The following is the Christmas Letter that Dana and I sent out this year….
Merry Christmas All!
It’s truly amazing the difference a year can make. Who could have known last Christmas that we would be living once again in Greenville, SC? It wasn’t something that was on my radar screen. But it was on God’s, and here we are… back where we lived for seven years before moving to Ohio. Go figure…
In the past year we (i.e. either the boys or us parents) have:
- played basketball, baseball, football
- been baptized (Timothy)
- sold a house/bought a house
- resigned from jobs and started new ones (Dana is now the Director of the O.R. at St. Francis Hospital in downtown Greenville. Trenton is serving as Assistant Facility Manager at Southside Fellowship Church)
- said goodbye to friends, family, and neighbors
- said hello to old friends, family, and new neighbors
- grieved over leaving a place we loved
- been comforted by returning to a place we loved and called home for seven years
- seen more of our parents than we ever have in 20 years of marriage
- lived with more stress than we ever cared to have
- had our faith tested and stretched than we (I) really would have preferred
- seen the faithfulness of the Lord in wonderful and profound ways
- adjusted and re-adjusted
- cried and laughed
- prayed, prayed, prayed, prayed, and prayed… did I mention “prayed”?
Perhaps at this point you are saying, “…. Bullet points for a Christmas letter?” Sorry. So much has taken place… far too much for a letter like this. But, we would love hear from you all. I am including a plethora of ways to do that. Although we have been back in Greenville for 6 months we are still “settling” especially the boys with school. So… feel free to: call, e-mail, connect via Facebook, visit, or write snail mail.
My favorite word is “Immanuel.” It simply means “God with us.” I’m so glad we haven’t walked this past year alone. As a family we know that God truly has been and is (and will continue to be) with us. Our prayer is that you too would experience Immanuel during this Christmas season and throughout the coming year. Jesus Christ with us… rescuer… redeemer… savior… friend… resurrected to conquer fear and death… soon and coming King. May His peace dwell in your hearts richly.
PEACE TO YOU!
Snail Mail:
114 Sentinel Court Simpsonville, SC 29681E-mail: ttstokes@netzero.net
Phone Number: 864.430.0534
Facebook: go to www.facebook.com. Sign up for an account. Search for Trenton Stokes. Link up as a friend. It is a great way to stay in contact with many people!
