It’s been awhile since we’ve sent a family Christmas letter, but this year has been filled with so many changes that we thought we should update all of you on the latest on the Plotner’s in Colorado.

After almost three years working at Church Community Builder, I left that job to return the church world. In February, I took a position as Pastor of Sections at New Life Church here in Colorado Springs. We’ve been attending and serving here since we landed in Colorado back in June of 2012 and have loved the opportunity to join the staff full time. My role included coordinating a new initiative to help make our large church feel smaller by caring for people within smaller sections of the church. In September, my role expanded to include Sections, Groups, and Congregational Care and am now Pastor of Community. You can check all of that out at NewLifeChurch.org/Community. I am so grateful to be back doing what I love and can feel the favor of God on my life and being able to serve our church family and our city of Colorado Springs.

Charlene continues to teach high school mathematics at Liberty High School. This year that includes Geometry, Functions, Statistics, & Trigonometry (FST), and Pre-Calculus. I’ve said this since I met her . . . She’s much smarter than me. When the girls need help with the math homework, I confidently say “go talk to your mom.” Charlene’s job includes raising those infamous test scores. Right before the holiday break, she found that their school did amazing and scored way above the state average and was better than most other schools in the district. All that hard work has finally paid off. Did she get a raise you ask? Remember, she’s a teacher. Her plans are to teach at least three more years until Samara graduates. After that, you may see her greeting at the local WalMart.

Selah is 16 and a sophomore at Liberty High School. Yes, that’s right. She is driving. She got her license in June and just finished six months which means she can now drive with a friend as of yesterday. Selah is very involved in worship at New Life. She plays acoustic guitar and sings for New Life Kids on Friday nights and Sunday mornings, helps lead worship for a student-lead prayer meeting each week, and also plays and sings for Desperation Student Ministries (her youth group) on Wednesdays and/or Sundays. Any given week, she’s usually playing and/or leading three or four times a week. As for drums, she gets to play on occasion but is transitioning more into worship leading and playing her guitar.

Samara is 14 and a freshman at Liberty High School. In this las year, she has found a new love . . . And no, it’ s not a boy. Last January she started taking Taekwondo and absolutely loves it. She recently completed her seventh belt testing and is a purple belt. She is learning a lot about leadership and is grown so much more confident as a result of this experience. Her plan is to continue toward her black belt and eventual teach younger students. To make a little extra money, she’ll often spend weekends babysitting. She’ll be taking her driver’s education course in order to get her permit. She already has enough money to saved to buy a car and will likely buy one and rent it out per mile to her sister. She definitely has an entrepreneurial spirit to her and has always been good at saving money.

Our entire family absolutely loves life here in Colorado Springs. When we left Indiana 3 1/2 years ago, we had no idea what the future held for any of us. We have been overwhelmed at how God had orchestrated our future. Jeremiah 29:11 is often quoted, but it definitely has a taken on meaning for us in the last few years. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

In this Christmas season, please remember what truly matters most. It’s not what is under the tree, but it’s about those that surround it. Love those that God has placed around you and thank him for the amazing gift of his Son who has truly saved us. Blessings to all of you in 2016.