Back WAY up

I have to go WAY back 2 weeks ago to catch up on things. It has been a busy, hectic, memory making couple of weeks! I'll try to give the short version, but there are lots of cute pictures to tell the story!

My last posts were on Eli's birthday and the anticipation of Christmas! On Thursday evening (prior to Christmas) Ron had a wedding rehearsal. Who gets married 2 days before Christmas? Seriously though, we have enjoyed getting to know Mike and Natalie through Marriage Counseling the past couple of months and have prayed a lot for them and their marriage together. We are excited to see how Jesus leads them and we're excited that they have decided to join our Ney congregation! So Ron was busy with the rehearsal and then Friday a wedding.

Also, on Friday, Ron's parents came! They wanted to celebrate Eli's birthday with us and also Christmas! They got Eli this for his birthday...

He was so excited for Christmas Morning to wear it.

He looked just like a "real preacher".

Also Friday night we learned that one of our parishioners was life flighted to Toledo. Ron couldn't go immediately, because of the wedding, but went Saturday morning! It was a touch a go day, but we are thankful that Ron was able to be with the family for a short time.

We all enjoyed Grandma and Grandpa Adkins. It seems that our double "guest" bed is getting a little small for 4 kids to sneak down and crawl into bed with Grandpa and Grandma in the mornings. The fun had to be moved to the couch!

Our gift to the kids was connected to my parents gift. We were traveling to Gulf Shores, Alabama again this year for some fun with cousins on the beach (much more on that to come). Because of our plans to leave after Church Christmas morning, we celebrated Jesus birthday on Christmas Eve with our Birthday cake for Jesus and we opened presents with Grandpa and Grandma.

Eli was so excited to give a gift to Grandpa and Grandma this year. He had painted and, with Daddy's help, assembled this gift and even wrapped it himself. Just look at his eyes as the anticipation mounts.

Their very own...

helicopter!

And he thought they should display it on the back porch to their house! He had it all figured out!

Here he is showing Grandma how it works, in case she wants to play!

The boys got complete Buckeye equipment (shoulder pads and helmets too) from their Grandparents!

Maddie got a vacuum, and she's not even scared of it!

Things calmed down briefly the evening of Christmas Eve so that we could get some pictures... before worshipping together in a beautiful candlelight service!

These 4 even sang together (Away in a Manger). It was the first time they had all 4 sang together in public. This momma thought they did great!

Christmas morning we were up again getting ready to worship together. What a Blessing to Worship Jesus on Christmas morning together with our family and our churches.

I had to throw this picture of Maddie in.

Sometimes the busy season can just be overwhelming!

She was quickly over her mood and ready to pose (not smile) with her brothers!

You may not completely understand this, but ministry is tough sometimes, in a lot of ways. But I think it is at times hard on our kids. We want them to be involved in our ministry and make it fun for them and I think we do pretty good.

Christmas morning they had several songs and memorized lines for 2 churches, but they did a wonderful job at both services and we had a wonderful time of celebrating Christ's birth!

Although I am several days behind schedule, we hope that you and your family had a very Merry Christmas and enjoyed the season of celebrating our Savior's Birth!

A Belated Merry Christmas from our family to yours!