Merry Christmas!

Britton Brigade Christmas Newsletter - Telegram Style 

(because that’s what a busy mom can manage!)

Merry Christmas! ’Tis the season to bring you holiday greetings and family news! We hope you are well as we send much love from Ohio!

Family News

Our family grew! Hosanna Marie joined us on August 19. 7 lbs., 2 oz., 21 inches long. First hospital birth due to continually stalled labor. First helicopter ride to NICU for breathing trouble. 3 days in the NICU under observation. No major problems - praise God! Just working through some ongoing mild health challenges. Everyone LOVES this baby girl!! Happy, sweet, adorable. Producer of big smiles and explosive diapers.

Anniversary trip to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. in April. Included beach wedding for dear friends. Nathan officiated. Loved our R&R as a couple! Lots of beach walking, shell finding, and eating out!

Britton family summer vacation in Maine. Highlights: fishing, hiking, beautiful nature, blueberry pie, ocean views, family time.

Farm News

First batch of baby goats born in the spring! 5 total. Lost one baby. Lost one mama. Many lessons learned. Thankful for fresh milk and eggs. Kept garden simple. Canned green beans and corn. Sweet potatoes laid up for winter. Will return to soap making soon! Sofie the dog grew huge!

Nathan
Preaches, teaches, disciples young men. Loves basketball nights with the guys. Led first men’s retreat in the spring. Took Isaac and Josiah on first fishing/camping trip in the fall. Followed an herbal/dietary Lyme disease protocol for 9 months and experienced great improvement in health! Oversaw gardening and new basement renovations. Takes care of all family finances. Most expensive year to date due to basement project, new heat pump/AC, medical bills, new oven. But God provides abundantly!! We praise Him!

Katrina

Word for the year: Gentleness. (Still working on that one!) Finds motherhood to be greatest joy and greatest challenge. Grew and birthed a baby. So delighted to have a daughter! Greatly enjoyed experience with new midwife (now a good friend)! Homeschools, leads young mom’s Bible study, milks goats, enjoys hosting people, runs 2 little businesses, climbs laundry mountains, loves dates with her husband. Organized 2nd Secret Sisters project at church. Planned and led 2nd ladies’ retreat in the fall in Ohio’s Amish Country. Rarely sleeps (or so it sometimes seems!). 

Isaac, age 6

Creative, intellectual, competitive. Leadership skills growing! Handles all chicken chores for the farm. “Marketing Director” for soap business. Loves to build and create. Especially loves to play games. Reads up a storm! Enjoys reading his Bible at night and memorizing verses through AWANA Sparks Club. Played basketball in the winter. Learned to ride a bike, tie shoes, swim on his own. Lost several teeth. Lego extraordinaire.

Josiah, age 5

Artistic, strong, nurturing. Dotes on youngest members of family. Loves to color/draw, do gymnastics, wrestle, swim, climb trees. Is learning to read and write. Outgrew his nap. Joined Sparks at AWANA. Still enjoys cooking and make-believe. Official class clown of the family!

Adoniah, age 4

Enthusiastic, strong willed, bookworm. Loves preschool, puzzles, and crafts. Often has his nose in a book! Enjoys playing outside and helping with animal chores. Trains, tractors, fire trucks, and diggers are his favorites. Wants to be a deer hunter one day. Loves to go to Cubbies Club!

Silas, age 2

Helpful, cheerful, curious. An opinionated, full-sentence-talking, spit-fire tag-along! Loves to cook, play with play dough, catch stink bugs, play with tools, get into all.the.things. Is finally potty-trained. Dotes on Daddy and loves to wrestle with him! Occasionally snuggly, often bossy. Enjoys being a big brother. 

We pray your Christmas season and new year is full of the HOPE that comes through knowing Jesus as your Messiah and believing in His gift of salvation! “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope…” Romans 15:13