Merry Christmas from the Hantlas...all three of us. A highlight of this year, and an answer to many years of prayer, was the addition of Elianna Joel to our family on May 17. Her name means "My God Answers" because He truly did answer a prayer of many years by blessing us with our little girl. Praise God!

Jacob continues to work at Arizona Heart Hospital as a CVICU nurse & is still managing to sell a few homes with HomeSmart Real Estate. At the same time, He's well into work on a Master's Degree at Reformed Theological Seminary. He's completing a year as an elder intern at Grace Bible Church and will be considered for the office of pastor/elder in January. He is honored and humbled by God's work in him.

Kiki is absolutely loving life as a mom, and she's really good at it too! She is still able to do a few odds-and-ends jobs at Arizona Heart, an opportunity for which we are grateful.

Because of all these blessings, we are reminded that the greatest gift we could ever receive is not a little girl, a good job, or a great family. These are all good things; much better things than we deserve. But we are reminded at Christmas, particularly this Christmas in the midst of these blessings, that the greatest gift we could ever receive has been given to us: God Himself. He came to suffer the death we deserve and give all those who trust in that death eternity with Him. At Christmas we celebrate that Jesus came, and let us remember why He came: "Not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

Thank you for your love and care for us. Merry Christmas!

Love,
Jacob, Kiki, & Elianna

I just realized how weird my last post must have been. I wrote a whole little quip about anxiety, humility, and hospitality to remember this Christmas season. It's gone! Lost in cyberspace. Ha Ha! Well, maybe I can rewrite it sometime, but it was based on:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Pe 5:6-7). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Thanks for letting me know about the this deal, Jen!

We got to see my mom in Puerto Vallarta (one of the ports the ship stopped at).

For our 7th anniversary we took our 7 month-old on a 7 day cruise. Elianna loved it! She got more attention (offers from the staff of French fries, milkshakes, and ice cream) than ever and loved it. The last day she was being a little cranky pants. She dropped her paci and I picked it up and as I was putting it in her mouth I noticed a little pearl trying to make a grand entrance. Enough about her enjoyment of the trip though. Jacob and I had a blast! We praise God for having brought us together and giving us this week to relax and enjoy each other, our precious little gift, and most of all Him. We had already been to all the ports (Mexican Riviera) so, we had so much time to read and spend time in the word and prayer that it made for a wonderful trip.