I love the holidays! We have been so blessed as a family. This last month has been a special gift of time with family. We have enjoyed my parents being here for the whole month. They have had the opportunity to get to know Carla and Matthew and spend time with Teddy. My Mom baked us many special treats, and helped me figure out some decorating ideas. She also did some painting for me and my Dad did some little "fix-it" jobs, that have been needing to be done for awhile, but we just never seem to have the time to get around to them.:-) We will be heading to Guayaquil with them tomorrow, as they fly back home on Thursday. We are all going to miss them!
We have enjoyed the Christmas Season with the Children. Spending time each evening during the month of Dec. reading verses and discussing different parts of the Christmas story. It is has been so much fun to watch Carla and Matthew become more and more familiar with the story, and not just the story of Jesus but understanding that he was born so that he could die on the cross, so that we could be saved! Teddy has also grown in his understanding of many different aspects of the Christmas Story. On Christmas Eve we enjoyed our own Birthday Party for Jesus.
We also had a great month at our church with high attendances of 155, 151 and 161! The ladies enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Tea on Sunday afternoon, the 18th. It was such a blessing to have the ladies take responsibility for so much of the tea, and follow through with it. 49 Ladies participated and had a wonderful time. We also had our children's Christmas program on the 18th. Teddy was Joseph this year, Carla was one of the angels and Matthew was part of the "Multitude of Angels" along with the rest of his class. :-)
On Christmas Day we had a "Birthday Party" for Jesus. Each of the classes started out in their class rooms, playing games, doing a Christmas craft, having a snack. (Even the adults and young people, we skipped the craft! :-) Then we all went to the auditorium, and enjoyed singing Christmas carols, watching a puppet skit and a message from God's word. We took a special offering for 2 of our missionaries and also collected toys, clothes and non-perishable items for a Children's Home in our area. It was such a blessing to see our church being generous with others!
As this year comes to a close, I can't help but count all the many blessings the Lord has poured out on us and look with excitement at the coming year. I don't know what 2012 holds for the Anzalone Family, but I know the one who does and I am so glad that I can trust him to guide our family each step of the way!
Blessings and Happy New Year!
Joy
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