Ooops!!!

There is a down side to failing to post for over two months. I've already forgotten so many things. The whole point is to log our life and yet I already managed to "forget" three very fun events that happened during that few months. My memory was triggered by perusing my photos for posting.

In late October we had a great time with our annual trip to the Corn Maze with the Collins family. We tried a new place this year, Miller Farm. I didn't think the maze was quite as fun as the Fritzler maze but there were lots of fun things for the kids, especially the little ones, that were new for us. The weather was perfect and the fellowship great.

The weekend after that we had a visit from travel mates Janice and Makenna Worley. Janice and I e-mail back and forth several times a week and our initial comparing of notes about what our girls would and wouldn't eat has turned into a much deeper friendship over the past 18 months. So I was very excited when Janice said they were going to come for a visit. Mara and Makenna had an absolute blast together and I still hear how much Mara misses her friend Kenna. Janice and I enjoyed a long weekend of chatting in real time, quite an opportunity to catch up and hear more about our backgrounds, families, feelings, etc. Jeff, Katelynn and Mara were so gracious and helped get the house ready for company--no easy feat when I'm in one of my conquer modes. Then Katelynn cooked us a wonderful Chinese dinner one night while the Worley's were here. A great time was had by all though Makenna was quite ready to go home by Monday morning. (Mara can be just a bit intimidating.)

And then this past Saturday was the annual Kid's Hope Christmas party. This is my 4th year as Willy's mentor and hence, our 4th Christmas party. This year Willy talked his father into joining us for the party, the first time we'd had the opportunity to meet Miguel. We had a great visit as we enjoyed our meal and the festivities. That is until time for the gifts to be handed out. Every year church members provide gifts for each Kid's Hope kid and each of their siblings. Somehow Willy's bag was missing Willy's gift. As you can imagine, this did not go over well with a 10-year-old who was quickly in tears. At first blush this would seem a disaster, but God has his ways. Willy's folks allowed us to take him shopping to pick out a gift. Because they were headed to Denver and wouldn't be back until after church started they also allowed him to join us there. He attended Kid's Connection while we attended service and he had so much fun that he can't wait to come back again. Not only is he wanting to come to church again, but we had a very fun afternoon shopping and watching Christmas movies with him. This was a wonderful opportunity which is only part of a very good semester Willy and I have had together. I am amazed at the huge improvement I've seen in his attitude this year. He is going through some very positive changes which include better reading and better math. He is obviously maturing greatly and I'm so excited and blessed to be part of his life.

Well, there are certainly many things I've still missed. I mean, two months is a long time to recount. But I think I've hit the highlights and maybe this will be a lesson to keep up more carefully. Maybe not.