~Merry Christmas and Happy New Year~

I am wishing you and your family a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Christ-filled New Year! So many things have happened in this past year. Some were wonderful, while others were tragic. We who are serving Jesus are not to live in fear of or dread the future; It is my goal more than ever to live with Heaven in mind and ready to make my flight at any time. I want to spend more time with Jesus and my wonderful family in 2010! See you next year! =)

~Idaho, old friends, and Glacier Nat. Park~

~We had a nice time with our dear friends the Darwin Edwards who used to attend the church that Phillip pastored in AZ. They are now living in Idaho. We enjoyed having them into our motor home for Sunday dinner. ~

Jonathan and Stephanie Phillips were such a gracious host to us. Years ago Jonthan and I would have attended the same youth camp, and we went to GBS with Stephanie. We had a service at their church in ID. They served us a delicious snack and we had a great time with them and with Dixie and Andy too.~~As you can see from the pics below we enjoyed seeing some of God's GORGEOUS scenery while traveling out west!~
~We stopped for the night having no idea that when we awoke the next morning this is the view that we would see out our window!~



~We held a service in Libby, MT with the Rasmussens and the Ron Millers. We had a good service and time of fellowship with them. Here is Elijah and his new friend Anthony R.~

~After leaving Libby, MT we got to drive and see parts of Glacier National park. We spent the night in the park.~
~The next morning we went out to take some pictures and it was BITTER cold with a wind that nearly knocked us over!~

~Leaving AZ and heading to ID.~

I will try to post the rest of our deputation pictures. Obviously we have TONS of pictures so I will just post some of them, hoping to post at least one from every church/location we visited.
~Our dear friend Janet took the kids hiking in AZ with she and her dog Jake. Thanks, Janet, the kids had a blast!~~The Lord helped us to get a nice Dickinson family picture the last day we were together...in spite of the fact that 5 of us had the flu.~
~Grandma and Grandpa and their GRAND kids!~
~Mom D. wanted me to make some cinnamon rolls for her before I left AZ. We LOVED our days that we got to spend with Dad and Mom D. and Michael and Beth and family! It was hard telling Dad and Mom D. goodbye...not knowing when we will get to see them next!~
~Elijah and Noah with Uncle Mark's old car.~
~Kimberly and Sarah saying those HARD goodbyes to their dog Bridget. Grandpa and Grandma are keeping Bridget for them while we are serving Jesus in another country. Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma you'll NEVER know how much it means to our kids' hearts to know Bridget is in your good hands!~
~We held a service in Cottonwood, AZ. Early the next morning the Peaks made us a delicious breakfast. As we were heading out of our motor home to go to their home I saw these beautiful mountains and wanted to take a picture. My dear man stuck his head in the picture and crossed his eyes wanting to show you that none of us were ready to be up that early in the morning (after such a late night.) He's crazy!~
~It was neat to get to meet the Thomas Peaks who are the new pastor and wife of the church in Cottonwood, AZ. They were missionaries to Peru for many years, so we had a lot in common with them. We had a great visit together!~

~It was nice to see the Smiths from the Cottonwood, AZ church, as well as Mrs. Clifton, and Mrs. Harrington.~

~We stopped at Jazminne's house and she fed us a DELICIOUS mexican meal.~
~It was so neat to see our good friends Jazminne and Christine again.~

~Deputation Memories~

Hello, Hello, Hello! I have not fallen off of the end of the earth, but I'm trying to re-coup and re-group after traveling thousands of miles for 4 months, meeting and greeting many precious people, homeschooling 2 girls, and keeping up with Noah and Elijah. =) Now, I'm sitting here by the lights of our tree after enjoying a cup of yummy hot coffee with eggnog creamer hoping to catch up on my blog and with y'all! A dear friend is letting our family use her home for Dec./Jan. and it is being a HUGE blessing to us! One thing that has been healing to my heart is that this year I have gotten to set up my Christmas tree and use my Christmas china again for the first time since 2004! We are taking a few days to rest up before we go back to Colombia at the end of Jan., Lord willing. I have lots of pictures to post from the rest of our deputation, just don't know if I'll get to post them all. But, for now, I'll leave you with a song that the kids and I wrote, sung to the tune of:
"These are a few of my Favorite things."

~These are a few Deputation Memories~
Playing on playgrounds and Thank you notes written,
Seeing our dog Bridget and Sarah's toy kitten.
Bright colored fall leaves on the trees,
These are a few deputation memories.

Grandma and Grandpa and Gram and Gramp
Getting to go to our Comargo camp.
Roast beef dinners, candy, cakes and treats,
And many more yummy things to eat.

When the tire goes flat,
When we catch the flu,
When we're feeling sad,
We simply remember the good times we've had
and then we don't feel so bad.

Bright city lights at night made us smile.
DeMints loaned us a motorhome to travel in "style". =)
Meeting new dear people in God's family,
These are a few deputation memories.

Being out west and enjoying God's creation.
Seeing points of interest- like a mini vacation.
Hugging aunts and uncles and kissing cousins too.
Looking at snow capped mountains-what a view.

When we grow weary,
When we're sick of school,
When we're feeling sad,
We simply give Thanks to God above,
And then we don't feel so bad.

Taking our pictures out in the freezing cold,
Seeing our dear friends both young and old.
Sharing and receiving new recipes.
These are a few deputation memories.

Fall decorations and visitors in our motorhome
Great Christian fellowship where'er we did roam.
Camping by the river in Glacier National park,
And Going out to see the stars in the dark.

When we're tired of singing,
When we need some sleep,
When we're feeling sad,
We simply Thank God for His help so far,
and then we don't feel so bad.

Going horseback riding, hiking in AZ.
Having a cough that drove us crazy.
Getting some gift bags full of special goodies.
These are a few deputation memories.

Getting to see historic Mt. Rushmore,
Riding 4-wheelers, wagons and more.
Seeing Laura Ingalls Wilders home- how neat.
Spending Thanksgiving with family-HOW SWEET!

When we say goodbye,
When we want to cry,
When we are feeling sad.
We simply remember the good times we've had,
And then we don't feel so bad.

~written by Heather 2009~

~Our Thanksgiving day.~

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It was a special day being with family and praising God for alllll He has done for us. Here are some pictures of our day. =)
~Everybody pitched in and helped get ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Here Gramp is cutting up the bread for the homemade dressing while Elijah drags a bear around the kitchen. =)~
~Even Grandma Bryan...102 (plus) helpd to get ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Kimberly was Gram's right hand lady in getting ready for company on Tuesday and the Hausman's arrival on Wednesday...and then Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.~
~Setting up and playing with Gram's train.~
~A sweet lady from Daddy and Moma's church baked this beautiful choc. cake and brought it in for our Thanksgiving dinner! Thank you, Pam, it was delicious!!~
~It is always a blast to be with the cousins.~
~UNCLE PHILLIP MADE US SMILE! He found these edible wax mustache and lips on sale for a few cents a piece and bought them for our kids to have some fun with.~
~Sarah blowing a kiss.~
~Gramp reading the grandkids a story.~
~The girl cousins enjoyed spending the night together in the motor home.~
~Having fun...giggling and talking late into the night. I came to the motor home and knocked on their window and scared them half to death. It was fun. =D~
~The pretty centerpiece. Sis. Kemp got me these adorable fall candle holders years ago, and I have been letting Moma borrow them.~
~The pretty Thanksgiving table. I was thrilled to get these placemates for 80% off at Hobby Lobby, and so I offered that we could use them for our Thanksgiving table.~
~Natasha, Brittany, and Kimberly playing a game of scrabble~
~Elijah "playing a piano duet" with Aunt Laura. (I think he was asking her what note he should play next. =)~
~How many blessings we have! Our family...getting to with them for Thanksgiving...and serving Jesus, to name a few!~
~Moma and I made the yummy pumpkin pies.~
~Elijah agreed that the pumpkin pie was delicious! He picked up someone's pie that he found and licked the filling out of the crust and then ate the crust. =)~
~Gram bought fun Christmas coloring books for the kids and gave them to them after Thanksgiving dinner.~
~It was special to get to celebrate Thanksgiving with Grandma Bryan who is 102 plus!~
~Darla and Sarah, Bryan and Noah did a little program for us.~
~Gram and Gramp listening to the little program.~
~I trust that y'all had a very Happy Thanksgiving as well!~