Picture from Christmas Day!

With my niece and nephew on Christmas...

Winter's Here!

I was really looking forward to visiting with good friends in Coshocton, OH today. However, after waking up and looking outside at this, the trip was cancelled. Tomorrow would have been a better day for snow!

Merry Christmas!

I pray you enjoyed a wonderful celebration of Christ's birth with family and friends. I've had an opportunity to spend the holidays with my family and in a couple churches. On Friday, I was at my local church's youth Christmas service and party. On Saturday, the entire Banks family was together celebrating the holidays at my older brother's home. On Sunday morning, I was able to worship at my brother's church and then hosted good friends and supporters that evening. On Monday, I was helping out during the Christmas Eve services at a supporting church. Then today I celebrated with my parents at my younger brother's home. It's always fun to watch the two little ones open their gifts.

Our family decided to reach out to a local family for Christmas and went in together to help them out for the holidays. They are a wonderful Christian couple who have a real heart for ministry and outreach. They have brought that ministry into their own home adopting 14 children over the years to join the two they already had (yes, that means 18 at the dinner table each evening!). It was a great privilege to have a small part in helping this family for the holidays.

Merry Christmas!

November '12 - Asbury MK Dinner

I had the privilege to return to Asbury in November to speak at the Global Cafe. The WGM Center's cabinet and I took the opportunity of the weekend together to host a dinner open to all MKs on campus. I also invited a few MKs from Kentucky Mountain Bible College. They were able to make the two-hour drive and join us for this evening of fellowship. There were 40 plus in attendance and we had the privilege to share some great stories.

November '12 - College Visits

I had the privilege of visiting with many students as I traveled to Tennessee, back to Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois. I saw students from Asbury University, Chattanooga Community College, Ohio Christian University, Bethel College, Taylor Univeristy, Calvin College, Indiana Wesleyan University and Moody Bible College. The visits are usually pretty fun and definitely make the boring road trips worth it!

These visits allow me to see how the students are doing and find out how to pray for them. It usually opens doors for them to just share their hearts and hopefully for me to encourage them.

One of the perks of the long road trips is I get a chance to see some fun stuff, like downtown Chicago. Fun place to visit, but I don't think I'd like to live there.

October '12 - Asbury Goat Roast

On October 11, the doctor cleared me for travel outside of Ohio, so I left on the 12th for Kentucky to participate in the annual Goat Roast at our WGM Student Involvement Center at Asbury University.

There were between 300-400 in attendance. It was a great weekend, not only helping for this event, but meeting with MKs and many returning students. It was also a privilege to reconnect with Jonathan and Faith Powers, who are now the directors of the WGM Center.

Niece's Wedding - September '12

Christa Banks and Taylor Hadley were married on Sunday, September 9 near Columbus. It was a fun celebration with the family. She's a beautiful bride and Taylor's a pretty nice guy!

I was still in my sling, but had a good time MCing the reception. Here I am with my Aunt Fran.

 

It was a great time with everyone and we had a break in the rain to enjoy the outdoor reception. Christa had her cousins, Brooke and Isaac in the wedding as well. They were pretty cute.

It was a fun day...

August '12 - Shoulder Surgery

 

This pic was taken in a mirror, so it's my left shoulder... I had injured it several years back, but never got it repaired. After several months of therapy the doctor said we could continue to make it stronger, but it would never heal completely without surgery. So after a little 'debate' I finally made the decision to go forward with the 'repair.'

Surgery went very well, but it requires months of therapy to regain range of motion and strength. It's quite the process so encourage anyone you know going through this! :)

The only major restriction after surgery was to not drive long distances for several weeks. Local travel would be fine, but I couldn't begin my college visits until after the sling comes off on Oct 11.

I was able to work from home during this time and be involved locally in the youth group and even got to make it to an OSU game.