This has been a year of changes, new family members and hard work. I looked back at my calendar and very few weeks were not full. Here is a quick summary of the year:
January — Cady, Kevin and Catherine were busy with two toddlers. Becca and Zach were living in South Carolina and newly pregnant. Andy was working on our summer National Staff Conference. Catherine worked at a conference for Latino college students. Rachel went back to North Greenville University for her 3rd season of Lacrosse. One month later, Miss Khloe turned 3.
April — Miss Rylie turned 2. Rachel was named to First Team All-Conference for the second year in a row.
May — Cady turned 30! Becca moved into our house the day after we left for Fort Collins. Khloe and Rylie began school three days a week.
June — Colorado!! Catherine, her brother Tim and her brother Matt along with his wife, Megan and two girls, Maddie and Eliza gathered in Fort Collins to celebrate their mom’s (Barbara’s) 80th birthday. We all enjoyed breakfast near the Poudre River and dinner in Old Town. Barbara, her sister Karen, Matt and his family then went hiking from the YMCA in Estes Park. Barbara and Karen spent summers there with their parents in the 1950’s.
July — Cru’s National Staff Conference brought more than 4500 U.S. Staff to Colorado. It was a TON of work. God answered many prayers for Becca and Zach as they transitioned to FL: both found jobs, found a place to live (available September 1st) and Zach moved down from South Carolina.
August — Catherine had rotator cuff surgery, followed by a hard recovery (which is still ongoing). Murphy Catherine Greene-Rettig joined our family. Rachel returned to NGU for her senior year. Becca, Murphy and Catherine spent most of the next month on the couch, recovering! Andy went to South Africa in support of Cru’s global digital ministry. In October Andy was a groomsman for a young man he mentors. Becca’s job (3’s preschool teacher) allowed her to return with Miss Murphy (who is in a classroom just down the hall). Again, an amazing answer to prayer!
November — Andy and Catherine traveled to Charlotte to celebrate Andy’s brother Jeff’s 60th and his sister-in-law Tonya’s 45th birthdays. Catherine continued to recover from her shoulder surgery, going to physical therapy twice a week! Rachel got an internship with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, in their women’s lacrosse program, for Summer 2020.
December — Our year has ended with several sudden losses. We have lost three friends and my dad’s wife, Steffany. They have left deep holes in our hearts. It has been hard to “get into the Christmas spirit.” And yet we end the year with a sweet gratitude for God’s sovereignty, grace, provision, and how God’s Word is a life line. We have been and are grateful for the families, men, woman, churches and businesses who have allowed us to do the ministry God has laid before us. It has been a challenging year, yet God has been with us at every step!
We pray that God’s presence will feel very real to you this Christmas season!
More pics of the family:
The Kelloggs 