Every month, you get an update about the ministry we do on campus, we wanted to take this month to tell you about our family and how we’re doing…
 

2016 has been quite the year. Most obviously, for us, the Cubs winning the World Series was the biggest thing that happened in our lives … just kidding! We love having our beautiful new little girl! Baby Ava has made life so different and so much more rich.
 

At Christmas time, we’re reminded that a baby changes everything.
 

The fact that Jesus came into the world as a helpless baby feels more real to us than ever before. Ava’s changed our home life, our ministry, and our relationships with God. While some of the transitions with a new baby have been hard, the joy that Ava brings us, and those around us, is incredible. We can’t spend enough time watching her grow! And seeing our students hold a baby (many for the first time) is precious. It’s another opportunity to show God at work through our family.
 

Ava is getting so big! At 5 months she’s sitting up now and she loves when we have people over. But when it’s just us, she’s got two modes: big smiles and big cries! God’s been growing our patience by leaps and bounds as a result. And we’re so thankful for it, because she’s been so worth it. Life is definitely different with a baby. It’s been challenging to find space for everything — so we’re learning to be wiser than ever with our yes and our no. 
 

Our marriage has grown into a new stage as parents. We hit our fourth year in November and while it’s been hard to get away for a date, we’ve tried to steal away a moment here and there. We’ve been incredibly unified as teammates in ministry, so we know how to work together, but needing to find intentional time for just us has been a growing need.
 

And if we’re really honest, we’re tired. The ministry calendar and life with a baby has run us harder this semester than we have probably ever run. God has been shepherding us through that in powerful ways. In having these challenges, God points us constantly to Him. So in our weariness, over the Christmas season, we’ll be taking some time off to enjoy family, rest, and be refreshed in The Lord. Campus gets quiet, and it’s a great time to recharge for our coming semester.
 

We’re so thankful to have you on board with us in this life of ministry. Your hard earned talents and fervent prayers are helping to reach the next generation at the U of I for Christ. We wanted to invite you to give a special end-of-the-year gift to help us with this work. We’re in a position for the coming semester where we’re $850/month short of our support need. To help us be able to focus on campus, would you give to Reliant on our behalf a special gift of $300, $200, or $100? Gifts can be made at reliant.org/alan.hable.
 

We’d love to hear from you and we love seeing you and your families. So if you can, just hit reply and tell us how you're doing.
 

As we reflect on the year this Christmas season, we are so thankful that you help us — as individuals and as a family — to live the life that we do, meeting and caring for college students and helping point them to Christ. 

The Grace of the newborn Christ be with you all!

Love, The Hable family