Merry Christmas to You and Yours,
I remember when I was young, and the year seemed to progress so slowly until it was finally Christmastime. Now, I am always amazed when I find myself writing this letter again (sitting down to finish it for the 7th time!) with another year coming to a close, a year in which we have had many opportunities for growth and blessings. It has been a year for waiting and receiving perfectly, timed answers.
Many of you have participated in our year, praying us through the times of growth and sharing in the joy of our blessings. Last year, we found ourselves very uncertain of what direction we would be heading. Josh was looking for a new job and our house was on the market. While we knew that God was providing, it was a quite discouraging. We were so thankful for family and friends that continually prayed for us and reminded us of the truth we knew. God is forever faithful and He is in complete control.
Josh began working for my dad’s engineering firm in January. It was the provision we needed and it gave Josh very good experiences. It showed him another area that he was gifted in while taking care of our family’s needs. We are very grateful that there was work available and that Josh caught on to the software quickly. We decided that we would stop looking for ministry positions and wait to see what God was planning. We were told about an open position during the beginning of summer, at Skyline Baptist Church for a Children’s Pastor. While being at Berean, Josh had been in charge of the children’s ministry even though youth was his main responsibility. He had gained a good knowledge base there, but also had been developing a love for the ministry during our year of transition. God worked and showed everyone, very clearly, that this was what He had planned.
Josh is really enjoying his new position and we have been welcomed into the church like family. I am so thankful for our year of growth that was preparing us all along for this transition. The switch to children’s ministry has been wonderful for our family and we love having Josh home more in the evenings. Sophie loves seeing Daddy in her class and it will be nice to have him at events as she and AJ get older! He is staying very busy as he gets to know the volunteers, plans for Sundays, changes and decides the best format, teaches, etc. I love watching him do what he loves, thriving as he is walking in God’s will. He gets along very well with the other staff and I am so thankful for how these other godly men are encouraging him. We are very blessed to be in a church home where godly leadership is in charge. When he is not working at church, he still picks up the occasional engineering job and loves that Sophie is getting old enough to play disc golf with him!
Sophie is three years old! She is growing up so fast and we’re so excited about all she is learning. She attends preschool two times a week and her teacher says that she is learning to focus and participate very well. Since she turned 3 just in August, she is one of the younger kids in her class. She loves going and seeing all her friends. We’re very thankful that there is a Christian school so close to our home! Sophie loves doing things by herself, any art project she can find, puzzles and playing pretend. She loves getting herself dressed for the day and is quite pleased when she’s found the “perfect outfit!” Josh and I are very thankful for the love she is developing for God and everyone she knows. She loves to say her Bible verses and pray “all gether (together).” She gets excited when it’s time for church and she can bring her own Bible and offering. We hope this love for God continues her whole life as she learns to love and trust Him completely. Our prayer for her this year is for self-control in her choices and a listening ear.
AJ (Aaron Joshua) is 19 months old and ALL boy (who can also make a great meal in the pretend kitchen)! He is a very active, rough and tumble, stubborn character. It amazes us how one little body can hold so much energy. His laugh is infectious and his scream deafening! His hugs are frequent and so precious. We know God must have big plans for this child, with how many times Satan has tried to take him out with injuries! This momma is developing serious child proofing creativities and a lot of focused prayer time! We pray every day that his will would be submitted to God and he would learn early on to fall in love with the ways of God. We pray his stubborn streak would be transformed into fighting for truth, instead of focusing on his own way. AJ loves his big sister and is always excited to have her home from school. He loves throwing balls (he is getting a basketball hoop for Christmas) and discs. He is learning that real, big boys do not use pacifiers or diapers!
I keep busy with being mommy and running up and down the stairs all day long (usually holding my 28lb “little” boy)! The home we are renting is a two story and it’s making us rethink our dream house layout, although, it has been so fun to decorate a new, larger space. I am very thankful for the friends that are such an encouragement to me and the new relationships I am making in our new town! If you find yourself wanting to visit, our thrift stores are plentiful I enjoy being a part of Bible study on Tuesday mornings when Sophie is at school. It has been a wonderful time of encouraging fellowship with new friends! God keeps teaching me how to be calm and rest in His timing and plan. It has been a year full of this lesson and I’m so thankful that He does not give up on me! I try to keep our family blog current with family stories and pictures (www.kintighfam.blogspot.com)
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year with our family, we are excited to teach Sophie and AJ the true meaning of the season! We pray that you too would know and believe. Jesus left His throne in Heaven to come to earth as a baby. He came, fully God and fully man, to save us from our sins. He came that we may have abundant life forevermore! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Excerpts):
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Merry Christmas to each one of you and much love from our family to yours!! We pray this coming year is full of peace and mercy for you.
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