Thursday, December 24, 2009

The Stockings...


Are hung by the chimney with care.......

Baking Marathon!


Twelve batches of cranberry orange bread. Peppermint cookies----however many 14 cups of flour makes. Many, many peanut bonbons. Pretzel chocolate candies. Two pecan pies. Two pumpkin pies.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

An Early Christmas Gift

Today, quite by accident, I received an early Christmas gift.

The mail came with an envelope from World Vision. It contained a photo of the most beautiful seven year old boy from India with a letter saying that we are his sole sponsors. I did not remember signing up to host a child but what a joy to see little Satish's face.

Having sweet friends from India when we lived in Switzerland planted a seed in my heart & Olivia's for these people. Sumah and her husband, Bosco, were so wonderful to us. The two of them along with several others cooked delicious food for us, taught us about their country, customs and beliefs. They were patient to instruct Olivia and Landon to eat with perfect form using their fingers. We had much joy with their unexpected friendship.

It seems that we are consistently meeting people with connections to India. An Indian Pastor visited our church and attended our Sunday school class. Then there is Peter Mayer, a talented musician, who grew up in India with his Lutheran missionary parents. We just "happened" to attend his concert last night. and WOW! and so on.....

Anyway, we did not sign up to sponsor Satish. Robert gave him to me as a Christmas gift! He wasn't expecting a letter to come in the mail so soon. Now I can enjoy Satish a few days early.

An incredible gift.

(I will try to get photos posted of our new family member soon.)

www.worldvision.org
www.petermayer.com
www.thekirk.com

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Great Grandpa & Elias

My Dad, now Great Grandpa, celebrated his 66th birthday on Friday, December 11th. It was an honor to be with him.





Elias and his Great Grandpa Myers!


Our Beautiful Grandson..... Now 3 1/2 months.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Sweetly Sleeping


Olivia, Elias, and Gloria........

Olivia's 12th Birthday

December 1, 2009



Olivia is 12 Today!!!











SURPRISE! The only thing Olivia earnestly desired for her birthday was to get her ears pierced. Since she had been asking her Dad for months she figured there was no way he would grant her wish. Then it came to the final birthday gift.....a pair of blue topaz butterfly earrings!!! The next day she had her ears pierced.

Thanksgiving With the Deal Clan


Elias enjoying his first Thanksgiving.





The Deal Family Thanksgiving! We were missing a few family members. This is a pretty good representation of the Deal clan at Ann and Ed's house though.





Our Crew!







Grand Dad celebrates his 80th Birthday!