Merry Christmas from The Holdens!!

We have had a wonderful year! It has been full of many busy times and many blessings.

Ben is loving pouring into the middle school students and it is a true joy as his wife to volunteer in the ministry that he leads and walk along side him in the passion that God has given him and watch him pour his life into what God has called him to do. He is also going to seminary part time and has stayed focused in the past year to achieve his goal of graduating in another 3 years.

I have been blessed to be able to stay at home with our sweet Ellie and it has been through God's constant provision, even when it didn't seem possible from my limited perspective, that I have been able to do that. My sister-in-law found a great part time opportunity online that I have been doing since September that has provided exactly what we need and that is all that I have asked of God and he has always shown up in this year. Ellie and I have enjoyed lots of fun adventures and did a ton of playing this year. I have also enjoyed a new love for sewing and have made many fun items and of course Ellie is the prime recipient of this items.

Ellie has grown immeasurably this year. She has begun walking and talking and has developed the sweetest and funniest personality in this last year. She keeps Ben and I laughing all the time and she is so sweet to others. I know when her little sister comes in the spring she is going to be an amazing big sister. She is like a little mommy Ben says. She has spent the year taking care of her baby doll and learning to do so many chores. She loves to do whatever I do and has become quite independent. She brings so much joy into our home. We can't even remember life without her.

As a family we have had many fun experiences throughout the year and made many exciting memories and are excited to have many more in the coming year, our biggest being adding another sweet little baby girl into our family. Ben will be in a house full of girls (even our kitty is a girl) but he couldn't be happier and we are so excited to meet our newest addition. The Lord has given us many blessings this past year and many challenges and He has shown up in all of our moments and as we look back on our year we can see it very clearly that He is always there.

We pray you all have a very Merry Christmas and stop to remember why we truly celebrate this very special season!

Love,
Ben, Emily, Ellie and Baby Girl