3 years later

In 2003, when we started coming to our church, VCFP, we joined a small group.  That group grew and changed over the years, and I even helped lead it for a season.   About 4 years ago now the group really started to multiply.  Almost all the couples in the group announced they were pregnant around the same time.  After the babies arrived, the group decided to multiply into two groups, mostly because those with kids needed a different meeting schedule, and some new families with new babies joined as well.  

So it was over 3 years ago now that we had a Memorial Day BBQ, and these 5, soon to be 6, little babies started their journey as friends, and the parents got to know and support each other in new ways.

The babies: Josh, Emeline, Gracie, Jackson, and Noah

Some of the parents, Elaine & Jessie.

Wes & Dan

And Heather, with baby Jonah on the inside, holding baby Emeline on the outside.

The kids have grown up together so much in the past 3 years.  Here is our best attempt at a group kid shot at Emeline's first birthday: Jonah, Jackson, and Josh in the back, with Noah and Emeline rapidly escaping.

So we opted for a better shot holding the kids: Elaine & Emeline, Jessie & Jackson, David & Jonah, Michelle & Noah, and Wendy & Josh.

As unfortunate that it is, many good things must come to an end.  The group has grown so much (number of kids doubling), people moving around the area, and with a deep desire to have space to invite more families to fellowship, our little group is multiplying into more groups.  So at our last hurrah as a group, we got some more photos to help us remember how far we've come.  

Look at how big these 3 year old are now!  Jackson, Emeline, Noah, Josh, Jonah, and Gracie.

And with all the #2s: Jackson & Cosette, Emeline & Kate, Max & Noah, Faith & Josh (holding Anna), Gracie & Annie, and Jonah on top.

And one group shot with all 12 adults and 12 children.  That's a lot of people! 

Back row:  Heather, Anna, David, Jonah, Wendy, Josh, Faith, Jeffrey, Dan, Jackson, Kate, Wes, Mike, Annie.

Front row: Terah, Noah, Michelle, Max, Jessie, Cosette, Emeline, Elaine, Liane, Gracie.

 

So much has happened in the last 3 years, we will deeply miss sharing the details of life with these wonderful people, but we are excited to see how God will grow us all.