Hello Dear Friends!

I’m currently sitting in the dark, watching my laptop battery drain as we’ve been without power for the last 8 hours. Many hours of Christmas preparation, baked goods, meal prep for dinner, are all coming close to going to waste as our fridge is getting warmer by the minute.

It’s going to be the best Christmas ever.

No matter what happens with our electricity, I am going to get up tomorrow morning next to my wife, wake up my son, and have Christmas morning with my family.

We have a small, humble tree, with just a handful of presents underneath for our precious boy. Thanks to my industrious wife, who is always looking to tackle her next big challenge, we all have home-made stockings this year as well! SPOILER ALERT → Nadine’s is full of chocolate, and I’m guessing (I haven’t peeked, I swear) mine is full of Haribo candies.

It’s pretty simple, and in my opinion, pretty perfect.

No matter how simple or complicated your Christmas may be this year, my prayer is that family is at the core of everything you celebrate over the next 24 hours. I think a common aspect of the Christmas Story that we miss out on is centered on family. Jesus was born to Mary, a virgin chosen by God, but he was also adopted by Joseph as a son. Through that choice to adopt Jesus as his own biological son, Joseph was choosing to fulfill prophecy. Jesus is only a descendent of the line of King David through Joseph’s choice to welcome a baby who was not his own, as his firstborn son. He chose family. He raised a Saviour.

Oliver is my firstborn. Nadine is my wife (and Belle is my best friend, ha). They are the only gifts I need this Christmas.

And, would you look at that? The power just came back on.

We prepared a short, 3 minute video that aired for our home church in Edmonton this past weekend. Please give it a quick look to see what’s going on with us, and how God is blessing our family and the work He has given us to do in Uganda.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Love,

Josh (& Nadine, & Oliver, & Belle)