Update on the Cole family Spring 2010

Hello Pine Cove friends and family!  I hope that you all are doing well and that you are enjoying the spring weather!  My front porch here close to camp looks like someone painted it yellow from all the pollen in East Texas.  The Cole household has had quite a few changes as of late, and we wanted to let you all know about them.  Here are a few updates:

My wife Janna gave birth to our first baby, Makenlee Joy Cole, on Texas’ Day of Independence…March 2^nd for you non-Texans.  It was very exciting and crazy!  She was born with a fever that caused an infection. She had to stay in the NICU for about 5 more days to receive IV antibiotics.  We finally got to bring her home when she was a week old.  Janna is doing great with her and now that she is six weeks old, she is already almost sleeping through the night.  Makenlee is a very sweet, calm quite baby…a personality just like her Daddy’s- YEAH RIGHT!

Second, we are sadly but excitedly announcing our departure from Pine Cove.  April 30^th will be my last day as the Development Coordinator. I will then begin with Edward Jones as a Financial Advisor within Tyler or North Dallas area.  We will find out our location for sure sometime this summer, so until then we will still only be a few miles away from camp.  I am extremely excited about the opportunity to continue to build solid, long-lasting relationships through my service with people from all walks of life.  It will be a huge change in our life, but a welcomed change and challenge.

Pine Cove, as we all agree is a very special place, but when you work here for 1/3 of you life as I have, it is a little weird thinking about all of the memories and lessons learned.  However, we are extremely grateful for the growth, opportunity, partnership, loyalty and blessings we have received throughout my 8 summers here and 5 1/2 years of resident staff work.  The Lord changed my life through Pine Cove; through the other staff, through service, my own wife and I met and serviced here, but also the campers that attend.  The examples and relationships that we have built with the families of Pine Cove have probably been the biggest blessing of all and you will be missed. 

If you want to stay in contact with us, our contact information is as followed. Janna and I have also started a blog if you would like to keep up with out family.

Mark’s cell: 903-363-4973

Janna’s cell 214-597-1886

Our prayer is that you continue to do as Paul wrote to the church of Ephesus in chapter 4, “…to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Please continue living out your calling; as a husband-be that husband, as a wife-be that wife, as a family in your community and church-be that family.  Our family, Janna and I, have a mission statement that I will bid farewell with, and our desire is that we live out our calling as individuals and as a family everyday.  It helps to remind us and keep our foundation the same.  We love you and wish to keep in contact with you.

The Cole family joyfully lives to be generous, disciplined, and purposeful while pursuing excellence for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.