Billy Blurb

I want to thank everyone for your hard work this whole year. This year has been a whirlwind (though not quite as bad as an Ian-type of whirlwind), and here we are closing out the year. The way you have worked as teams, and in support of others not on your team, has left me very proud of all of you. I am constantly being told of how you are living out the values of the company by caring for others, respecting others, and serving with excellence.

I love how the customers go out of their way to tell us how pleased they are with you (see the customer comment section further down in this newsletter as an example just from this past month), and that is in line with the part of our mission where they are compelled to tell, us, and hopefully, others. You have gone above and beyond, surprising and delighting, giving that 13th donut, and it’s a key reason why we’ve been successful this year. And it lets us invest in the eternal in new and significant ways, as the following update from NeverThirst reveals.

So thank you, from the bottom of my heart. The way you’ve conducted yourselves as employees has me confident in the last part of our mission statement, that we have honored the Great Comforter, Jesus Christ. May this Christmas be both a celebration of His birth, and His faithfulness to us as a company.

We did it!! Our first well that we sponsored has been finished, and we are already underway on our next one. But before we move on too quickly, take the time to review the following report and learn about the difference that was made because we chose to invest in the eternal in a country we may never go to, for people we may never see in our lifetime. It makes a difference, though, when we partner with others who have given their lives to providing clean and living water to those that desperately need it. Scroll through the slide show below, educate yourself on what was accomplished through our effort, and the life-changing impact it has on a community. There are stories, pictures, a description of the project, and even a QR code and coordinates that will show you on a map the village this is in. (If it’s too small for you to read, request a pdf copy by email or even text if you have an iPhone). If you would like to give towards the next water project over and above what we are doing together as a company, or just to track our progress on the next project, click on this link to make that happen! Thanks to everyone for working together as we invest in the eternal.

We celebrate the people who make up Tri County Air. You are the special ingredient to what makes this a great place to work. Always affirm those around you, but especially on their birthdays and anniversaries. Here are this month’s special days, and year anniversaries of employment.

AN ACTION-PACKED HOLIDAY SPECTACLE

Join Nik Wallenda for an extraordinary holiday spectacle, “A Brave New Wonderland,” under the Big Top at UTC on Saturday, December 30th, for the 6:30pm show. “Wonderland” will take audiences on a heartwarming and visually stunning journey that brings together the enchantment of the winter holidays and their unique traditions. We have a limited number of tickets for that show, and you can request them by filling out the form on this link. You will be limited to the number of people in your immediate family. If we still have tickets available after December 15th and you desire more, please indicate that on the form, and we will do whatever we can to accommodate that. This is on a first come/first served basis, as requested through the online form through the link provided.

Through breathtaking performances by artists from diverse backgrounds, captivating narratives, and the shared spirit of Wallenda’s personal tagline, “Never Give Up!” “Brave New Wonderland” seeks to plant a seed of unity in the hearts of its audience. It’s a show where the magic of the season is not just about traditions and celebrations but also about embracing our differences and finding strength in diversity. We encourage you to make this a special evening with those you love!

All Company Christmas Party

On Sunday, December 3rd, we are gathering at Billy & Lolly’s home for our Annual Company Christmas Party! Catered food that will make your mouth water along with a dessert competition, exciting give-a-ways through a raffle, prizes for winners of competitions in fishing, corn hole, disc golf, pool, jousting (yes, jousting). We’ll have a bounce house, a dunking booth (that will have some managers sitting in it), a fire pit with s’mores, NFL games on a large screen TV, an outdoor Christmas movie, and more. This is for the whole family, so try to make it. If you haven’t yet RSVP’d through the earlier email, please help us by filling out this RSVP so we can properly prepare. Coming? Bring camping chairs, and a readiness for a great time.

Shared Thanksgiving Meals

We have so much to be thankful for, and it is always good to share a meal together in celebration of that!

Just For Laughs

What Our Customers Are Saying

Musings of Christmas

A Season of Interruptions

We so often wrap the Christmas story up into a neat little package, but it can be seen as an abundance of interruptions, bringing all it’s participants to a glorious finale.

Mary’s life was interrupted by an angel’s announcement. Her reputation of purity was interrupted by a pregnancy out of wed-lock. An engaged couple’s trust and relationship was interrupted by a conception by the Holy Spirit. Joseph’s sleep was interrupted by a dream. His plans to put Mary away quietly was interrupted by God’s plan for them to marry. Their marriage was interrupted by abstinence until the baby was born.

Everyday life was interrupted by a decree from an emperor. A restful pregnancy was interrupted by a long journey. Expected accommodations were interrupted by unexpected crowds. Shepherds were interrupted by the angels. Mary and Joseph were interrupted by the shepherds. The townspeople were interrupted by the shepherds. I kind of imagine the shepherds kept getting interrupted by the other shepherds. I mean, they did see angels!

Wise men’s study and comfort were interrupted by a star, and a prophecy, and a journey. Herod’s peace was interrupted by the wise men’s announcement of a king. Mary and Joseph were interrupted by the wise men worshipping. Wise men’s return plans were interrupted by an angel’s warning. Joseph’s sleep was interrupted by another dream. A trip north to Nazareth was interrupted by a trip south to Egypt. Safety and comfort were interrupted by a threat of death.

The silence of God was interrupted by a fulfillment of the prophecies. The human race was interrupted by Immanuel, “God with us”. People in their sin were interrupted by a Savior.

What are your plans during this season in your life? Where do you find your comfort? What are your expectations in your life? How well are you managing your life?

Are you prepared to be interrupted?

By unexpected news, unplanned events, uninvited people? Like that first Christmas.

My encouragement to you is to simply have a posture towards God in this season, of a willingnessto be interrupted. Allow God to lead you into a story of His faithfulness, His sovereignty, His goodness, His love, as a Savior whose heart is bent towards you, inviting you up into the glorious interruption of His grace. The cross is the point of His interruption, where you come to the end of yourself, and the beginning of Him. Surrender there, receive Him there, and allow the smaller story of your life to be interrupted by an epic that is as grand and adventurous as they come, for it is the story of God.

John 1:9 says “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world . . . But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

That’s the best interruption this world, and your world too, has ever had.

Merry Christmas!

Thanks For Reading