I was just wondering how long it will take me to remember to write 2007 instead of 2006...

Mercy, I still find myself writing "19..." before I think about it. Then have to change to "20..."

No resolutions. I know better. I know I won't keep 'em anyway.

When you get to be my age, you just enjoy your grandkids, the sunsets, the rainbows, the gentle breezes, a phone call from a friend, an email from one of my kids, a good cup of coffee, a hug from my wonderful hubby... and chocolate whenever I want it.

I'm married to Dave. Since life has never been boring with him, I wonder what this year holds in store!

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2006

Who needs mistletoe?

Just sharing a couple of family photos from Christmas.
I know you have been wondering if I'd ever post about our day. :-)

Susan and Ben had a total of 20 people for Christmas dinner. Everyone brought something to eat, and eat we did. Oink.

We had a really cool time of sharing our about our most memorable Christmas traditions when we were kids. It probably won't surprise any readers that everybody mentioned the importance of family getting together. That was really the hard part of Christmas for me...not having the whole family with us.

Christmas = Jesus. But next comes Family / Friends / Food / Fellowship / Football (if you can get it on TV!) / Fatigue (time for a happy nap!).

Aren't traditions comfy, though?

Ben, Susan, Kayla, Levi, Trinity

Levi lovin' it!

Trinity tearing in!

Kayla likes this gift!

The Nativity

Among our usual Christmas Eve traditions is the reenactment of the First Christmas by the children who are present. They find appropriate costuming on short notice and present The Story in their own way.

Kayla was the announcing angel this year.

Levi chose to be a wiseman; his gift was a souvenier basket we bought in Rwanda.

Trinity was Mary; her rag doll was Baby Jesus.


They sang a few songs for us: Away in a Manger, Five Little Fingers, Little Baby Jesus Cradled in the Hay, Come On Ring Those Bells! and Happy Birthday to Jesus.

It's alway a highlight of Christmas Eve at our house.

(FYI: That's not an ordinary sticker on Trinity's forehead. She fell out of bed and got a pretty nasty cut--being held together at this point by tape that takes the place of stitches...and a pretty Strawberry Shortcake bandaid over the top.)

Christmas Dinner Comment

I respond well to food.

Summer Santa

Ho ho ho just isn’t the same in Swaziland.

It’s summer. It’s hot.

And here is our local grocery store Santa, posing at the meat counter.

He knows how to keep cool when he's not surfing. Just unbutton the jacket, roll up the pantlegs and stand on the cooler!

Christmas Greetings!

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace..."

For Christmas, may the Lord give you peace that passes all understanding.

For the new year, 2007, may He bless you and your loved ones with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.

The Changara Family

Just had some of the nicest people in the world come to Swaziland for a visit:
Dixon, Chipo, Faith (13), and Tanashe (9) Changara, from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Our (takes-after-my-mother) daughter fed all of us every night...yummy food (thanks, Sooze!), and we enjoyed fantastic fellowship.

We have adopted them into our family. They are now (un)officially Ohlerkings.