Merry Christmas

As I sit here in my living room looking at the Christmas tree all lit up, Memories of past Christmas start coming to mind.
Some of my favorite memories of Christmas as a child, are of Christmas Eve at Oma and Opa's house. The whole family would gather there after our Church programs. We would eat (as we always did when going to oma's) then we would hand out gifts. I can remember Opas excitement as he watched us grandkids open up our gifts. I can say he was probably more excited then us kids! He enjoyed his grandkids joy and laughter that would fill there basement.

Then after a couple years after opa past away, I have the sad memory of how Christmas Eve over Oma's came to a sad end. (due to some legalistic views of Christmas by some family members.) you could tell Oma was heart broken by it, but she did not want to affend one of her children.

We may not know exactly when Christ was born, but we set aside this time to celebrate His birth. If Christ was not born, then we would not have His sacrifice on the cross and eternal security through that sacrifice. That had to happen so that prophecy in the OT would be fullfilled.
God thought His sons birth was important enough to have a multitude of angels proclaim it. Now if that is not a celebration then I don't know what is.

As for my family we continued the tradition of coming together on Christmas eve. I want my children to experiance the same joy that I had with oma and opa, with there oma and opa.

Well I hope and pray that everyone will have an awesome Christmas and a blessed New Year.

I love all you guys. That includes all the new additions

Scott

juliastephen.info

check out the website my fiancee and i created!
juliastephen.info

I am blessed

The Kosachuk kids in Gatlinburg TN. summer of 2007

This is a picture of the family at Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains the summer of 2007.

I just love spending time with my beautiful family that the Lord has blessed me with.

Welcome to the family-Thomas Elliot Paul Arnold

Born on Oct 4th at 5:10 pm.

Markus Wolf

I'm living in Kyiv, Ukraine, working with an organization called Youth With a Mission. Most of my exciting moments and public reflections are posted on my blog where you can read more stories about me than you really want to know.

I'm the ministry leader of Key of Hope, a mercy ministry that works with orphans and at-risk kids. For reasons I don't always understand, I also visit the hospital about twice a week to work with abandoned babies with a ministry called Mother's Care. This is work that at times takes me back and forth across the scale from heartwarming and fulfilling to deeply disturbing.

As well, I work with two orphanages, and a school for orphanage graduates. The most recent orphanage we started working with has 75 kids and is intended for special needs children. They are extremely warm and loving at this home, and if they have actual learning disabilities, it's hard for me to tell. We dropped some clothes off there one time, and found that the only ministry involved with them was a church that visited on Christmas and Easter. Now we go every Tuesday with games, Bible lessons, snacks, etc.

This past June, I had the unique experience of visiting Opa and Oma Kosachuk's hometowns in Western Ukraine. I never actually made it to Opa's village, because the roads were awfully rough. But I did go to his church. The building no longer existed, the communists took it away. But the original pulpit is still in use there. The church has been in existence since the time of the Czars. This is it, in the photo to the right.

I also met Oma's cousins in the village of Solomka, where she grew up. Traveling with Uncle John was alot of fun because he told all sorts of stories and showed where things happened. Solomka treated me like a lost son, and want me to visit more often, since I live "so close" now. But I really need a translator to come with me to make it any kind of decent visit. Here are some pictures of Oma's cousins. Uncle Zhenya was sent to Siberia at age 17 because he was caught with a Bible. How is that for an amazing heritage? Uncle John told me how Opa Kosachuk was an amazing idea man during those hard times. He had secretly built a grain mill in the barn to provide food for our family. He planned some brilliant escapes, that amazed Opa Bettig and company. Uncle John should write a book.

That trip really connected me to my Ukrainian heritage, in a way that surprised me. I'd like to go back to visit before winter, but I need to recruit someone to go with me.

Wolf/Rodriguez Bunch Update

(A nice little family pic taken at the end of May 2007.)

I guess I'll start with the youngest. Isaiah's back in school and he loves it this year because they don't have nap time. Although the school is federally funded (and they don't require the kids to pray for their meals/snacks) the teachers are Christians, so we love that. Isaiah is funnier every day. I'll post some fun comments of his at some point I'm sure. He's just the best, and we thank God for him.

I (Tanya) am thrilled to be 9 courses away from my Bachelor in Accounting from Siena Heights University. (Yes, Aunt Mary, they are accredited. I remember you asked me that when you were here. By Northwestern...?) I'm aiming for completion next summer, but I'm at SHU's mercy, according to when they offer classes. The plan then is to start working for an accounting firm, while still studying/sitting for the CPA exam, then eventually onto a Master in Finance degree. I was asked by a local CPA to call him when I graduated. That's pretty cool.

Matt is studying for his degree in Computer Networking. He's looking at a possible internship in this field. We both need prayer/direction with our currently employment situations. Anywho, Matt loves his guitar (I don't mind competing with a guitar, really), and we both are on the praise/worship team at Lake Michigan Christian Center. He's such a hard worker and a wonderful leader for our family. We just adore and thank God for him.

"Oma" - the coolest woman in the world. Actually, we (Oma, my friend Missy from Chicago - see picture, and I) went shopping this weekend - just the girls. The shopping excursion ended with fulfilling a request by Oma to have ice cream - we polished off a box of (4) drumsticks on the ride home, but don't tell Matt and Isaiah. Oma really is a blessing. In my last class I named her as the person I admire the most, the reader's digest version reasoning being because she's courageous, she doesn't give up, and she "prays for her family like one powerful woman of God." (She reminds me of Oma K.)

Well, we love you all! We're convinced we have the best family, immediate and extended. God's richest blessings for all of you!

Ruth graduated from the University of North Florida this past spring and we ordered her a special cake. This is my attempt at putting pictures on this blog site. How I do...?

Paul and Tina Arnold

It is nice to be apart of this new family. I saw that Paul already posted something for us. I thought I would add some pictures. We are very excited about our little boy coming in about 5 weeks. I know I am ready! We haven't decided on a name yet, but we have some good ideas. Paul is working very hard in his last year of law school and I am looking forward to teaching again in the next few months. I can't wait to see everyone again this July!

Email Addresses

If you guys can have more kosachuk addresses please send them to me or post them on this site. Thanks!

Scott response

Scott it sounds like you have an awesome life. I can't believe your kids are growing up so fast!! I am trying to enjoy every moment I can with Hayden. She is changing and growing so fast too! It is so good to hear you guys are doing well!

Scott, Staci and kids

Hey all!

Great idea Paul!! Hopefully we can keep this blog going.

Staci and I still live in St. Joseph.
I am still a full time Firefighter with the City of St. Joe ( a beautiful place on the lake :) ) I also still work with my parents at Peerless Canvas Products.

Staci is rather busy taking care of our home and 4 children. (since I work a 24hr shift at the fire station, Staci is often home alone with the kids.) She is an awesome woman and I thank God for her every day. What a blessing to have a wife that seeks the Lords will in her life daily.

Camaron is now 11 and is in 5th grade. He is a great help to mom and dad. This summer he wanted to work down at the shop, so we gave him the opportunity to work and he did an awesome job.

Brandyn is now 9 and is in the 4th grade. I think he might end up being a Lawyer like you Paul. He loves to debate and come up with arguments. Some of which I am not able to dispute. He is also a great help to mom and dad.

Rachel is now 7 and is in the 2nd grade. She is a sweet heart. She loves to bake with mom in the kitchen. She also loves to help around the house. She has a very gentle spirit.

Noah is now 6 and is in kindergarten. Being the youngest he sometimes has a hard time understanding that he is not able to do what the older boys are able to do, but then again Staci and I are amazed at what Noah is able to do. He is able to keep up with his older brothers and hold his ground very well with them.
We are so proud of Noah. On Sunday August the 5th, I was working at the fire station and I received a call from Noah. He was so excited. He told me that he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. After church he told Staci that he wanted to be saved so Staci had the privilege of leading Noah to Christ.
I am so blessed I now know that no matter what happens to Staci, me or our children, We will be spending eternity in heaven with each other.

We are starting to get real busy around here all 3 boys are playing soccer again and Rachel is in gymnastics. So we do a lot of running around.

Well I pray the Lords blessing on all my family. What an awsome Lord we serve.
What an awsome Heritage Oma and Opa left us. Just remember we can get caught up with our busy lives, but we must never get to busy that we put Christ on the back burner. Lets keep Christ first in all our lives.
And if we don't see each other again on this earth we can take joy in knowing that we will see each other in heaven, then we will be face to face with Jesus and what a glorious day that will be.

I love each and every one of you!

Scott

Kevin, Jennifer and Audrey

Hi Family,

Jennifer, Audrey and I live in Berrien Springs, MI. Audrey is just over 19 months old. And she is the greatest gift God could give us. There is nothing sweeter than getting hugs and hearing the little voice chime "Dadddy, Daddddyyyyyy".

Jennifer stays home full-time with Audrey and helps promote the business. I continue to work in software, small business consulting and legal services (keeps us busy). This is our website (which I will revamp) someday maybe next year !?!

Paul and Tina Arnold Family

Hello everyone! I guess I get to kick off this blogger. I am in my last year of law school at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. I plan on practicing Land Use/Environmental/Public Law. I interned at a law firm in Orlando all summer and realized that I love Tallahassee and I would like to raise my children here. Speaking of children, Christina is expecting my first son in October of this year! Christina is having an uneventful pregnancy (which is the best kind) and is taking off August-November to prepare for the birth. After that, she will return to her career as an elementary teacher in Leon County. Finally, our daughter, Alexandria Hayden, just turned five in July, and began kindergarten last Monday. She loves her school and is becoming quite the social butterfly.
I hope everyone is doing great and I look forward to seeing you all for Tim's wedding in December! Bye!