Strength for Today

This evening, after a fun time of fellowship and games (Sardines...a training center favorite!)on the thirteenth floor with the Kraft family, our family enjoyed a delightful time of Christmas caroling and then an impromptu hymn-sing and ice-cream social in the lobby until nearly midnight... Random imformation, but it was the most fun we've all had in a long time and we all decided to do it again as soon as possible... It's beautiful how fellowship with the saints strengthens and edifies, isn't it?

Shiloh at Three Months

Still Dreaming of White

Christmas is our family's favorite time of the year! Nothing makes our family happier than reliving every year our memories and traditions of spending days shopping for "just the right" gift for each other, baking all sorts of sumptious candy, pies, truffles, and cookies (we always make special family favorites and then try several new recipes every year), making and mailing cards, getting together with friends for games and caroling, gingerbread house-making contests, reading books and listening to Christmas radio-drama theater in the evenings, and of course, spending our days laughing and singing--all the while dreaming of a very white Christmas...

This Christmas has been a little different for us. We still made sure to spend plenty of time shopping for each of our own special gifts, baking desserts (although the amount certainly decreased this year), making cards, playing games, and reading together..oh, and making gingerbread houses...or training centers =) But it was all very different, nonetheless. The Lord has been showing me that although family traditions and memories of our own eccentricities of times past are good and beautiful, the focus still is--and always has been--our Redeemer and King, Christ Jesus. God still so loved the world that He gave His Son--the unspeakable gift--that we might live and triumph in Him. And no amount of change in circumstances and traditions can ever change that.

So even though our Christmas was different here in Indy (and it most definitely didn't snow!), it was wonderfully jolly and I wouldn't trade it for any other! Nothing compares to the sweet fellowship and moments of joy in friendship with brothers and sisters in Christ, be it friends or family...The Lord knew what our family needed and we are so grateful for His perfect sovereignty! May the goodness of God continually bless you and cause you to rest in His covenant faithfulness and rejoice in the hope of His glory this coming year.

Merry Christmas!
The Nelson Clan

The breakfast tables, complete with fruit and checkered napkins for an authentic Christmas brunch!

Setting up the tables for our special Christmas dinner.

The beautifully decorated tables in the back of the dining room!

Ready to eat.... =)
photos courtesy of Anna Kraft

Anna, Rebekah, and Benjamin Heagy

What we do for fun when no one is around...

photos courtesy of Anna Kraft

Craft Day with the Krafts

The gingerbread ITC

Preparing to make chocolate-covered pretzels with Mrs. Paine

Explaining how to make glittered ornaments

Making candy ropes

Abby and Sophia

Hannah and Abby helping the twins decorate cookies

Nate helping Silas

Adorable Shiloh at South Campus during the Christmas Conference.

A random picture...Savannah crying as Mr. Gothard hands her a Christmas gift during the Christmas Conference. She must have been frightened or something! ;-)