Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all! We did not send Christmas cards again this year, but we do want to wish those we love and care about a blessed Christmas. And we do thank those of you who did send cards for thinking of us. We so enjoy checking the mailbox this time of year and seeing your pictures and hearing updates on your lives.

This has been a great year for us. Of greatest importance is that we welcomed our precious Anna at the end of January. And, while we were quite busy with a 2 year old and a baby this year, we know we are blessed to have them both in our lives and we do thank God for them each day.

I also feel so blessed to be ministering with and to the Belmont congregation. I just love, love, love my work and this church and am so grateful to be a part of this community of faith. Jon and the kids also really love BMC and have so enjoyed plugging in and making this our church home.

Jon is also still really enjoying his work at OSMC. It's a well-run organization with people he genuinely likes and has fun with. And, of course he enjoys helping people who are hurting feel less pain. We both know what a blessing it is to have meaningful work in these times, and we do not take that for granted.

The only major trips for us this year were going to Florida (Disney World) to celebrate Jon's Aunt Margie's life and our trip to the MCUSA Convention in Columbus where my mom and I spoke. Both were fun excursions, but mostly we enjoyed staying home this year--hunkering down, spending time as a family, and trying to establish, and then stay, in a routine.

We are looking forward to 2010 and all of the changes it will bring in our family as our children continue to grow and develop. We hope and pray that you are also anticipating an interesting and fun new year. But most of all we hope that today you are enjoying time with family and/or friends and finding ways to enter into the celebration of our Lord Jesus' birthday. At our house this morning we had a waffle breakfast and opened presents. And now Jon and Noah are making a birthday cake for Jesus while Anna naps and I write this post. I'd better go join in the cooking fun before they are finished.

May all of the peace, joy, hope and love that the Reason for this season brings be yours this day!

Love,
Mandy, Jon, Noah, and Anna