My 7-year-old daughter created this Christmas note out of her Banana Gram letters on the floor in her room. Thank you, sweetie. Daddy and Mommy love you to the moon and back!

Kristy scored some "awesome wife points" today (not that she needs them) when she encouraged me to go on a trail run as part of my post-Christmas staycation. So, obliging her, I drove up to Woody Gap and ended up running to Gooch Gap and back on the AT. Below is a photo of snow on the trail that had not yet melted. The snow melt created many mini-creeks and waterfalls along the trail. Really cool.   

I hear that the AT should be getting a good bit more snow on Tuesday. So, maybe I'll try to get away next week for some real snow running. :)  Who says that north GA didn't have a White Christmas this year! 

Hello Creekstone friends! I am on vacation this week and will miss you on Sunday. However, since Andy will be teaching, you are in for a treat! And with Sunday being January 1st, I can't imagine a better way to start the new year than by being reminded of the gospel. My prayer is that God's grace to us in Jesus really will be the defining truth of our lives in 2012.
Sola gratia,
McKay

Here are the notes and audio from the Creekstone Christmas Eve message for those who were unable to attend. Hope you and yours have a happy New Year!

Hey parents, I just had an idea. Let's put down the laptop or iPad for a minute and go find one of our kids, look 'em in the eyes and say, "You know what, I'm so glad you are my son/daughter." That's it. If they ask, "Why?" say "Just because you are mine." That may be the greatest gift they receive all day. After all, that is what the Father says to us in the gospel at Christmas, and every day. 

Just got the kid's presents wrapped and about to hit the sack. Wow, Kristy is an amazing gift wrapper. Anyway, I think we are ready for the morning.

Also, I'm really grateful for the folks who helped with the Christmas Eve service tonight. Even with a few technical difficulties, they rallied and received the grace to have a really blessed time together. Thanks to worship arts coordinator Jesse Turk and other tech volunteers for last minute heroics. So fun to see so many new faces, too. 

We're all looking forward to video Skyping with the kid's "Nini" (grandmother) in the morning on my iPad so that she can watch them open their gifts. Thanks to the late Steve Jobs. This will be a first. 

Will look forward to seeing everyone next year! How is it possible that it will be 2012? Seems like it was just 1985. :)

Dear friends,

As we reflect upon the cradle and the cross at the close of 2011, it is our prayer that 2012 will be a year of grasping the glorious grace-implications of the gospel even more deeply so that we will be compelled to extend them even more widely—from Dahlonega, through the north Georgia mountains and to the ends of the earth.

To that end, we pray that you and yours have a very Jesus-centered Christmas and a richly blessed New Year!

Soli Deo gloria,
McKay, Kristy, Ann Ferris, Schaeffer & Sarah Wynn