Christmas Card 
&Letter 

Honestly, Christmas Cards almost did not happen this year. Not because we have stopped loving you or did not want to share what God has been doing in our life, but because Christmas Cards take time! (especially if you have attention issues and obsessive compulsive tendencies!) This year we have really tried to put a high priority on how we spend our time at home.   Little time at home is hard for this family of five who just loves being at home.  Troy and I love being at home which is no surprise based on our constant “projects”. So do each of our children, almost always choosing to have their friends in our home rather than going elsewhere, which is absolutely answered prayer. This has always been our heart’s desire and motivation in making our home!

Of course, we love to do a lot of things that we really just can’t do at home. Mitchell (8) would have a hard time playing basketball and soccer at home. Georgia lawns are definitely not made for playing level field/court sports! Makenzie (14) cannot cheer and tumble at home – our ceilings aren’t high enough, not to mention she would so miss the competition she thrives on.  Marshall (16) absolutely cannot participate in Marching Band Shows and Competitions or even Concert Band at home. He might be able to have Academic Bowl meets at home, but sadly, I am not sure anyone else would ever answer a question.  Troy can’t hike at home, unless he was to wear his backpack to take out the trash!  I can do a lot at home, but eventually I would need more supplies! Of course, Troy and I couldn’t watch our children doing what they love if we stayed home. All of the time spent away from home just makes things like eating together, hanging out with friends, and staying in touch with those we love a top priority when we are home!

Much of our time spent away from home this year was fabulous. We were blessed with a trip to Ft. Myers Beach (thanks Uncle Mike!), a trip to Panama City Beach (thanks Uncle Jim & Aunt Tammy!), two trips to Illinois, a gold panning trip for Troy (and no, he didn’t get to quit his day job!) and a weekend in Savannah. Yet, every trip, regardless of how awesome it was, always ended the same –all of us ready to be home.

Exactly as I know Heaven will be, as incredible as the journey is here on earth—

there is nothing like Home.

Praising Jesus for leaving His home in Heaven for us,

Troy Kendra Marshall Makenzie & Mitchell

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

We pray that you have a day filled with giving thanks.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalms 100:4

Hurricane Storm Invitational

Okay, to be fair, we were warned by the name of this competition that it would be a DISASTER! The girls competed at Monroe Area High School today and again, looked awesome. That was not the disaster ... this disaster was man-made, by the organizers! At the middle school level the schools are divided into two categories, small and large, based on how many cheerleaders take the floor. Without going into great detail - because of how we are scored, points for amount of tumbling, amount of stunts, etc. it would be nearly impossible for a team of 16 (small) to compete with a team of  20-30 (large). Well, apparently, the organizers of this competition did not know this (very scary thought!) or didn't care, or maybe, didn't want to buy a lot of trophies with OUR money. So, our girls placed second behind the only large school competing. We had no idea that we would be scored together and to make matters worse, the judges didn't know they were scoring all teams together, either! Oh, wait a minute, there is more ... Makenzie's stunt group participated in the "lib-off". The goal here is to be the last group standing in a "liberty". (Her group was the only middle school stunt group to participate.) They out lasted every group competing with the exception of one. The DISASTER here is the flyer in the other group dropped her leg at least three times, obviously not a liberty, and was never called out! So, again, Second Place for the First Place team!

But, here is where it gets good ... is that why we allow and encourage Makenzie to cheer? For the medals and trophies? For the glory? No, of course not. We want our kids to enjoy life, find their passion, learn about teamwork, but mostly, we want to mold Godly character in each of them. So, today, we have the opportunity to teach (and model!) just that! James says it like this, "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (2-4 The Message) So, today I am praying that her Second Place finishes are growing her into the the Godly woman that above all else is pleasing to Him.

Thanks, Aunt Rob!

Not because of what you do for us,

but for who you are to us!

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28

For this child I prayed ...

Clay's Dedication Day

I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life."

And, they worshipped the Lord there.

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Just thinking ...

Proverbs 21:9 - Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. 

Proverbs 21:19 - Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife. 

Proverbs 27:15 - A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day. 

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your

good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Matthew 5:16

Our Christmas Card & Letter 2008

Anyone who knows Troy and I knows we truly live out the phrase “one man’s trash is another’s treasure”! Whether  we are on a “Saturday date” (yard sales), spending “half-price day” at our favorite thrift store or the occasional dumpster dive,  we have never been afraid of a pile of trash. We can find the treasure!

This  year we have sorted through a lot of trash,  sometimes having to look extra hard to find the treasure. I think the “trash” has made us even more thankful for the many  “treasure” times this year— a family/Marching Band trip to Disney to see both of the boys march in the parade down Main Street, Mitchell meeting Captain Hook - his all time favorite Disney character (huh?), two super fun seasons of soccer for him,  Makenzie making the Competition Cheerleading team, having a fun & winning season, becoming state champions, Marshall entering high school, being a part of an award winning Marching Band, performing in the Concert Band, getting his  “Learner’s” (“treasure” for him– not me, not by any stretch of the imagination!), hiking trips, too many BRAVES games to count, business success, and most “treasured”,  lots of time spent in our home with family and friends.

Having three children (celebrating birthdays 15, 13 &7) in three different schools this year, very involved in three very different activities, has certainly brought a ton of “trash” into our lives! I am not just talking about the French fry boxes left in the van, I am talking about the “trash” of hours of  practices, football games, competitions (band & cheerleading), soccer matches, homework and projects, you know, all the things that make it a challenge for families to eat together, watch movies together and pray together. It has been in between the “trash” of crazy schedules that we have had to dig deep to find the “treasure” in living in this moment,  watching our children growing—happy, healthy and bearing the name of Christ. 

That is “treasure”!

We know this year, at times, has seemed to be  “trash filled”  for a lot of our family and friends , and our nation as a whole. But, God’s Word is so clear ... this “trash” on earth dos not last, but the “treasure” of salvation is forever. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, who left the “treasure” of Heaven to save a “trash filled” world,  it is the perfect time to consider what we “treasure” and if it will stand the test.

We Pray Your Christmas and New Year Will Be Full of Treasure!

Troy Kendra Marshall Makenzie & Mitchell 

“But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven,where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal, because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:20-21

Photo taken @ Johnson’s Truck Sales  Norris City, Illinois

(Yes, we are in a “junk yard”!)