Merry Christmas!

 

This year’s Christmas letter…

 

December 2013

Thou art worthy, O Lord,

to receive glory and honor and power:

for thou has created all things,

and for thy pleasure they are and were created 

Revelation 4:11

While we strive to live in a way that glorifies and pleases the great God who made us, we are thankful for the many blessings He allows us to enjoy even now.  It has been another busy year as our children grow older and take on new adventures. 

In March the youth group members filled each role in an evening service: Daniel & Thomas were part of the preaching team, Abby & Elisabeth played piano, and all of them sang.

Kate finished her first year at Baptist College of Ministry near Milwaukee, where she will likely continue with a 4-year degree program in music instead of just a 2-year associate degree.  Both Abby & Daniel finished their studies at home, and we celebrated with them in May.  So began our busy summer! 

Kate, Abby & Thomas worked at the Berry Patch near Nevada (Molly tagged along for a couple days) while Daniel & Elisabeth were busy with driver's education in Ames.  June 26-July 6 Kate, Abby, Daniel, Elisabeth & Thomas all traveled with our church's youth group to Boston to work with a church planter there. 

In August Kate traveled with a team from BCM to the Philippines for two weeks of ministry.  Before she returned, Tim & I were off with Daniel to North Carolina where he is currently a student at Ambassador Baptist College.  Kate & Abby moved into their dorm at BCM in Wisconsin at the end of August....

And the rest of us settled back into the usual routines at home: farm work, school, and church activities.  We are all eager to have the college ‘kids’ at home again for Christmas -- soon!

 

May each of you have a blessed Christmas season,

rejoicing in God's gift of our Savior – who was born to die –

and to live again triumphant over sin and death.

 

With love,

Tim & Melanie, Kate (20 in Sept), Abby (19 this month), Daniel (17 in Aug), Elisabeth (15 in June), Thomas & Molly (13 & 11 in March) w/ Luci, C-A-T & the cattle too :-)

2013 Graduates ~ Abigail & Daniel

K-A-D-E-T traveled to Boston with a brief stop at Niagara Falls on the way home

Kate traveled to the Philippines with Cola War Outreach team from BCM

Molly has enjoyed Nerf gun battles, sewing, and building a deck off of our garage