Last Saturday Jared and Jennifer Hendrix hosted the Dirty Santa gift party in their beautiful log home atop a hill on Dry Creek. Everyone pitched in with a covered dish of finger foods that turned out wonderful tasting. The group enjoyed stealing the best gifts from one another until they’d landed on the third time being stolen. It’s a fun night and we really enjoy this gift exchange each year. We have two beautiful new coffee mugs to enjoy. Thanks Santa.

Jerald and Lisa Cripps have been singing in their annual singing Christmas Tree at Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church. Their church family really enjoys performing in the tree each year as a gift to others. It really takes a lot of hard work, but we enjoy the blessing of attending each year. This year was wonderful. We enjoyed visiting with several of our friends and seeing Bro. Wood, who has graciously visited in our home. God has really blessed this singing tree for twelve years. This year there was good attendance every night and several lives being changed to grow closer to Christ. We are thankful to be able to attend this beautiful presentation.

Most of our care givers are off for the holidays to visit their families. We are excited for them to have a good Christmas break. Buddy and Deborah Fuson of AR will be staying in our home while they are off. We always enjoy their visits. We pray for good traveling weather from AR to TN and back for them.

We wish all the students and teachers a good winter’s break. It is always a much needed time of rest. It seems like the years just fly by the older one gets, but for children it can’t go too fast.

The Cripps family met at the home of Jerald and Lisa Cripps, Liberty Saturday afternoon for their Christmas meal and gift giving. It was reported to be a wonderful event. Those attending were the following: Dwight Cripps, Jordan and Nicole Cripps, Christian and Claire of Dry Creek, Wanda Cripps, Paul Tubbs, Angela Royalty and sons, Brody and Brayden of Lebanon, Matt and Melody Cripps and sons, Owen, Kai, and Ledger of Murfreesboro, Justin and Tiffany Cripps and son, Greyson of Smithville.

The Lottie Moon Christmas offering for missions is being taken at many of our churches during December. It is always interesting to read about this dear missionary and her life.

Please continue to keep the following in your prayers: Georgie Hawker, Karen Jacobs, Baby Lela Young, and several we know that have unspoken request.

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy your friends and family time. Show God’s love and remember to celebrate God’s gift of his son Jesus.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope.

Romans 15:13