Merry Christmas from the Adam Blumer Family

Dear SI Friends,

Some may be unfamiliar with my role at SI, so let me first introduce myself. Since May 2006, I’ve worked behind the scenes here at SI as the managing editor and count it a privilege to serve in several capacities. I edit and post front-page articles and do my best to catch all those tricky and sometimes-evasive grammatical problems. I also manage the author calendar for front-page articles, remind (and sometimes nag) authors about deadlines, post ads, and communicate with current and potential advertisers. On occasion, I also write Christian novel reviews.

My family and I praise God for how He has blessed us in 2007. While 2006 was a year of uncertainty due to Adam’s layoff from Northland Ministries (Dunbar, WI), 2007 was a year of growing stability. God continued to provide projects and finances as Adam served at home as a contract editor and freelance writer. (Here’s his ministry website.) In fact, this January Adam will celebrate his first year of working from home full-time. Last January, God enabled him to give his notice at FedEx, where he had worked as a part-time early-morning package handler for eight months. Adam loves working from home. He’s able to have lunch with Kim, Laura, and Julia; and to interact with them throughout the day. He also has more time for his own writing now, and he no longer has the long commute to Northland each workday. He especially enjoys staying home on those treacherous, snowy mornings.

In 2007, God provided work through several ministries beyond SharperIron, including Shalom Ministries, Carol Trahan Ministries, Kids 4 Truth, Northland Baptist Bible College, and Northland Camp & Conference Center. Adam also helped edit four book projects, including two for Kregel Publications. God has particularly burdened Adam to come alongside ministry leaders who would like to write books but simply do not have time. Through the transcribing and editing of sermon audio, Adam has found several opportunities to serve in this capacity. He is currently seeking more ministries to serve in 2008. If you know of any interested ministries who could use editorial help, please let Adam know.

About Kregel … Adam contacted the publisher last January about providing editing from home. When the managing editor saw Adam’s resume and noted that Adam had written several unpublished novels, he asked to see a book proposal. In August, Kregel accepted Adam’s adult Christian suspense novel, Now You See Him, for publication with plans to release it sometime in 2008. Adam plans to post updates at his blog as the novel’s release draws closer. In the meantime, a couple more novels are in the works as God provides time. Praise the Lord for opening doors!

Kim continues to rise early for a busy day of homeschooling, housekeeping, and assisting Shalom Ministries as phone receptionist and general secretary. She and Adam have enjoyed working together on several projects as an editorial team. Both are active members at Family Baptist Church (Kingsford, MI) and continue to serve in the music ministry there. Both play the piano, and Adam takes turns as a song leader. Kim is also church clerk.

Laura (six) and Julia (three) have changed a lot over the last year. In first grade at our homeschool, Laura is reading and learning to add and subtract. On December 29, she will be flower girl at a friend’s wedding. Though not officially in school yet, Julia is developing quite the vocabulary for a three-year-old. The girls love it when Daddy chases them around the house as a “lion.” They were sad when our dog, Sheba, had to be put to sleep last January. Everyone shed tears that day. But God provided another pet, this time a hamster called “Hamsy.” The girls discovered the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre productions of The Chronicles of Narnia and have enjoyed listening to them during trips.

In 2007, Adam’s freer schedule allowed us to take several getaways and fun trips to visit family, one of which became a sad event when Adam learned that his last living grandparent, George Parker, former Baptist Mid-Missions missionary, had passed away in Arizona. Thankfully, Grandpa is with the Lord. Along with this news came the alarming fact that a major forest fire burned within five miles of Adam’s parents’ house in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. His parents needed to get to the funeral in Arizona but hated to leave the house unprotected should the wind drive the fire toward their house. Thankfully, the Lord kept everyone safe, and the fire never reached Adam’s parents’ house.

Recently, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Milwaukee with Kim’s side of the family. Christmas will be in Newberry, Michigan, with the Blumer clan. In spite of this busy time of year, may we all find a moment to pause and reflect on God’s amazing gift of His Son.

Merry Christmas!

Adam, Kim, Laura, and Julia Blumer