December 2024 Update

We’ve had a few adventures in the past month!

 

My son, Levi, has a pretty serious girlfriend named Kayla.  We’ve been really enjoying getting to know her, and I had an opportunity this past month with them both.  Kayla works as a phlebotomist (the people that draw blood) and they move her around a lot to whatever lab needs her that week.  Tangent:  I actually went to my lab here in Brockport late in October in preparation for a follow-up with my Urologist, and she was working there that week and drew my blood!  She did a great job, getting it on the first poke!  I’ve had some take up to 5 pokes (that was awful), so I was impressed!  Anyway, returning from that tangent, a few weeks ago, she was assigned to a lab in Webster near where I work, so we arranged to meet (Levi, Kayla, and I) at a restaurant for lunch.  We went really fancy and chose Wendy’s.  Actually, as Wendy’s restaurants go, this one is pretty fancy with a gas fireplace and nice dine-in area.  It was fun to get to talk with them and enjoy lunch together.

 

As I mentioned last month, Krista and I went to Kentucky to meet Cai and Amy’s new daughter, Ava, and spend some time with them and big sister Dorothy.  We also got to see Amelia and Ben while we were there, so it was a great trip.  Dorothy loves having company and didn’t even have to warm up to us—she just loved us immediately.

Cai, Amy, Dorothy, and Ava

Dorothy and her Mommom

The expectant parents, Ben and Amelia, and their dog Regulus

 

For Thanksgiving, all the local families got together at our house, so that was a loud and exciting time with 12 adults and 9 children.  As usual, everyone contributed lots of excellent food, which we were still eating a week later, but that’s 100% OK with me!

 

I mentioned that Amelia was expecting too and her baby was due on December 7.  However, that one is just too comfortable inside her mother, and we are still waiting.  I keep thinking of the song “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” and applying it to this baby, but not out loud because I’m afraid it might be sacrilegious.  Anyway, Krista flew down to Kentucky again to be with them for a week from 12/7 – 14, hoping she would be there for the baby’s birth, but God had other plans.  We know He knows best, so we’re continuing to trust Him and are just praying the baby comes soon.  Mom and baby are still healthy so that’s good, and the midwife has started Amelia on some herbal treatments that may help move things along.  Thanks for praying with us!  I’ve been holding off on making and sending our Christmas card to include this baby, so if any of you were wondering where our card is, it will be there!

 

This past Saturday, we went to Ansa and Alma’s Christmas Dance recital.  They both did really well and were the cutest kids up there (in my totally unbiased opinion).  It was fun to see the results of their hard work.

 

Finally, we had a special visit yesterday with two of Krista’s siblings.  Her brother Jonathan and his wife, Kathy, are home from Papua New Guinea (where they are missionaries with Wycliffe) for a few weeks to see some family, and they arranged to meet here at our house.  Krista’s sister, Conny, and her husband, Brian, came too, and we had a fantastic time sharing a meal and talking with them for a few hours.  We forgot to take pictures before Conny and Brian left so you’ll have to just trust me that they were here too, but I do have a picture with Jonathan, Kathy, Krista, and myself.

I hope you enjoy times these days with friends and family, and, more importantly, I hope you know the baby whose birth we’re celebrating as your own Savior.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!