We have entered the 21st Century!

So, we have officially entered the 21st C and have started a blog. So, the first message we will post will be our Christmas letter and see if this works. If it does, look out world, here comes the Bayley Blatherings!

Dear Friends and Family-

Hard to believe that we have come to the end of another year! Time really seems to have flown these last few years, more than in years past. Maybe that is just a sign of getting old or something.

The kids are doing great. Calah (our oldest) is now 7 years old and in the 2nd grade. Unbelievable! She loves to read books, recess at school (complete with friends and “chasing the boys” yikes!), making up and writing her own stories, drawing, playing “kung-fu” with dad and bossing her younger sisters around. It is a joy to see that she is starting to ask good, thoughtful questions about Jesus, God, heaven, and the bible. Eliana (our middle) is 4 years old and in preschool. She can’t wait to play dress-up or Polly Pockets, be a fairy princess, groove to daddy’s dance music, rough-house with daddy and her sisters, or tell us another creative story that she makes up on the fly. Charis (our youngest) is now about 20 months old and cute as a bug. Her personality is starting to emerge and she is a ham, goofball, loves to be the center of attention, and will let you know her displeasure if all eyes are not on her J. She is definitely our little “diva”!

Amy is doing great. She is definitely at the phase of life where kids take up most of her time. I have the kids for a few hours and I can barely keep the place from burning down, let alone keeping it relatively clean. Yet she somehow manages to maintain a clean house, make wonderful meals, teach our kids about loving God and loving their neighbors, all while getting more beautiful, ministering to other women in a small group, and growing closer to Jesus. I am a truly blessed husband and we are a blessed family to have her as a wife, mother, and friend.

I am still a pastor at Grace Fellowship here in Lynn-hood WA. My role has been constantly evolving and right now I am overseeing our music and community group ministries, while at the same time guiding our High School group leaders, preaching sometimes, and going to seminary. A pretty full plate! A highlight for me this past year has been the music ministry. I never realized that God has given me a small amount of creativity in this artistic area! I am enjoying using my electric and acoustic guitars to give Him glory, as well as musically arranging my own take on classic hymns and learning how to have our music reflect the unique NW music scene. It has been a real joy to use this untapped gift for God’s glory.

That is about it for us. In this crazy holiday season, may we take some time to reflect on the real reason for Christmas- Jesus was born to inaugurate God’s amazing plan to redeem His lost creation back to Himself through Christ’s work for us on the cross!!

Blessings,

The Bayleys