A Green Christmas this year!

We celebrated Christmas all day Sunday ~ a wonderful service at Chippewa Evangelical Free Church, opening gifts, croquet on the lawn, and turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

What could be better?

We are so very grateful that Jesus came to earth to make it possible for us to know God's love and forgiveness, to have a relationship with Him, and to understand how to live the abundant life He offers so freely to us.

(Just a reminder, click on the collage to see the pictures up close and personal.)

The Steelers~Rams Game on Christmas Eve

One highlight of our time with John and RayAnn in Beaver Falls, PA was the opportunity to go to a Steelers Game ~ with box seats (which means Food and Heat). It was Faith's first Steeler's game and she enjoyed it all, even waiting in line for popcorn! It was great that they WON the game, too.

White Sulphur Springs

The first time we went to White Sulphur Springs in Manns Choice, Pennsylvania was in 1986. It was just before we moved to our new assignment at West Point. It "just so happened" that several families from West Point were at OCF's family conference center that week ~ and the adventure began. We spent many weeks at WSS ~ with cadets, at tennis camp, on vacation. Aimee attended the first Allegheny Outback way back when. Lots of memories....lots of time on the wrap around porch of the old Harrison House talking and catching up on one of the handmade rockers.

This year we made a trek back to WSS with the Marx Family (who also have a long history of times at WSS as their boys were growing up and now as they bring their granddaughters to spend the week each summer as they are growing up) the week after Christmas. It was a great time...seeing old friends, meeting new ones, horseback riding, hiking, bowling, square dancing and line dancing in the old barn, and trying out the climbing wall. Never a dull moment. We enjoyed the worship and great sessions with meaningful, challenging, transformative teaching by Greg St. Cyr.

Just this summer the new facility, Heritage House, was dedicated and opened. What a beautiful facility ~ so nicely done, spacious, and modern. While most of us miss the quaint old Harrison House, the new facility is fabulous and allows lots more families to come each week.

Happy Birthday, Oma!

I celebrated my 64th birthday at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, eating pizza for lunch and tubing all afternoon with Andy, Aimee, Gary, Faith, and Avery! What a great birthday party! Weather was mild with no wind ~ the sun was out part of the time and a few snow flakes came down through the afternoon.

Tubing is Avery's favorite winter activity ~ she just loves the wind in her face and smiles and/or giggles all the way down the mountain. Faith would have liked to ski but we weren't sure there would be enough snow. Both girls went non stop up and down the mountain for the full 2 hours ~ never asked for a break.

On the way home we stopped at the moving Flight 93 National Memorial. It was simple and beautiful, a fitting tribute to 40 people who made the ultimate sacrifice. "A common field one day. A field of honor forever."

Nothing Like It...

Nothing like being with family at Thanksgiving!

This year we were in Colorado with Joel, Sarah, Anders (3) and Cade (16 months). We had great weather and a fun time together. On Monday we moved Cade up from the nursery to his big boy room and Joel/Sarah's office down to the former nursery. It's all up and running, complete with decorated walls! A good job done.

Another day we spent the morning at Denver's new IKEA...lots of great ideas! We also visited dear friends...Dan and Julie in their newly renovated kitchen/living space, and Larry, Fran and Bekah at Chick fil a.

On Friday before we left for home, we spent the morning at the Denver Zoo. What a great place!

Thanksgiving was a relaxing day at home. We fed the boys at noon and put them down for naps. Then finished up the food prep and enjoyed a nice quiet turkey dinner!

The Denver Zoo

Black Friday is a GREAT day to visit the Zoo in Denver!

Not too many people...and it is cool so the animals are active!

Happy Thanksgiving

How did this NOT get published??? This is Thanksgiving in 2009 at Aimee and Gary's home in Virginia. It's when we all found out that Ander's was going to be a big brother in July. I uploaded the pictures but never got them posted. So, here they are ~ looks like we had a great time together!