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…

Settling In For A Long Winter's Nap...

The past several weeks have been a whirlwind around our house. It just seems there isn't enough time in the day... I'm certainly not complaining, I would just like to get a little more accomplished, you know? But then again, there goes my 'work aholic' coming out!

We will have a couple of weeks to catch our breath. TU is in finals week this coming week, which means we won't be meeting at our regular h2o Worship Gathering on Thursday's. We haven't been able to secure an off campus location for our Sunday Evening church plant, so we're looking into mid-January for that. So with those two kinda calm for the Christmas break, we're looking forward into that 'long winter's nap thing'!

But the extra time will be spent in communicating with our students, and planning out our Spring Semester Strategy. Lot's of great ideas on the horizon...can't wait to see them in action.

We had a great Year-end Christmas party with the students, you can see some pics HERE. We had 27 in attendance...our house will NEVER be the same!!! Our special guests were Andy Weems, the Interim State Collegiate Director for Ohio, along with three of his students...Ryan, Andy and Elaine.

The snow has melted somewhat, but the little ice and rain we received today, sure helped slick things up. We're expecting a little more icy rain overnight.

I think that's it for now...my coffee cup is empty...gotta go...

Winter Wonderland...

We awoke yesterday morning to a fabulous winter wonderland. It has been so long since our family saw snow like this! It was totally captivating! We received 3 inches overnight, with another 2 inches during the day. We're expecting another 2 inches tonight. We had an overnight low of 6 degrees...yes I DID say 6 degrees! Today, it was almost 20 degrees for a afternoon high! Now imagine all of the Christmas lights that are on the majority of homes here, against the back-drop of this snow blanket...absloutely gorgeous!

I'm especially amazed at the organization of our communities snow removal program! By noon yesterday, most of ALL of our streets were clear. And even today, only minor icey spots. If we had received this much snow in Arkansas, it would have shut down the entire community.

These are pictures taken yesterday outside of our home...enjoy!

Saturday On The Coast...

As I sit here tonight, I can’t keep from thinking just how much things are different than what we’ve been used to. Here I am watching the fire dance in the fireplace, doing my best to keep a good fire burning. I’ve had to learn quickly how to work a fireplace. And I’m really enjoying it. It doesn’t hurt that our next door neighbor is the ‘king of the firewood’ in these parts. I love the atmosphere the fire gives off.

All three of us are extra chilled tonight. We spent the day up on Lake Erie doing some Christmas shopping. And the wind off of the lake was extremely icy. And right now, the wind chill is 20 degrees…brrrrr. But it’s a good cold, if there is such a thing. It was a wonderful day of family time. We’re now all in the Christmas Spirit…enjoying the Christmas lights around town…the Christmas music on the radio…it’s just different when the temps are colder I guess. We even had icicles on the eve of the house this morning before we left. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen an icicle.

Most of the leaves have fallen off of the trees. Everyone around here has spent the last few days raking…and raking…and raking. There are leaves everywhere! And tonight, I saw a large herd of deer out behind our house, along the tree line. I can only image what those sites will look like when the snow falls. We have a large picture window in the back of our house where our dining room is, and the view is unbelievable.

We’re all excited to see what this week is going to bring. It’s the final week of prep work for our new church start. Next Sunday night is the opening night for The River Church. Lots of work yet to do, but the anticipation overshadows it.

I really missed having Bible Study on the campus this past week. The students have grown on me. They’re like part of our family now. I have talked to many of them over the holiday break, all seem to be having a good time at home. For many, this was the first opportunity to go home since the beginning of the semester. But I’m sure, that tomorrow evening, there will be a lot of happiness taking place as they return back to TU.

Guess I’ll go for now…everyone is already asleep. As for me…a fresh pot of coffee, and I’ve got to stoke the fire…

Thanksgiving Blessings...

Happy Thanksgiving from the Ohio’s Northcoast! It’s so unusual for our family to be expecting snow for this holiday week. But tonight, we’re expecting our first measurable snowfall. It’s been raining most of the day and the temperature has steadily fallen. We can’t wait till tomorrow, turkey and all the trimmings, I’m off from work, Tab is on Thanksgiving break, so all three of us are planning on enjoying a nice relaxing day at home.

The campus ministry is still growing. We’re averaging over 30 almost every week. New faces each week. But much more than numbers, our students are growing deeper in their walk with Christ each week. They have tasted what ministry is all about. We have been a part of Operation Christmas Child, and for Thanksgiving, we have been able to bless three incredible families with more than enough food for their Thanksgiving meals and for many days afterwards. We also have collected enough, that we will give out three more turkeys for Christmas. If you could only have seen the look on the families faces. I truly believe that we received as much of a blessing as they did.

We have a great open line of communication with each of our students. We receive prayer requests throughout the week from many of our students. This collegiate ministry has literally been an overnight success, proving that God was at work here, long before we arrived. Please continue to keep our students in your prayers, and also pray that God will continue to open doors for us to share the Gospel.

And I’m excited to let you know that on December 2nd, we will be launching our new church plant! The River Church will hold it’s first service on Sunday NIGHT, yes I said NIGHT, at 6:00pm. Anticipation is extremely high for this service. We have secured a temporary location that will serve us well. I humbly ask that you keep that date on your prayer list. I fully expect for God to do some incredible things at this service. I’m very close to having our website ready for the new church plant. As soon as it’s ready, I’ll share it with you.

It’s such a peace to know that we’re in the middle of God’s Will. And to watch Him at work, each and every day continues to blow my mind. This is a Thanksgiving that has a much deeper meaning for our family. We’ve been on an incredible ride for many months, and to look back and see exactly what all God had done for us and provided for us is so humbling. I can’t imagine a single second without God directing our every move. Without Him, we are absolutely nothing. And I want Him in TOTAL control of our lives, every second of every day.

Please continue to keep our family in your prayers. God continues to provide for us in miraculous ways. But we’re still seeking God’s Will for 10 additional families or churches that will see our vision and become financial partners with us. We have no doubt that He is in control, and that He has everything ready for us, in His time.

I thank God for friends and family like you. Without your support, it would be extremely difficult doing what we’re doing. Just knowing that you are there, thinking about us…praying for us…loving on us, continues to help keep us focused. May God give you and your families an incredible Thanksgiving this year. Enjoy your families. We love you dearly.


Serving Him In Ohio,

The Whaley’s
Jim, Denise and Tabitha


The River Church
http://www.h2oforlife.blogspot.com/
http://www.dadsdailygrind.blogspot.com/

Pictures From Our New Home...

Here are a couple of new pictures taken from our new home.

The first is a shot taken from our back yard.

The second picture is taken from our front yard.

And this beautiful shot is taken from our front porch.

Ice & Snow on the Coast...

Snow and ice fell here on the Northcoast today. We're headed to an overnight low of 28!!! Brrrrrr. Not counting the wind chilll!! BBBRRRRRRRR!!!

I'm beginning to feel somewhat better, still kinda runny nosey, and a little achy, but definitely on the mend. Got a busy weekend coming up, tomorrow night we host the TU Dance Team at our house!!! Gonna be some steppin' goin' on, I can just feel it! Saturday night is the TU basketball game against Heidelberg. The TU Dance Team is going to perform...can't miss that with Tabitha in it. Sunday, we'll finish up the Thanksgiving Food Drive for h2o...somekind of serious ministry going on! Pray for us. Pray for the families that we'll be able to share with next week. God is really doing some incredible things here in Tiffin...we're now beginning to see them in action...what a thrill! Have a great weekend...talk to you soon.