2020 in Review from the Cocanowers!

For most of my adult life (Geoff), I was the thorn in my mom’s side when it came to contributing to the annual Christmas Card. Eventually, she just started writing one with what she knows took place in my life. It was easier that way and better for everyone involved.

BUT, it’s a good idea and as you get older you want to celebrate the things that happened in your lives over the course of a year. So, consider this the inaugural Tara and Geoff Christmas…. we'll call it a note, to commemorate the previous year.

In 2020, Tara continued her work as a history teacher at Bluffton High School for her fourth year. Of course, this year had plenty of challenges: Teaching Virtually, hybrid learning, and socially distanced classrooms. She also continues as the Girls Golf Coach and the Head Women’s Track Coach. Unfortunately, COVID eliminated her track season this year. However, she had a bunch…. A BUNCH of golfers on the team this Fall that even set a 9-hole school record! Credit the coach. ;)

I continue to work with high school students at Hope Missionary Church where we have been serving for the last 7 years. COVID proved to change our programming efforts but having a great team around me helped to level the crazy ups and downs of leading in a pandemic. In addition to ministry work at the church, a friend and I started a podcast (www.backseatleader.com) and relaunched a blog (www.pastorgeoff.com)... although some have said that the blog already died. So, we’ll relaunch the relaunch in 2021. 

Some highlights of this year includes buying our first home together! We moved from the Honeysuckle house to our home on 250 N, on a golf course, in July of this year. We find ourselves busy doing the little projects, and some of the bigger projects, to continue to make our house the home we want to establish.

Not too much travel this year, for obvious reasons, but we did get the chance to spend the 4th of July at the lake with Tara’s family and visited Hilton Head with the Cocanower’s. As golfers, one of our highlights was playing the famed HarborTown together while in Hilton Head. Family gatherings of Zoom calls and Google Hangouts helped us stay connected during the year!

We are thankful to get to be Aunt Rara and Fununcle Geoff to Kambree, Kaden, Marshall, Crew, and newly welcomed Mila! We love the time that we get with all of the little balls of energy whether at their homes, in ours, or on trips and adventures together.

Something that started last year, but ramped up a bit this year is our involvement on a “sending team” for some friends of ours who are doing missionary work in a country in SE Asia. Being a part of this team has been so fun to partner with some other couples to support our friends. They are preparing to host and support bible translators who are reaching into people groups who have never heard the Good News of the Gospel. If you want more info, please let us know! We would love to tell you more!

We got to see a bunch of former students and friends tie the knot this year. I was honored to perform the ceremonies for a few of these weddings. 2021 looks to be no different and we are excited to celebrate with these friends!

As we look toward 2021, after a year of not being able to visit, connect, and fellowship with so many friends and family, we would love to swing that pendulum the other way. If you’re in NE Indiana, make sure to hit us up and visit! And we will do the best we can to connect with you when we are near to you. We value you and are so grateful for the people in our lives.

Blessings to you as you wrap up 2020 and step into 2021!

Geoff & Tara