Christmas Gifts from Heather and Sid

We had to have Christmas with Heather and Sid long distance, via Skype. They walked us through the process of gift opening by telling us which one of us should open which gift. The entire package was called: "Grandparent's Survival Kit." So cute! Scroll down through the pictures in this post to see the journey on which we are about to embark...





















Number 10 is a jar of quarters. When Heather and Brent were children they always liked to sit by Momma (Linda) when we went out to eat. One time, Dad (Don) bribed Heather to sit by him by giving her a quarter. That became of family joke every time we went out to eat. Years later, at Heather and Sid's wedding, Don handed Sid a quarter during the ceremony and told him: "You might need this someday!" So they returned the favor, by telling "Granddad" that he better start saving now so that little grandbaby will sit by him instead of "Grammie!"

Christmas with Brent and Lindsay

We went to visit our son, Brent and his wife, Lindsay in their new home in Texas prior to Christmas. We had a wonderful time relaxing with them for a couple of days.

Mariah got to open her gift first

Go Sooners! Even if they do live in Texas now!

Don's sister, Darlene

Brent and Lindsay

Linda likes the tree

Samson the ragdoll kitty could smell catnip in one of his presents from Darlene. It was almost more than he could take!



Don likes his gift from Brent and Lindsay


Just before we left town, we had lunch with Linda's sister, Pat and her husband, Al, who live "down the road" a couple of hours from Brent and Lindsay.

Lindsay, Pat, Al, and Brent...love them all!

Lunch at Debbie's with the LFA Secretaries

Debbie Pratt provided a lovely luncheon

Janey Walls, Lynette Lermy, and Patricia Kitchens

Hostess with the "mostest!" Debbie Pratt

Here's the crew! Just look at all of those Christmas Trees!

Dream Update

Thank you for helping us to pursue "The Dream!" Our thanksgiving offering for our new building last month was $55,031.87. Last Sunday (December 13th), we set a new high attendance record (not counting Easter) with 1,852 people present. Praise God for many new decisions for Christ every week! To God be the Glory!

We have invested $274,740.60 so far with our contractor. Our new parking will be ready sometime in January. We now have a live camera on top of the Youth Center covering the building site. You can go to our website (www.lawtonfirst.org) and click on the "Construction Camera" link to watch the live progress.

Our new building will include nine new classrooms for our early childhood dept. which will need to be furnished with new toys and accessories. These items are listed at the baby registry at WalMart. When accessing the registry type Lawton in as the first name on the registry and First Assembly as the last name. Please consider purchasing one of these and presenting it as a birthday gift to Jesus at our Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m.

Paul said it well in 2 Corinthians 9:15..."Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" Your offerings to the Building Fund are a great way for you to express your gratefulness to your Heavenly Father for the gift of His only Son! Remember the special word God gave us. "If He puts it in your heart He will put it in your hand." Thank you for your faithful giving this year. Your gifts are making a big difference in so many lives!

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Don and Linda



These are the birthday gifts we are giving to Jesus to benefit our early childhood dept.

PK Christmas Party at the Barnes Home

Lots of food

Mrs. Linda reading "The Gift of the Christmas Cookie" to the kids. (We had cookies for dessert!)

Each Pastor's Kid (PK) received a present from Pastor and Linda

Our newest PK really likes "babies!"

Happy faces!

May get in trouble for this one...it is a toy guitar...that has lots of sounds!

His mom may get us for this one...it is a paintball gun!

I hope she likes this game as much as I do!

A smile tells is all! I think he liked it!

The bow off the package had to go somewhere!

2009 Board/Staff Christmas Dinner

Pastor Don and Linda Barnes welcomed the board and staff to the Christmas Dinner

Pastor Gary and Debbie Pratt, Jerry and Janey Walls

Pastor Greg and Denice Erway

Kurtis and Sallie Koll

Patricia and Ron Kitchens, Louise Ray, and Joan Ferguson

Gigi and Kevin Upshaw, Gary and Kathy Sloan, Pastor Heath Corrales and Alisha Ramirez (soon to be Mrs. Corrales!)

Randy and Liz Meredith, Margot and Korey Gregory

Pastor David and Lynette Lermy

Jason and Cindy Watkins

Sarah Everitt, Whitney Thompson, and Cindy Watson

Pastor Greg and Paula Ruple, Matt and Dana Knisely

Pastor Lacey Jaeger, Danyel Edwards, Keith Buttram, and Natashia Garland

Felix and Sylvia Macias, Joe and Brook Fife

Pastor Matt Weiszbrod, Gary and Christina Woodson

The board and staff of LFA enjoyed a wonderful dinner and fellowship Monday eve. at our annual Christmas Party. We have awesome people that make LFA a great place to be!