what Christmas meant

As we get rested up from Christmas, I've had some time to consider what Christmas meant this year...

The emotions ran high!

I went from doubting that it would ever come together - to the excitement or progress, and then felt loneliness under the weight of responsibility  - I went from exhaustion to the exhilaration of accomplishment and then fell into a deep contentment as we were surrounded by family!  I just love the challenge to create and relish the years I've been involved with many other team members working on the details.  The enjoyment of creating doesn't lessen the emotions we experience, but this year when we gave out over 60 new believer packets to people that raised their hands indicating a decision to follow Christ, any worry we had experienced was immediately forgotten and turned to praise!

In the midst of preparing Christmas there were intentional moments of reflection on the true meaning of a Savior born for me...a breath taking realization!

I love the season despite it's hectic requirements - and realize what a privilege it is to try each year to tell the story in a true, compelling way praying it makes the story of Jesus come alive to someone for the first time!

You can watch our service here Christmas at Crossroads

I took many pictures that I'd like to share - they tell the story of the journey called Christmas!

Crossroads Artist Group created light-bulb decorations
for the Crossroads tree at Kingwood

Grandmas helpers with the Crossroads' Christmas
tree!

When your talented daughter writes a book...what a blessing to read this Christmas!
Jocelyn Hunsader, author.

This precious little one was part of our Christmas video shoot!

My talented son Eric Biddle shot the Christmas videos

Our precious friend Kristin playing the part of the doctor in our video

It was a cold video shoot day

Such generous Crossroads' attendees braving the cold for our video shoot

Family all together at the carousel! 

Ernesto brought the house down with "Mary Did You Know"!
It was a definite highlight!

Loved working with these hilarious, talented gentlemen!!

A whole row of my Ashland cousins - so thankful for extended family I love!!

Blessed to have the amazing group The Trio playing in our lobby!

Beautiful flowers for the talented granddaughter dancer!

A star is born!

Good friends for Christmas lunch - Dana and Sue!

Cousins so happy to be back together!

Not sure who likes legos more?

Oliver and grandpa carrying Grandma Forbes' new tv down to her!

Family helping to take all the decorations down and clean for the Celebration services!

Loving being together again!

I encourage all of you with grandkids to let them serve with you and see you serve in the church,
if they grow up doing it they take such pride in serving others and spending time at church!!

This about wraps up my blessed Christmas.  I can't thank all of you who made Christmas at Crossroads a possibility, and all of my friends that prayed for me and encouraged me as we planned and executed the services with our amazing teams!!  Happy New Year!

emotional overdrive

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm ok.

Although over the past few weeks and months I've experienced many emotions, the one that dominates all others is a sense of peace.

A complete confidence in a daughter's Godly dependance and trust in the Lord has given us the peace that only comes from God.  Of course we would rather have them all here with us, but we believe they are exactly where God called them to be.

Here are a few pictures that may visually explain the emotional ride...

Engagement photo shoot on "the farm"

One of the final weekends leading Student Ministry worship

God created a new family!

Other loved ones celebrated - Jocelyn got to say a few words at their wedding

Trinity's dedication at Crossroads

rehearsing for the Night of Worship recording

Night of Worship recording with area leaders

Trinity finished up MCS soccer

Joci lead at Night of Worship

Staff farewell lunch for Joci

Farewell dessert at Whitts - these 3 love icecream

final cousin hugs

We tied prayers of farewell and blessings on the balloons and released them following prayer.

Family farewell prayer and blessing

Jocelyn ended her time at Crossroads well...I can't imagine what is more important than that.  I thank the Lord for a church that walked right beside Jocelyn through the toughest times.  Thank you for your prayers Crossroads and the blessings that follow them!

Words from her pastor that will remain with her forever!

So yes, I sit here missing our mother-daughter time together, but have learned a lot the last couple  years about God's faithfulness and trust that I wouldn't have understood any other way.  

I am resting in such peace that I can celebrate God's provision and the next amazing chapter of a new, Godly family whose daily lives will be pointing others toward the Savior simply by how they trust. love one another and just how they live.  And I really, really am very good!  

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. (1 Thessalonians 5: 23, 24)

an early scary morning

Promptly at 8:00 a.m. this morning my cousin arrived with flatbed, wench and determination.

We have been battling a slowly dying - very messy cherry tree that hangs directly over our home covering our deck with very messy tiny cherries and precariously sitting at the top of a steep hill.

As I watched the preparation, which included tying a small weight to the end of a rope and in excellent cowboy form 'roping' the branch - I wondered how this tree could possibly fall away from the house. The truck and flatbed sitting below with wench secured - floored it to get out of the way of the falling tree as it fell perfectly landing right between to large trees without injuring either!

Now the shop kids in the Hillsdale shop class, can continue their award winning creations using beautiful cherry wood! Everyone wins!

Watch the video to see how close to the house it truly was!!

farewell college cousins

We had a great dinner with family tonight, nothing better than that! Our daughter and nephew will be leaving for college again next week, so we got together.

I cannot remember when I have ever laughed so hard! 5 of us were laughing so much we couldn't breathe and had tears running down our faces, much needed relaxation! Here are a couple of the pictures we took of one another before leaving!

I hope you have an opportunity to get together with people you enjoy this weekend. I think God takes pleasure when we enjoy one another and when he hears his children laughing!!

deep breath - it's over

I love Christmas, but I am soooo tired! Deep breath...aaaaaa finally, sleep!

We had a great day with family, and a few friends along the way. God is good!

I am so thankful for the fact that our family gets along well and enjoys being together. A blessing!

My kids love their cousins and grandparents, so after being away at school last semester, they were ready to spend time with them! We really did have a great day.

I pray that each of your enjoy the rest of your holiday and we will see you on Saturday at Crossroads!