids' Bible study on Wednesday nights, finishing the church cookbook project, and learning how to make perfect theater popcorn for the church's Sunday Cinema two weeks ago.

What's up with Nicole?
Nicole's sledding days are on hold with the recent melting of our snow. She's enjoyed playing outside with Jake the dog. She's also begun collecting and playing with one of the latest kid crazes, Littlest Pet Shop critters. She made the 2nd quarter honor roll and got her name in the county paper. Her class will soon make little robots and she and a friend are preparing to enter the school's talent show in March.

What's up with Jake?

We know that some of our faithful blog followers can't wait to hear what Jake the dog is up to? He's rediscovered the yard since the snow has melted. In particular, he's learned how much he enjoys mud. He also enjoys playing with the kids after church whenever he can. He's a good dog. His puppy antics are getting fewer and farther between as he's grown. Either that or maybe his owners have finally wised up when it comes to leaving things in the yard for him to destroy!

What's up with Callie?
Callie the cat's routine has remained the same. She sleeps, eats, sleeps some more, goes outside if the temperature is not too cold, then comes in to eat and sleep again. It's a really difficult life for her but she's managing just fine.

We're all managing just fine here and grateful to see how the Lord is at work in the big and small things in our lives and church. Thanks for your continued prayers for us. Now, what's up with you?

Nicole's "flying" saucer

The Fiscus Buzz 2008

Since 2004 our family has put together a Christmas newsletter, "The Fiscus Buzz," and included it with Christmas cards sent. This year we thought we'd also post it. Below is a summary of the Fiscus family's most memorable events of 2008. If you have followed our blog over the past year, many of these events will sound familiar.

January

• We learn that a church in Texas who had been considering Mitch as pastor moves in another direction. Two days after, we get an initial call from Berean Baptist Church in Pioche, Nevada.

February

• Berean Baptist Church flies us to Pioche for seven days. Mitch preaches in view of a call and the church unanimously calls him as their pastor.

March

• We sell our mobile home at the seminary and prepare to move to Nevada.
• Nicole completes her last day at Seminary Hills Park Elementary in Fort Worth and Jane completes her last day at work at the seminary.
• Our seminary and church friends send us off for Pioche.
• Mitch preaches as Pastor of Berean Baptist Church on Easter Sunday.
• Nicole becomes a 2nd grader at Pioche Elementary and begins softball.

April

• Nicole is baptized by Pastor Dad on Sunday, April 6.
• Mom goes on a field trip with Nicole’s class to Zion National Park in Utah.

May

• Jane’s parents arrive in Pioche with their 5th wheel and stay the month. They get to see Nicole’s first hit on her baseball team.
• Jane subs for the first time at Pioche Elementary.

June

• Berean has a great VBS that ends with the kids water-ballooning Pastor Mitch on Family Night. More importantly, several kids accept Christ as their Savior.
• Nicole begins 4-H cooking club and swim lessons.

July

• Mitch’s dad and step-mother arrive in Pioche and bring with them an adorable three-month-old black lab pup for Nicole. We name Nicole’s first dog Jake.
• Jane’s parents return to Pioche—this time for a two-month visit.
• Mitch baptizes four and we have a high attendance of 81.

August

• Nicole starts 3rd grade at Pioche Elementary.
• Nicole wins 1st place for her banana bread at the county’s 4-H fair.

September

• We attend Pioche’s Labor Day celebration (“the” big deal for Pioche) and wear Berean t-shirts with service times to advertise the church.

October

• Mitch’s Grandpa Dierks passes away in Wyoming. Mitch drives to Wyoming to attend the funeral.
• We get our first snow of the season on October 11.

November

• Jane’s Grandpa Charley passes away in Indiana. Nicole and Jane fly to Indiana to be with him before he dies.

December

• Nicole turns 9.

This year has been an incredible year with profound life changes for us all! However, the most profound life change one can ever experience is knowing Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior. Our prayer for all our friends and family is that you would know Jesus as your Lord and Savior as well. If Jesus isn’t your Lord and Savior, He certainly can be. To find out how, click here.

Thanks for your prayers for us. We love and miss you!

Dancing Fools

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Nicole's 9th birthday

We celebrated Nicole's 9th birthday this week. On Wednesday (her actual birthday) she enjoyed cupcakes with her classmates on the school lawn. That evening we enjoyed an Olive Garden meal (made-at-home fettuccine alfredo, salad, and breadsticks) and opened presents. She was excited to open a Wii. We all enjoyed playing with it afterwards. Dad especially enjoyed beating Nicole and Mom in Wii bowling. On Saturday seven of Nicole's friends came to the house to celebrate. It's been a good week to celebrate our precious daughter and thank the Lord for the way He brought her into our lives. "For this child I prayed. . ." (1 Sam. 1:27).

Thank you for your prayers for us.

Grandpa Charley

Jane's beloved Grandpa Charley passed away on November 26. He was 92. It was a blessing that Jane and Nicole could fly back to Indiana to be with him a couple of days before he died. Grandpa's last days were lived like his others--praising God and loving on his family. Many tears were shed but we do not grieve as those who are without hope (1 Thess. 4:13-18) for we know that Grandpa is now with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for your prayers for the family, especially for precious Grandma Freda who remains.

An earlier picture of Grandpa Charley & Grandma Freda

For Rachel S.

At Rachel S.'s request, here's a larger picture of me (Jane) as spaghetti and meatballs. Ingredients for this recipe: colander, mop head taped or hot glued to colander, meatball-colored poms sewn to "noodle" strands here and there, spaghetti spoon, and a piece of french bread. Optional: Take another mop head apart and attach to red shirt with more poms. Hungry?

Halloween and other fun

Halloween brought a lot of fun for the Fiscus Family. Nicole dressed up as Bat Girl, Mitch was a "quarter" back, and Jane was spaghetti & meatballs. We thought it would be fun to dress Jake up too, but he was not cooperative. (It's really no fun to simply wear a t-shirt or bandana when you can have more fun trying to chew it off!) Nicole enjoyed the school's Halloween carnival and later that evening our church participated in its first trunk-or-treat. Several of our members decorated their vehicles and passed out goodies (see pictures on our church blog). We also gave each trick-or-treater a gospel tract. Our family finished the evening eating pizza and watching a movie with church friends. The next day we gave Jake the smallest jack-o-lantern to see what he would do. He enjoyed rolling it around and then he devoured most of it. (It was nice of him to save us the trouble of discarding it!)

In other news, we are excited about the opening of a grocery store in Pioche. Miner's Market opened its doors on October 31. Our first shopping experience was nothing short of exhilarating. In church news, Mitch is continuing his sermon series through the book of John. And next week church and community ladies will begin a walking workout at the church two days a week.

Thanks for your prayers for us. God has blessed us with tremendous joy in serving Him here.