January is a tough month.
It requires some special creativity. So we had goldfish crackers and seltzer water… in China.
Katriel
Splish and Splash…
Our friends, the Fritzes, were back in the area for a visit after having moved last summer.
They invited us to stop by the hotel to visit for a while. Stewart and Nigel headed over before the girls and I so that they could visit with Brian and Stephen. Johanna, Katriel and I went later and the four girls swam and swam and swam. They were completely pruney by the time they were done!
I stand at the door an knock…
said Asa, reminding us how we have to let Jesus in.
Asa brought hot chocolate.
George Eastman House 2018
In looking through this blog, I came upon this entry from 2011.
See Johanna in the stroller? Yeah, that was the last time we had been to the George Eastman house for any reason, least of all the Gingerbread display.
So after CBS we regrouped a bit at home and headed over to see the Gingerbread Display.
We did the scavenger hunt. At first we were sort of laid back about it, then we all got into it and started to really put forth effort to figure it out.
What a difference 100 years makes. Not to mention extraordinary wealth…
She was both pleased and horrified by the animal heads.
Katriel wanted to take a picture of me. At first I balked. I am sleep deprived and underwhelmed by my appearance. Then I thought, “Why, YES! Do take my photo with my family.” Sometimes doing life tired is beautiful. Rest is good – very good. But sometimes digging into reserves to give more is a gift you can give.
So glad we went; it was the last day of the exhibit for another year!
An RGH Christmas
My friend Jamie encouraged me to bring the girls to RGH for the Christmas party.
Tab, Hanny, and Katriel joined me for pizza, air brushing, and Santa.
Jamie’s five and three of mine.
Katriel and Pastor Tim
Not sure what else I would title this.
My friend Miriam sent me this photo. She said she couldn’t resist snapping it after she saw these two in conversation (while having a snack at a small reception at the church). I love that there is such a culture of intergenerational fellowship at our church. I am just as likely to find my kids visiting with someone 50 years their senior as I am to find them chatting with someone their own age. This goes for all my kids.
This summer, I heard a research article summarized on a radio broadcast. It said that young people who stayed involved in church into adulthood could identify 4 non-family member adults who they had friendships/relationships with at church as youth. At this point my kids could “boast” of way more than double that number. I am exceedingly grateful for this. We all but left our church in 2011, but God saw fit to direct us back. It’s worked out spectacularly.
CBS Christmas offerings
Another year of CBS blessings, as the students gathered to sing praises to God for His indescribable gift of Jesus.
Johanna and Katriel majored in enthusiasm. And my images pretty much stunk.
I guess I was too busy enjoying the singing.
Katriel committed
Katriel was bored. Like REALLY bored.
I suggested she find three books and read them, and I would reward her with three chocolate chips.
She found fifteen books.
She worked so hard on reading them.
She read them for almost two hours, taking a short dinner break.
I was so blessed.
Field trip to Wild Wings
Johanna, Katriel and I bundled up for a field trip to Wild Wings. Katriel did her own hair.
We met an owl in the office before we headed out to see the rest of the animals.
It was colder than these images suggest, but the girls didn’t grow tired of meeting so many raptors. Johanna had some very intelligent questions and was quick to share that she knew all about how vultures make themselves vomit to scare away predators.
I do NOT love fall, but I think this made for an excellent photo.
Dayspring Disciples 