Merry Christmas From the Streed's: A Christmas Blog 2013

Let us give thanks: for pleasures which comfort and pains which force our growth and and keep us at the Shepherd's side...

from the poem "Let Us Give Thanks" by Gerhard E. Frost 

This year has been a good year for us stretching our faith in ways that we would have never imagined.  This summer I resigned as Associate Pastor at City Hill. Jenni and I did a whole lot of prayer walking before making the decision and as we walked through the difficulties surrounding leaving.  God has been showing us areas in our hearts that we weren't trusting Him fully and has brought us more desperation and hope in Him.  We have learned so much and received so much from God and from friends.  So many people gave of their time, talents and finances to encourage us and help us when we needed it most.  

We don't know what is next for us but we are trusting God for providing a job and for taking care of us. He has an excellent track record in this area and we already have a long list of blessings that He has graciously showered upon us on this faith journey.  We are even more thankful that He is our Immanuel -God with us- in the midst of all of life's changes, challenges, and blessings.  Merry Christmas!

Q: WHICH ONE IS THE REAL STREED FAMILY?

A: Both

STREED KID UPDATE

We are thankful for God's grace in our lives

vacation day in the Dominican mountains

 Dominican Republic: Jenni, Anna and I traveled to Jarabacoa Dominican Republic with 4REAL the City Hill Youth Group to serve at the local YWAM (Youth With a Mission) base.  It was wonderful to be able to share the love of Jesus with kids and families with Jenni and Anna and the rest of the team.

Anna has caught the missions bug and is now preparing to go to Bolivia on a missions trip with the church we are now attending.

JED

Jed's First Day of School

All 5 Kids Are in school! A new chapter of life has begun for us but especially Jenni as Jed is now in kindergarten and he loves it!

TRINITY is in 3rd grade and can't stop reading.  Seriously, the girl would forget to eat if we didn't send a runner to  bring her to the table. She is a beautiful little lady with good friends.

JADEN is all boy. He loves playing Chaska in-house basketball and having his dad for a coach. He recently picked up the saxophone as any of the neighbors can attest.

MARIA is our track and cross country athlete. She won 1st in the 8th grade girls division of the Lutheran State Cross Country meet this fall and she won many events during the spring track season.

ANNA is enjoying Southwest Christian High School and especially AP World History.  She played both JV and Varsity volleyball this fall and the varsity won the Class A championship. Also see (Dominican Republic Mission Trip above)

Some Streed fun as seen through social media:

(Maria, cough, cough)

Merry Christmas from the Streed family.  May you draw closer to Jesus in the new year!

Nate, Jenni, Anna, Maria, Jaden, Trinity and Jed and ;) (that wouldn't be funny)