a different Christmas

 This will be a different Christmas for sure!  

My daughter's first baby arrived early so I had the privilege of being down in NC with her for the past week 1/2.  What a joy to see how amazing she and Jared are parenting this little one, already pointing him to Jesus!  I have loved every moment of it!

Being here also means I'm less involved then normal with Crossroads' Christmas.  I still have responsibilities but missing all the final meetings and tweaks to the plans.  Christmas was always one of my favorite ministry seasons although some of the pastor's I've worked with didn't particularly love it - ha ha!

It's always a magnificent thing to watch everything fall into place as God's hand touches our work and forms it into exactly what His will is.  None of us ever dreamed COVID would still be controlling much of what is happening around us by December, but alas it is.  Still, I see God's leading even in things like Pastor Dave's suggestion for live animals this year - and the fact that they have to be outside.  This removed all worry about COVID by wearing masks and being spread out from one another in the fresh air!

It gives everyone at Crossroads the opportunity to invite anyone they've been wanting to invite to church to stop by...even if it's just to see the animals!  Please use this opportunity to invite families, even if you don't think they'll stay for the service it may be Step #1 in getting them to Crossroads.  Meanwhile inside the Gospel of Jesus will be celebrated through beautiful song and God filled teaching! 

Everything we plan is intentional, everything pointing them to the Savior! We'll have people out with our animals in front of the church to welcome everyone and chat with them about Christ's birth - we just need you to help us get those people here!  We'll even have a camel!

Remember if you invite people with Elementary aged kids or younger, there will be children's services just for them at all of the 5:00 p.m. services - December 22, 23 & 24.  

Even in the ugliness of all the sickness, we can still safely worship and honor King Jesus while remaining a safe distance from one another! I'll be back from NC soon and hope to see you there!

home town fun

These are just a couple of the amazing sites and adventures I experienced today.

I know you are quite jealous, I'm very sorry...

When you are born in a small rural town, you grow up surrounded by strange animals and large produce.



I saw veggies get ribbons and animals win prizes today. I ate until I was sick and I watched auctions and horse shows - almost too much enjoyment for one day.

I'll probably go back one more evening this week, just can't get enough of the home town fair!

my day off

Have you revisited places where you spent a lot of time as a child and felt that it was so much smaller than you remembered it? That was the case with me today. I drove to my home town and went to the Ashland County Fair. This was the location of many of my best childhood memories!

My sister and I were quick to find our favorite food vendors! This was just one of many that we sampled.

Another highlight was all the kids trying desperately to control very large animals, they did well except for a couple who laid down or got away from them.
We then watched goats in costume competing for prizes. Crazy!

My parents were also with us and we all had a great time.
As I left this evening and and looked back at the fair, it truly did seem much smaller than I remember as a child. But it was still very full of big memories!