Holiday Greetings From The Northcoast…

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Even though we’re still a couple of weeks away from Christmas Day, we want to take a quick opportunity to say ‘hello’ and give you a holiday update on our family and our ministry.

Finals are now over at Tiffin University, and we have ended our weekly h2o Worship Gatherings for the semester. I feel so blessed this Christmas with everything we’ve seen God do this past semester. Our inaugural semester for campus ministry has been overwhelming. We’ve had over 60 students attend our h2o Gatherings with an average of approximately 30 each week! Our students were involved in two major ministry projects, and we’ve had 4 social events. We began our Sunday Edition of h2o two weeks ago, which we will continue in the Spring as our build-up of our church plant launch of The River Church.

Tabitha has survived her first semester with flying colors! She’s planning on another busy semester in the Spring. She will enjoy her break as well. Five weeks of no class…no homework…no studying…no papers to write…no choir rehearsals…no dance practice…you get the picture! She’s very excited to relax for awhile. She’s made ton’s of new friends and has acclimated herself extremely well on campus. There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that TU is where she is supposed to be. She is right at home at TU.

Denise continues to be the glue that holds our family together. From the start of each day to the last thing at night, she makes sure each of us is going in the right direction. Without her steadfastness, I’m just not sure we would survive. Her and Tabitha have our home decorated so gorgeous for the Christmas holidays, and our home is especially filled with the holiday spirit this year. As I write this, the snow is falling and the fireplace is crackling. It started snowing about Noon today, and we’re expected to see up to 8” overnight. Denise loves the snow, as long as neither of us have to be out on the roads.

I honestly wish that each of you could see the view outside of our dining room window. I can post pictures of it all day, but you just have to be here to truly enjoy it. Behind our home is now the remains of the summer’s corn field. On the left side of the field is a beautiful tree line where deer play each day. At the back of the field, there is a gorgeous home that has white lights in each of their windows, and a strong fireplace that has smoke curling out of it. And at night, the lights flicker like candles in the distance. With the snow falling, the appearance from that home, it’s almost like looking at a live Christmas card.

This will just about do it for the night…I would like to encourage each of you to spend some extra quality time with your family this holiday season. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight…