No Matter What!

"In Christ — no matter the road, the storm, the story — we always know the outcome. 

Our Savior: surrounds. 

Our future: secure. 

Our joy: certain."

- Ann Voskamp

Chiune Sugihara...

....a man who saved 6000 Jews.
He was a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania, and when the Nazis began rounding up Jews Sugihara risked his life to start issuing unlawful travel visas to Jews. He hand-wrote them 18 hrs a day. The day his consulate closed and he had to evacuate, witnesses claim he was STILL writing visas and throwing from the train as he pulled away.
He risked his life to saved 6000 lives.
The world didn't know what he’d done until Israel honored him in 1985, the year before he died.

Winter Music

Ana's First Bridal Shower!

The ladies from church hosted a lovely bridal shower for Ana last Saturday!

Guessing how many chocolate kisses are in the jar. =) 

( There are a bunch more ladies around the corner to the right.)

They all wrote out words of wisdom for the bride and pinned them to this board one of the ladies had made.

Then Ana read them all out loud. =)

So many lovely gifts!!

Mrs. L. reading the devotional.

Mrs. S and Mrs. T 

The food table was so beautiful ... and delicious!!

It was a really fun afternoon!!!!

Caleb's Visit

Last Friday Caleb (my sister Ana's fiance) surprised her by coming up for a 5 day visit! He had flown a client down to the Caymen Islands and she thought he would be down there those 5 days. But instead, he flew up here, then drove the three hours to our place (arriving around 1:00 AM), came in the front door we had left unlocked for him, and slept in a room we had ready for him.  He came out in the morning when we were eating breakfast. Ana was totally and completely surprised!! =D  All the rest of us had known about and were planning this visit for about 2 weeks, so we were happy and thankful the surprise worked!

 A few minute after he came into the room...I think she still wasn't quite sure if this was really happening! 

 They washed up the breakfast dishes together and then...

...loaded up a whole bunch of books we were getting rid of and took them into town. We worked on packing.

Saturday we all went to the Christmas celebration at Uncle Davids.  (See post below for pictures from that day.)

Sunday.  Due to the cold church was canceled, which was disappointing.  But we were able to listen to a sermon online.  Amy and I made a fruit salad to go with the omelets Caleb made for us all for lunch.

 They were delicious!

Caleb wanted to learn how to give Ana a foot massage, so I gave him a lesson in the afternoon.  I love giving foot rubs and learning about foot reflexology, so I really enjoyed teaching him.  (He did a great job!)

Then I showed Ana how to give Caleb a foot massage.  He liked it and almost fell asleep!

Amy <3

Monday...more packing...wedding planning...packing etc. 

Tuesday.  New Years Eve Day....or as Caleb says "New Years Adam". (It comes before eve.) ;-)

 

While they were working on listening to and picking out music for their wedding, Caleb gave Ana a pedicure.

We were going through our games to pack them up and pulled out a few to play.

 They both were so good at Mastermind!  It was fun to watch.

Then we played Husker Du, Mouse Trap, Clue, and....

....lastly we played Dutch Blitz before reading and praying as the year changed from 2013 to 2014.

Caleb left to fly back to the Caymen Islands around 1:00AM.
I just realized that he left at about the same time of day that he had arrived. =)

Christmas at Dad's Brother's Home

 Christmas was held in Uncle David and Aunt Lin's new home.  Even though several cousins and their families were not able to come, there were still over 30 people there.

Caleb and Ana

 Uncle David enjoyed talking about flying with Caleb, (who is a pilot) and he showed us a picture of a KC-135 (modified Boeing 707) refueling a B-52, which is the airplane Uncle David flew when he was in the air force in the 70's

 Gift time! 

 Our cousin Kristen =)

Kristen's husband Rodney and their son Troy.

 Such a cutie!!

Smile!!

 Grandma with her children and their spouses. 

Caleb and Ana with Grandma. =)

 Playing Hearts...that was such fun!

It was a fun time, and we were so glad Caleb was up visiting and able to come along and meet so many of Dad's side of the family!!

Continually Striving

"We may follow Christ very imperfectly, stumbling at every step, realizing but in the smallest measure the qualities of ideal discipleship. Yet if we are doing our best, and are continually striving toward those things that are Christlike - our efforts and attainments are beautiful in the eye of the Master, and pleasing to Him.” 

~J.R. Miller