All Things Christmas.

Once we were back home from our "Texas Tour" and survived the crazy day of parties
I let the kids sleep in because it was Sunday morning and our service is at 5pm right now.

So we really had no where we had to be.

Ellie and Emily slept until 10 or so.
But my sweet sleeper Gracie did not rouse until 11:30!

 Here was her picture that morning.
She definitely set a record.

She then went back down for a nap at 1:30 and I had to wake her at

4:00 to get ready for church!  Whoa.  Think we wore them out!

The two weeks that followed were so fun.
We loved being in our new city this Christmas.

There were fun new things to do...

and we didn't have to worry about it being too cold to do them!

Like Zoolights!

They open up the zoo at night here during the holidays and it's decorated everywhere

with lights, etc...complete with Christmas music and a talking giraffe!

It was a really chilly December night so that made it fun!

We also had a fun night at our dear friends the Stroupes.

They were the family that we stayed with when we first moved here

last April and they have been like family to us out here.

They had our whole team over for dinner in December.

Delicious food.

Sweet gifts.

Fun conversation.

Here are the older girls at a table all by themselves!

So grown up!

(sorry it's so dark...)

 

Emmy got to be passed around the whole night...

Enamored by Debbie's snow globe.

And we ended the evening with a delicious cappuccino!

Maybe the best I've ever had.

We also had our first annual Antioch Christmas Service!

And the kids had a little part...

sang a few songs and told the Christmas story.

Gracie's part:

"Glory to God in the Highest!" 

She did great...was really brave and said it right into the mic!

Yes, that is my hand trying to encourage everyone to stand up.

Looks chaotic but it really was sweet!

Potluck after!

Rebekah and Ellie, Jade and Jordan

The very first of the Antioch Kids!

And of course, the team (staff) Christmas party 

(plus Amy who was here and helped out with the kids!)

Everyone is holding their "hanitizers" (what the girls call hand 

sanitizers) that Ellie and Gracie picked out for them.

The courageous, awesome, gifted, anointed, will do anything to serve the church,

best people in the world to work with and live life with,

Antioch Tempe Team!

We love you guys.

So fun to walk with you on this crazy adventure

of seeing a church established.