A Busy December!

The Christmas tree is lit, and the season has begun...the busiest season of the year! However, we want to take the time to be Thankful to our God for His unspeakable gift, His own Son to die in our place. We celebrate His coming. May we never be too busy to remember the reason that we celebrate.

NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH!

Ethan is learning to color on paper instead of EAT the crayons! We are all very proud.

I believe he may have a real flair in art!

Little Jonathan is growing every day. What a sweet little guy. Rachel certainly has her plate full at this time.

CHRIS TURNS 50!!!

On Thanksgiving day, Chris turned 50 years old. However, with the busy-ness of the holiday, we waited a couple of weeks to celebrate. Sarah made his cake, and we had friends and family to our home to honor him on his special day.

We had a dinner of barbecue, and watched his favorite movie on the big screen....Sheffey; it is a movie put out by Showforth Ministries, from Bob Jones University about a circuit-riding preacher during the 1800's who shared the gospel throughout the hills and countryside in Kentucky.

We had birthday cake during the intermission. It was a happy day of celebration for Chris.

Thank you for being a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. May God bless you with another profitable 50 years of service to Him.

CHRISTMAS PARTY AT SANDPIPER BAY
The girls did a 2-hour program of background Christmas music for a "family- open house" at the Sandpiper Bay nursing home and independent living facility in Wichita.

click to hear a clip of "The First Noel" set to the music of Pachabel's Canon, with 2 violins, cello and harp.

Although they were supposed to play "background music", many residents and their families used the opportunity to just sit and enjoy the seasonal music with their loved ones.

click here to hear a sample of "Chanukah, Oy Chanukah"...a Jewish Hannakah piece.


The facility provided a "Santa", and had the girls pose for a photograph for their bulletin board. The girls said that this is the first time they'd had their picture made with Santa.

Their testimonies and willingness to serve others in ministry were an example of Christ's love to all who attended. God was honored. Thank you girls.

COURTSHIP AND COOKIE MAKING!

The Gerlach's invited Daniel over for their annual tree decorating and cookie baking night. He was glad to oblige them with his presence! Is that an apron on Daniel? How come he doesn't wear an apron at our house? :-)

I don't think this was how it was supposed to be done! Courtship has brought out the creativity in Daniel!

ICE SKATING WITH FRIENDS

With the semester of school all but finished, we joined 5 other families at the Wichita Ice Center for an afternoon of ice-skating.

At first, Charity stayed pretty close to the wall.

Daniel helping her out onto the ice. What a nice brother.She eventually got the hang of it!

The boys were glad to use their muscles instead of their brains for a change...now that finals are over.There were very few other skaters present, except for those who were with us, which made a fun afternoon.

They invented some new games to add to the fun...

There were some spills and thrills! click here to watch some exciting skating thrills! Especially between Daniel and James Gerlach during their game of "ice tag"!
(caught ya James!)

Even with all the falls, the injuries were mostly limited to a few blisters.

Charity even got 2 blisters...of which she was very proud!

Some of the girls tried their hand (or feet) at a few experimental figure skating moves!

fun on the ice with friends


Toward the end, some of the kids had a balloon out on the ice and played...uh...hockey or some variation of the game...

We are thankful to God for friends with whom we share good times together.

THE PAUL MASSEY FAMILY CHRISTMAS DINNER

Sunday evening, the Paul Massey family (Teresa's mom, dad and brothers) met at the Crown Uptown Dinner Theater for dinner and a show, a Christmas gift from Mom and Dad. Rick and Lori were unable to join us.

I sat across from mom and dad with my camera...Can you tell I said,"smile!!!"

That instruction obviously bore repeating.... "I SAID SMILE!!!"

That's better!

My side of the table (Larry is on the right)

The other side...(Brian is on the left)

There were dramatic skits...
and a variety of music, some funny, and some more serious.

Thanks mom and dad for a wonderful evening.

The Farm

Dan and Rebecca have officially closed on their farm, and they take possession on the 19th of December. We are rejoicing with them. With the baby due on January 9th, they have chosen to not move until the end of January. Chris was able to do the inspection on their heating and air system this past Saturday, so Hannah went along to help Rebecca plant flower bulbs, and take many pictures so that the rest of us could get a glimpse of the blessing they will soon call home.

This is the first view as they drive into the driveway. Lots of mature trees...

...the house...

They say the barn is enormous, complete with a loft.

Chris and Dan went into the silo. It is about 12 foot in diameter- Chris suggested building levels, and making it into music practice rooms for their kids! (From experience, we know it can get a little loud in the house when several are practicing at once.)
The "lean-to" shed.

The kitchen

Lots of cabinet space

The dining room? (I'm assuming) The current residents are packing and preparing to move.

The attic room

I think this is the living area.

Hannah used some sepia and black and white shots to add to the effects.

This is another out-building. It has stalls for livestock.

A nice shot of the barn

The farm comes complete with a "kitty". The current residents told them that it "stays"! Esther is pleased.

Esther walking toward the front of the house.

Mommy and Esther

a back view of the house

between the house and the shed

The couple that currently lives in the house has lived there for many years. The wife has planted many flower beds and done a lot of landscaping.

I don't know where this is, but it looks like a nice quiet place. I'm sure it's beautiful in the spring and summer.

The windmill sits atop a cement slab. They lifted the heavy cement inset, only to see a deep well lined with rock along the sides. Chris said that there were at least 100 snakes lining the walls of the well...hibernating. That is something that Dan plans to eliminate before they have any boys! (The girls probably wouldn't dream of disturbing them!)

Congratulations Dan and Rebecca. May you have many happy years on the farm.