Our trip back home

Our trip back home was of course bittersweet. It is always nice to get back to where you call home but always painful to leave behind those you love. Our trip back left us with a 6 hour layover in Chicago on New Years Day. A friendly police officer helped pass the time by chatting with the kids and entertaining them with some of his police gear. It was certainly one of the highlights of a long day.

Pictures with family

Our children are blessed to have 3 great grandparents still living. They were able to visit 2 of them during our time back east. Great grandma Kipe (Rochelle's Grandmas whom Sara is named after) and Great Grandmas Bertha (Brian's Grandma). The first pic is of Mercy, Sara, and their cousin Bella.

Time with family

It was a very special blessing to share the holidays with family. Sara learned to say Grandma and Pappy but we are sure she was a little confused as to what Grandmas meant since she has 4 Grandmas with 2 of them being Great-Grandmas. Lydia was also blessed to spend an afternoon with her favorite pen-pal and friend Elizabeth.

Traveling back east for Christmas!

We were extremely blessed this Christmas to have the pleasure of traveling back east for Christmas! It was our first time traveling by train and although sleeping was a bit of a challenge we did enjoy the train for the most part. It was a two day trip and we were glad to be reach family Christmas Day in time to share Christmas dinner.

Christmas

We celebrated our family Christmas a little early this year since we would traveling back east on Christmas day. Thanks to those of you that sent something special our way to make our Christmas extra special.

Time in the mountains

This December we were blessed to spend our team retreat in the Colorado mountains. We enjoyed playing in the snow and managed to get a great family pic to use for our Christmas greeting cards. We are so thankful for friends that allow us to use their cabin, our family loves to spend time there.

a few extra for the night

The Lord has blessed us with several opportunities to welcome the L family's children into our home. It sure is busy with 9 kids 10 and under but we praise the Lord for a chance to speak life and blessing into these children's lives.

Thanksgiving

Many of you have prayed for the L family and this year they shared Thanksgiving dinner with our family. It was a full house with 5 adults and 9 children.