Christmas letter and picture

Our last MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) meeting, inspired me to keep Christmas simple this year...that has kinda been the theme of my Christmas. I have been trying really hard to keep things simple and only do what is necessary...but most of all keeping Christ the focus of CHRISTmas. So, in an effort to simplify...and also save lots of money, in postage and printing pictures, we decided to send our Christmas letter out via email this year. Only 3 people on our list did not have an email...so why not?! I'm assuming that if you are reading my blog...I probably have your email and sent this letter...but if not...here is our Christmas letter and picture for you to enjoy.

Dear Friends and Family,

We hope and pray that this letter finds you doing well and focusing on Christ during this Christmas season. The past year has been full of blessings, but our greatest blessing will always be that our Heavenly Father sent his Son to be our Savior! As we watch the news each week and see how our nation is struggling; we find hope and peace knowing that God has a perfect plan. We are excited and hopeful for His quick return!

God blessed our family with a beautiful baby girl this past March, Hannah Grace Finnegan. We are thankful for a wonderful pregnancy and delivery. Hannah was born on March 2nd. She was 7 lbs 10oz. and 19 ¾ inches long. We were excited to be parents, but had no idea what an amazing joy and blessing it would be. She has brought so much joy to our lives in the past 9 months. Hannah is FULL of personality! She is learning and growing so much every day. What a joy it is to watch her grow and to see how she is already blessing the lives of others!

Hannah is crawling all over the place, pulling herself up, and constantly looking for a new adventure! Some of her favorite things to do are read books, play “so big” and “peek-a-boo”, clap her hands, and sway back and forth to music.
Becky finished her 4th year of teaching last March when Hannah was born and is excited to be a stay at home mom. Throughout the week we are involved in a MOPS group, go to baby time at the library, and have a baby play group with the other baby girls at church (all 4 born within 2 months of each other). We keep ourselves pretty busy!

March 2009 will mark our 5th year at First Baptist Church in Farmington. We are so thankful for our wonderful church family and the blessing of being involved in such a great ministry! Seth is doing well and keeping busy as always; he wears many hats! This January he will be traveling to Russia for 8 days with Pastor Bob Johnson from Cornerstone Baptist Church to teach Russian pastors. Seth plans to teach the book of 1 Samuel. Please pray for him as he leaves on January 9th.

We took Hannah on her first camping trip this July to the State Park in Bay City, MI. along with some families from the church. Hannah loves camping! In August, we took another camping trip to Grand Lake St. Mary’s in Ohio. We camped with Becky’s family and also spent some time with Seth’s family since they live nearby. Once again, Hannah loved being in the outdoors! In October, we were blessed with the opportunity to stay a week in a friend’s cottage at Gull Lake, MI for our first family vacation.

We hope that you enjoy this Christmas season and remember God’s greatest gift to the world; a little baby born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World!

“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

Merry Christmas!
Love, Seth, Becky, and Hannah

p.s.

our Christmas letter came with a few more pictures...if you did not recieve one via email....please let me know and I will be sure to send it to you!!