Merry Christmas!

I hope you had a great Christmas season. I got my Christmas newsletter out earlier this month (if you didn't receive let me know and I can e-mail it to you), but I realized today that I hadn't updated the blog lately, so here we go...

We had a fun night at youth group 2 weeks ago. Many of our students were traveling for the break, but for those of us who were around, we had a great time. We started the evening off with a sharing time for a few college students here visiting their families during their Christmas breaks. We then said good bye to Noel (the gal bellow in yellow). She's moving to Whiteman AFB in Missouri this upcoming week. After that we read the Christmas story together and spent time talking about it. We talked about how God came to be with us, and how amazing it was that He became flesh and made His dwelling among us. It's so cool that we have a God who desires relationships with us and enters into our world and pursues us. We then moved into a fellowship time where we enjoyed being with one another and enjoying the relationships God has blessed us with here.

Here's a few pictures from the night...

^Playing a card came called "Hi Jack" - sounded and looked fun, I need to learn how to play.

^Playing Ninja - my 2nd favorite youth group game (behind Bop Bop Bitty Bitty Bop Bop, of course)

^Melana having fun with finger darts.

^ Me with Moriah and Mehgan... hanging out a movie night @ the Johnson's a few weeks ago. We watched Mystery Science Theater, attack of the giant spider - it was filmed in Lincoln and Langlade counties in Wisconsin, and actually mentioned Gleason (the small, small, small town, my mom grew up near) and had many Packer mentions as well.

*****

Christmas Eve services were cancelled due to a mix of snow and sleet, making the roads icy. Thankfully by Christmas day, the roads had cleared and travel was safe. I spent the day at the Hospitality House. Other singles and unaccompanied people (those whose spouses are in the states or deployed), gathered in the morning for breakfast and presents. Some folks brought presents their families and friends mailed them from home to open with our group. Another Cadence gal contacted her supporters in the states and asked them to “adopt” a single, and buy them a few presents to bless them and make them feel loved and remembered on Christmas morning. I enjoyed watching people receive their unexpected presents and seeing how special it made them feel. I even received a few - including Starbucks coffee beans and an Amazon gift card! : )

^Before brunch and presents, Bailey isn't so sure about all the madness.

^After brunch and presents, we're a happy group!