A TIME OF CELEBRATION

Greetings Family and Friends,

As you can see, we have a new family Christmas photo posted today. It was taken on Thanksgiving day when all of our children and grandchildren gathered at our house to celebrate together the many blessings of this past year. There's nothing sweeter to a mother's heart than being surrounded by all of her family. It was sweet!!! Lara, Britney, Carter and Ashlyn drove down from Minnesota --- 18-20 hours in the car with a five year old and an almost three year old, can you only imagine!! They arrived safely on the Friday afternoon before Thanksgiving, a little travel weary but glad to be back in Georgia for a short visit. They were able to see some of their friends and to go back to their church on Sunday and that was nice. The BEST part of their visit was that Pop and I had six wonderful days with them. They have been gone for six months already and Carter and Ashlyn have grown like little weeds. (It will be 6 months before I see them again and that thought breaks my heart). Since they moved, our time together has become that much more special!! When they arrived back home in Minnesota they were greeted with six inches of snow, which as of yesterday, was still on the ground. They will probably have their first ever "White Christmas". During the month of November we also celebrated Rebekah's 13th birthday (talk about growing up too fast, I still can't believe she is a teenager), Melinda celebrated her 39th birthday (that's right...her last one before that BIG 40) and also, I celebrated my 16th (was that a that a typo error?!!...I meant to say my 61st). November is a big birthday month for us!

Now, here we are in the month of December; where has this year gone? It is another big month of birthdays for the Mitchell girls. ( Pam's 37th and Jill's big 30th). My baby is turning 30, yikes! Marvin and I will be celebrating a big milestone in our lives as well. This year marks our 40th wedding anniversary and we are going to Disney World to celebrate and pretend that we are teenagers again! I thank God every day for the wonderful man he has blessed me with. One who loves the Lord, who loves me and who has walked with me in all things. He has been the most giving man to his family, (always unselfishly) and has always taken good care of all "his girls". I publicly praise him today. Because of Marvin, I came to know the Lord and walking with God for the last 41 years has been an amazing journey. The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows!

Speaking of ...here we are in the Christmas season. That wonderful time of year when we stop to focus on the greatest gift that was ever given ... "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS". It was just a few days after Christmas last year (December 28th to be exact) that I got the call from my doctor, the one that changed my life forever. God has taught me things that I could have never imagined, and though it has been a challenging year, I have no doubt that in my life--"all is well". My Savior walks with me on the mountain top as well as in the valley and the peace that only He can give has been my strength. As this year ends, I will look back and be reminded once again of every single blessing that has come my way. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

I love you all so much and I, as always thank God for each of you. Wherever you spend this Christmas season, I pray that God will bless you beyond measure! I want to close with this thought; (it is in my Christmas card this year but it reflects the very thoughts of my heart as well):
" May your season be filled with sweet peace, simple joy, and "GOD'S AMAZING LOVE'.

I love you guys,
Judy

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.