12/09/2023
ALAN & JUDY GELL's ANNUAL CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER - 2023
(Sub-Titled: Lots of Babies and Deaths)
It's been a busy, tumultuous year, complete with good things, sad things, and a lot of medical situations. Through it all, we continually believe that God directs our paths (if we allow Him to do so) and we seek His guidance constantly.
Bottom line: We are blessed.
JANUARY: Chris & Selena had moved out of the small house on our property, buying a place of their own. They lived here, helping out, for almost a year and we miss them. Selena gave birth to baby Walker at the end of December and we were 'adopted' as his Godparents. It was a wonderful start for the New Year. Their hopes to have her parents visit from their home in China was not successful.
FEBRUARY: Alan again volunteered at the Anderson County Meals-On-Wheels (& Senior Citizen Center), providing tax preparation services. Many are military veterans and enjoy sharing 'war stories'. Two WW2 vets, 3 Korean War vets, and a bunch of Vietnam War vets, or their widows, were among those helped.
MARCH: More tax work, getting more busy than normal. Alan, along with son Kevin & grandsons Timothy & Anthony, attended the National Royal Ranger conference in Tulsa. Friend, fellow Veteran, & church board member Denny Stewart died.
APRIL: Mostly, more tax work.
MAY: Judy was overcome with a health problem that attacked her brain functions, including headaches, speech, dizziness, and muscle coordination. It was a form of "Ataxia". This term is used to describe not having precise control over voluntary movements.
Alan attended the annual Texas Motor Press off-road event in College Station, driving SUV's and Pickups through various off-road courses. He serves on the Board of Directors and as bookkeeper/admin for the TxMPA (Texas Motor Press Association). Car trips and press vehicles has drastically changed in the industry following COVID.
JUNE: Alan visited in Dallas to see life-long friend Gilbert Lindsay and celebrate his 80th Birthday. He also attended the North Texas District Assemblies of God annual District Council conference, held in Red Oak at the Oaks Fellowship. Justin came to visit from Memphis for several days, bringing two-year-old Noah (grandson #10) with him. We missed having Sabrina come also, but it was wonderful to spend those few days with them. In Austin, long-time Royal Ranger leader Tony Garcia died. He & Alan traveled and taught Royal Ranger Leadership classes together -- in both English and Spanish. Also dying in June was long-time friend Jim Barger, who was a Marine in Vietnam. Jim served as the National President of the Royal Rangers National Council. He & Alan shared many training camps, Frontiersmen camps and other events together.
JULY: Granddaughter Stacey had her first baby (our 3rd great-grandchild) -- Waylon Bartleson. Grandma Lisa & Grandpa Kevin can't get enough of him (you know .. new grandparents, etc)
Judy's problems were magnified when she blacked out while in the restroom and fell into the shower stall. It knocked her glasses off, her back was braced against the back wall of the shower, and her body was pinned and twisted, not allowing much movement. It took almost 30 minutes to manipulate her out of the stall and eventually standing up. Then, it was a struggle to drag her through the house, and eventually into the front seat of the car. She has almost no memory of any of this. We arrived at the Palestine Hospital Emergency Room at 6 pm on a Saturday night. There were CatScans, MRI's and more. At 11 pm, she was admitted. After 3 days with various doctors, Neurologists, surgeons, and other specialists, it was determined she had NPH (Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus).
AUGUST: Justin & Sabrina welcomed their second son, Asher Grey Gell (our #11 grandchild.) They work in Memphis, Tenn, but live in their beautiful new home across the border in Mississippi.
A Neurologist in Athens confirmed Judy's diagnosis and she was referred to a Neuro-Surgeon at UT-Tyler Medical Center. More tests, more visits, and more diagnosis to schedule surgery.
After much prayer and negotiating, we purchased a "getaway house" which is located in Longview, close to our two daughters Charity & Alison, two wonderful sons-in-law, & grandchildren. We visit there often, enabling us to attend grandchildren's events and performances. Granddaughter Kirsten ( #10) is active in Jim Jujitsu and grandson Ryland ( #9) is active in the Artsview Children's Theatre. We enjoy seeing them performing. The house is older and needed (& continues to need) a lot of repairs - fixing - updating - etc. Our Mallard Haven property in Grapeland-Elkhart is still our home, but as the years slip by rapidly, the proximity to our family is becoming increasingly important.
SEPTEMBER: Judy's surgery was successful, beyond our hopes. She had a shunt installed from the brain down the back side of her head and into the neck area and down to the stomach. Yes, there is a slight, noticeable 'bump' of a ridge, but Praise-the-Lord. She has regained all of her functions and faculties. We say a huge 'thank-you' to all our friends and family who prayed. God definitely answered your prayers.
Pastor Randy Shipman preached his final sermon at our church, Felders Chapel in Grapeland, and retired from active ministry after 30 years. Alan was voted by the Trustees & Deacons to be Chairman of the Board & the initial Search Committee, keeping him very busy for several months.
OCTOBER: Roger Lewis, long-time minister in North Texas, was appointed to be the Interim Pastor at our church. Long-time close friend Paul Stanek 'croaked' (his words.) Paul served as the National Training Coordinator and Asst National Commander at the Royal Rangers office in Springfield, MO. Paul was a retired Chaplain (Colonel) in the U.S. Army Reserves. He & Alan traveled together all across the U.S. and overseas, staffing & teaching at Royal Ranger Leaders' National Training Camps and Advanced Leadership Camps.
Our granddaughter Taylor & Sam Worrell had their first baby -- Oliver, our 4th great-grandchild.
NOVEMBER: Planning to visit Kevin & Lisa and their family in Johnson City for Thanksgiving, we were stunned to get the news that Ed (Eddie) Fitzsimmons died. Alan's sister Suzanne and Ed were married one year (364 days) before we were married, and we were not only related, but close friends, growing up at the Oak Cliff Assembly of God in Dallas, playing trumpet, deer hunting, etc.
DECEMBER: Christmas celebrations will be different than in past years, when most of our family would visit Mallard Haven and stay a few days, stuffing ourselves, playing games, exchanging gifts, and all those wonderful family things we enjoy. Gift exchanges and meals will be mostly by small groups of us as time permits. Grandchildren are getting older, growing up, and moving away.
Robert & Windie Edwards are renting the small house on our property with plans to purchase it along with a few acres. We are excited to have them here to help with the HipCamp facilities and other work.
==== Other key parts of our lives this past year ====
HIPCAMP: The backside of our property was utilized quite often during the year by campers -- families, couples, & an occasional single traveler. We put in a new well pump and added an outdoor shower, in addition to installing an electric line to the emergency shelter cabin & restroom. There are now three campsites with fire rings and picnic tables available. During deer season, Alan uses this area for hunting deer as well as wild feral hogs.
MUNICPAL COURT: Alan still serves as the Judge for Elkhart's Municipal Court. This requires him to complete a large amount of Continuing Education hours, as required by the Texas State Supreme Court. The docket cases were primarily for Code Enforcement violations this past year, but he also is 'on-call' as a Magistrate.
MINISTRY: Our Haven Ministries organization has been slowed down this year by all the medical and dental problems we both have faced. There were no groups or retreats, but Alan ministered in several churches during the year and performed a number of weddings as the officiant.
MEDICAL & DENTAL: As we all know, sicknesses & medical problems will drag you down, rob you of your time, energy, and finances. It certainly happened to us both, almost all year long. From Judy's encounter with brain surgery, teeth implants, and a spinal tap, to Alan's dental work, dermatologist visits for skin cancers, and other situations, we were visiting medical facilities often. We look forward to next year being less oppressive.
We trust and pray that this Christmas season will be joyful for all our friends and family members. God is good - all the time -- but sometimes we get so caught up in all the activities and 'buzy-i-ness', that we don't take the time to stop, listen, & be thankful. The years are slipping away faster & faster. God bless you.
Maranatha. Alan & Judy
