Katriel and Pastor Tim

| Stacy

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Not sure what else I would title this.

My friend Miriam sent me this photo.  She said she couldn’t resist snapping it after she saw these two in conversation (while having a snack at a small reception at the church).  I love that there is such a culture of intergenerational fellowship at our church.   I am just as likely to find my kids visiting with someone 50 years their senior as I am to find them chatting with someone their own age.  This goes for all my kids.

This summer, I heard a research article summarized on a radio broadcast.  It said that young people who stayed involved in church into adulthood could identify 4 non-family member adults who they had friendships/relationships with at church as youth.  At this point my kids could “boast” of way more than double that number.  I am exceedingly grateful for this.  We all but left our church in 2011, but God saw fit to direct us back.  It’s worked out spectacularly.

Youth Group Christmas Party

| Stacy

It was a really busy day.  But there was no better way to end it than to celebrate the season with a Christmas party for the youth group.  We’d spent the fall walking through Jesus’ early ministry and the book of John and this time was set aside to be silly together.

The theme of the annual Youth Group Christmas Party was Your Favorite Movie or Song.  Despite the fact we’d had weeks to prepare it was in the last few minutes before the party that we threw together costumes.

As the minutes ticked by, we came up with these:

Tab was Max from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

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I was a Who from the same movie.

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Marie was the mouse that the Grinch didn’t leave enough crumbs for.

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Nigel paid homage to his Grinchy friend.

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I wasn’t the only Who.

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Our friend Megan created this beautiful set of wings and wore bells in tribute to It’s a Wonderful Life.

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We played a bunch of games and ate like junk food kings.

Marie: Retro

| Stacy

Marie was invited to a sock-hop style birthday party.  We found this not-so-poodle poodle skirt on Craigslist, and the collared top at Goodwill.  A red scarf from our pirate gear, and off she went.

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CBS Christmas offerings

| Stacy

Another year of CBS blessings, as the students gathered to sing praises to God for His indescribable gift of Jesus.

Johanna and Katriel majored in enthusiasm.  And my images pretty much stunk.

I guess I was too busy enjoying the singing.

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Asa is back.

| Stacy

Our sweet shepherd, Asa, has returned for the advent season.  He is bringing crafts and treats, and daily encourages us to look for Jesus. 

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Each day comes with a card with scripture and some wisdom from Asa.  The girls look forward to seeing what he is up to each morning, and he keeps me on my toes as he scurries around the house each day.

Youth Group…

| Stacy

I spent my actual birthday at Impact, our church’s youth group that meets Sunday evenings.  After working alongside teens at Flower City Work Camp these last two years, I shouldn’t have been surprised when the Holy Spirit hit me and told me to ask about coming alongside the other youth leaders to serve in this dynamic ministry.  Our church has seen a strong growth in youth group attendance over the last few years.  About forty kids gather on Sunday evenings and each one has been uniquely created by God.  I want each of them to know how much Jesus loves them and hope to encourage and exhort each one of them.

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And – it is also fun to see the Butler kids having fun. 

A WHAT?

| Stacy

After doing some face painting at church last night, the girls were eager to do more of it at home today.  Johanna created this animal on Katriel.  Katriel directed her to make her into a “yellow and blue dot creature I call pepperoni” and ended up less than enthused by the results.

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“I look like a drooling doofus.”