oh christmas tree

'Tis the season. Living in Colorado at a camp means a real Christmas tree for no charge. The guys came over to help us decorate the real tree (only after a "snowball" fight in the house), and then Casey and I decorated the fake tree with Nebraska and KU colored balls. And, yes, those are deer antlers as the topper; he's so creative. (By the way, check out the cool tree stand Casey made for the second tree.)

What a better way to end Christmas-tree decorating than with The Christmas Story.

jc

our missional thanksgiving

In the last post, I talked about what we would be doing for Thanksgiving, and I'm here to report that it went very well. I've always considered Thanksgiving to be a family holiday, but many of the people we served downtown were hurting because they were without family. The day of the year I most look forward to is the day that many across the country dread. We were able to serve food to, pray for and hand notes of encouragement to about 150 people living in about four different motels on E Colfax in Denver. Casey and I prayed for one lady and her husband. Her child had been taken from her at the age of three and given to her ex-husband. Of the two, he was the one with the criminal history. Through deception, lies and a faulty court system, she has not been able to see her son for the past five years. She and her husband were having a very difficult time finding joy this Thanksgiving. What could we do but pray for her? She was not alone in her grief. Definitely a new way to look at this holiday. We are grateful to have had the opportunity. The family we went with used to do this every weekend. It is quite possible that we will be joining them again!

Now if you're feeling like we are such selfless people, let me counter it by saying that we went snowboarding the next day. It was neat to serve one day and then be able to bond with other Christian Leadership Training Program staff and students on the slopes.

jc

turkey day approaches...

This, our first major holiday as a married couple, doesn't leave us in battles over whose family gets what holiday. We are staying in Colorado as we anticipate visitors from Kansas. Morning Star Ranch will be coming out to celebrate Thanksgiving with the staff and students here. Naturally, there are mixed feelings on our part. We'd love to be with family, but we have a packed schedule to keep with our visitors. And since we won't be with family, we are taking the opportunity to serve on Thanksgiving. We will be going to Denver with a family from our church to serve a feast to the working poor who are living in hotels. Please pray for this to be an opportunity to be imitators of Christ and that it would also be a bonding, rewarding experience for all who take part.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with delicious food and great company.