Christmas Party 2008 Photos!, Prayers, and Other News

Friends:

Good evening! I know that you Cowboys fans are in a state of mourning (and half shock) this evening. My hope is that the photos below will serve as a medicine that will help you to work through your time of grief. I know it's hard to believe, but there are a few things in life that are more important than Cowboys football (I know it's hard to imagine, but it's true). But, really, did Romo and Witten even talk in the huddle before that last play?!

We have double reasons to say thank you to Steve and Jennifer May tonight! First of all, let's thank them for opening their beautiful home to us last night for our annual Christmas party. Everyone had a terrific time! Santa was a big hit! On top of that, the consensus is that the kids had a great time upstairs. Steve and Jennifer, I hope the damage wasn't too bad! We also need to thank the Mays for bringing bagels to us this morning in class. You guys get the commitment award this month! Thanks, Mays! Next week, Greg and Courtney Hudson are in charge of snacks. Thanks, Hudsons!

I want to thank everyone for coming to the Christmas Party. This was an excellent opportunity to have some fellowship time together and to prepare for the upcoming Christmas celebration. I also want to thank everyone who brought gifts for CareNet. I have a trunk full of gifts that I will deliver to CareNet tomorrow. We're about to make some new mommies and their babies very happy! God bless everyone who brought gifts. This is a great way for us to give back to our community in some small way.

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

As for prayers, let's continue to pray for our expectant mommies: Shannon Smith and Elizabeth Nemec. Pray for good days and continued strength and growth for the babies.

Nicki Sanchez brought a praise this morning for her Mom. She was baptized recently! Praise God for this great news. Her name is LaDonna. Pray that God will continue to bless LaDonna for many years to come.

Bernie Hookham has asked that we pray for the firm where she works and, especially, for a new employee who begins tomorrow. Pray that he will be the right person for the job.

We need to pray for Tina Leonberger as she continues to deal with problems with her back. She should find out soon, perhaps this week, if she will be able to have surgery. Pray that everything will work out so that she can have the surgery she needs to feel better.

Also, Tina's son is graduating from college this semester. Great news, Tina! He also will be getting married soon. Lots of changes going on with him. Please pray that God will be with Tina, her son, and her soon-to-be daughter-in-law during these times of change and transition.

We need to continue our prayers for Steve May as he looks at job possibilities. Pray that Steve will have closure soon and that God will lead him to the right job.

Christina G.'s Aunt and Uncle have been visiting and will be traveling home this week. Pray for their safe travel. Also for Christina, a former co-worker of hers died recently from heart complications. Please pray for the family. Christina also has a friend whose high school basketball coach died recently. Pray for Christina's friend and the family that is mourning this loss.

We need to keep up our prayers for Ben Sullivan while he is away working on various drilling rigs. Pray that God will keep Ben safe and bring him home safely to Teresa and the kids soon.

Several members of our class had good things to say about the recent Angel Tree party. Let's say a praise that God seems to have done some great work through this ministry.

Last but not least, I want to say thanks to God for a great time last night with all of our friends. This was certainly a Christmas Party that we will remember for a very long time (the pictures will help!)

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For next week's class, we will continue looking at Excellence by focusing on the virtue of "obedience" found in the book of Jeremiah. If you want to read ahead, take a look at Jeremiah chapter 35 (yes, the whole thing; it's short).

I think that's all for this evening. Dana and I look forward to seeing everyone next Sunday morning. Have a great week, folks, and I hope you enjoy the photos below!

Wes and Dana

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