Christmas With The Elams

As everyone agreed, it did sound like a prime time ABC Christmas special. However, it turned out to be a great time of fellowship for everyone. It was a great evening to stay inside and out of the nasty weather! There's nothing better than good Christian fellowship when it is accompanied by hot food and a roaring fire! Throw in a game of Imaginiff... and you have yourself Christmas With The Elams! Thanks to Gary and Naomi for their hospitality!

Gary and Naomi, our gracious hosts

Pastor Baker and Micah

Jeni and Dave seem to be having a good time

Jean preparing to answer a question

Caleb Baker revealing his answer (Gary is confirming it in the background)

The soon-to-be-wed Mr. Seth E. Bradley and Miss Natalie R. Smallwood :)

Jim and Nancy Bradley seem to agree on their answer

Ross looks very confident in his decision

Imaginiff...

Teen Christmas Party

On Saturday, Brother Mark took the teens ice skating for a couple of hours before the Christmas Party at the Northern Kentucky Ice Rink. It was a blast! They spent the afternoon flying around the ice playing tag, taking out old ladies and little kids (ask Ross Elam and Caleb Baker), and causing chaos and havoc in general! It was also an experience trying to teach Gaby Cabrera to skate. Let's just say she got better as the day went on. Afterwards they went to the home of Brandon and Suzy Ervin for tacos, games, and presents. They also had some fun "editing" the day's pictures on the Wii! All in all, it was a great day!

The whole crew

Just the guys

Caleb preparing to body-check Ross

Smile, Kelsey!

Gaby made it around a few times

Of course they are laughing at the ones who wiped out!

Gaby trying to make it (she did just fine)

The gang at the party (what a fine-lookin' bunch!)

Gaby, Kelsey, Beth and Alicia--four fine young ladies!

Mark and Caleb, the red-eyed reindeer!

Brandon and Suzy, our gracious hosts for the evening

Mark singing one the mad libs entitled "I'll Be Crunchy for Christmas"

Patch the Pirate Club Goes Glo-Golfing

On Sunday, Allyson Maynard and Missy Fancher took their Patch the Pirate Club kids (along with Allyson's husband Mark, who, incidentally, was told he was too "old" to be in the Patch the Pirate Club) to the Florence Mall to experience their new Glo Golf course. This is an 18-hole golf course that is lit completely with black lights. It was interesting trying to explain to the kids what a "black light" was and how exactly it functioned. Despite the science lesson, everyone had a great time. Afterwards the kids went with Mark and blew every dollar they had on toys while Allyson and Missy got to do a little Christmas shopping. According to Joshua Baker, after the outing was over, "Nobody had any money left, but at least I still had some 'sense'!" That evening, the Patch the Pirate Club sang two songs (accompanied by a snazzy dance routine by Joshua Baker) and Mark preached the service. It was a fun but exhausting day!

Behold, the miracle of black lights

Mark and Joshua as you have never seen them before

John "The Golden Bear" Fancher for par

Conner Ervin, half Tiger Woods, half Tony Hawk

Allyson Maynard and Missy Fancher, captains of the club

Mark and Allyson Maynard enjoying their afternoon

The Captains and their crew

The club singing one of their two songs of the night

Mark preaching the message on Sunday evening