Happy New Year

To ring in the new year we invited the Jones family over for an evening of games, laughter, talking, and munchies. We don't get together with them nearly enough anymore, so it was a great time of catching up. We all managed to stay up until midnight, but the party wrapped up soon after that, and the kids very willingly went to bed. Claudia, Russell, and Natalie spent the night, much to the delight of our kids.

Russell is becoming quite the chess player, and he really gave Caleb a run for his money. They are nearly evenly matched and really have fun playing together. We plan to get the boys together again soon.

A few minutes after midnight the phone rang, and it was Terry & Donna Jeanne Schneider calling from Austria. We had a wonderful time catching up each other's lives since--who knows how long? They are doing well and we hope very much to see them again--either here or in Austria.

This morning the Jones kids left just as one of Elisa's friends arrived to play for a couple hours. Miri left to go horseback riding and Julianne went to a friend's house. It was a busy day with not much at all really getting done. (The Christmas tree is still up...)

When we went to pick up Miri, we stayed awhile and visited with our friends, the Godfreys. Elisa got to ride their horse, which was a very special treat for her.
Happy New Year to you and may God bless you richly in the coming year!