Merry Christmas from the Nobles, 2025
Here’s our annual Christmas card. You know how it works. There’s no way we could mail cards to everyone (or afford to). But I love to share with my readers a glimpse of how we’ve experienced 2025. So here’s the Noble Family Christmas Card…
Merry Christmas from the Nobles!
As we look back on this past year,1 our hearts feel a bit like the living room on Christmas morning—full, a little messy, and overflowing with surprises we didn’t see coming.
Last year around Thanksgiving, Jeff shared that he sensed God whisper that 2024 would be “a year of His favor.” We were stunned by blessing last year. This year, we sensed —“I’m not done.”2 That felt both humbling and confusing. Little did we know how much joy, sorrow, and grace would weave their way through 2025.
One of the greatest gifts of this year was Jeff’s time with his dad. Our Thanksgiving trip to Arkansas last year ended up being the last time we saw Gayle relatively healthy and mobile. He got to meet Shepherd, his great-grandson, and we filled my sister’s home with laughter, food, and all the usual Noble chaos. This year, Gayle’s health declined quickly due to dementia, and God called him home in September. His absence is tender, but we are grateful for the sweet ways God continues to remind us of him.
Besides that fresh grief, God kept up His promise of “I’m not done” –
Jeff finally finished the book on Peter he’d been writing for four years (now looking for a publisher/agent).
Braeden and Adelyn moved close by, and Braeden joined our church staff as Young Adult Minister.
Friends and family visited from Texas, Arkansas and California this year.
Sam helped lead program staff at Young Life camp this summer, and Sidney continued to thrive in her work with ECFA.
Braeden and Jeff traveled to Istanbul and Cyprus with a Northstar team.
Carolyn and Jeff attended our second Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas and saw so many old friends!
Carolyn sold Spoons Shaved Ice to a family from church and continued to plug away at her Master’s in Counseling.
Carolyn was also able to go to the beach with friends in September after seeing Leanne Morgan in Little Rock.
Braeden and Adelyn shared the news of our first granddaughter—little Ryla—arriving any day now!
Soon after, we rejoiced when Sam and Sidney shared their own pregnancy news, and we grieved with them when they later experienced loss.
Our church family grew in ways only God could orchestrate—staff transitions, new faces, new seasons, all with unity and grace.
We celebrated Shepherd’s two-year old birthday in Lynchburg.
Carolyn went to New Mexico with her sister to visit their grandmother and parents.
Jeff got to speak to Virginia pastors and wives at the SBCV Annual Christmas dinner.
Through it all—joy, heartbreak, adventure, opportunity and growth—we’ve sensed God’s steady hand. His kindness. His presence. His reminder: I’m not done.
We believe He’s not done with you either. He delights to pour out blessings not just for our comfort but so we can bless others.
May the light of Jesus shine brightly on your home this Christmas.
May His hope steady you.
May His joy surprise you.
And may His love overflow into every corner of your life.
He’s not done.
Merry Christmas with love,
The Noble Family
P.S. Since we mailed our card, Ryla Kay Wallace was born yesterday - December 12!
Comparing this year’s card to last year’s is a lesson in change!
You can read the post about that here:
I'm not done.
In last year’s Thanksgiving post, I shared a bit nervously how I’d heard God speak about 2024 being a year of His favor. During this past year, I often spent time reflecting on the holy wonder and in…