~Thanksgiving, Christmas activities, missionary services, The Ark...~

Well, Hello there! Thanksgiving day an infection hit me and it took me WEEKS to get over, and zapped my strength.  I spent lots of time trying to get well in between running, and never could find time to blog.
So, this is a CATCH-UP Post.
We've had a wonderful Thanksgiving, enjoyed lots of unforgettable FUN Christmas memories together with family and friends, caroled at the nursing home, traveled to Iowa for a missionary service and to be with Dear friends, got to go to the Ark Encounter, etc.
Here are the fun pics....Hang on for the ride. :-)

~MISSIONS SERVICE IN IOWA~

(We got to stay several days with our DEAR friends Steve and Luann Boardman.)

We had gift cards so ate at Bob Evans on the way to IL/Iowa.

~We got to stay with Dear "Uncle Steve and Aunt Luann"...and dear Sito!!!

 ~The kids love to swim at their house.~

 ~Putting together puzzles~

 ~So nice to see my sweet friend Faye~

 ~Playing beautiful music together~

 ~Bethany came home~

~They took us to a fun Christmas tree festival~

~Mission Service in Iowa~

 ~Sweet Shanda, their adorable new baby and I~

 ~Phillip speaking~

 ~Kimberly and Sarah speaking about their up coming trip to Honduras~

 ~Such a cute pic with Macy's sweet little face in it.~

~Girl pic...we are missing dear Luann~

 ~awww...here she is!!~

 ~Our kids adore Matt...and he is GREAT with them.~

 ~Coffeeing at Luann's is beyond FUN!!~

~DADDY FALLING OFF LADDER~

On our way home we were just 20 mins. from Daddy and Mom's exit when Moma called to tell me that Daddy had just fallen off a ladder.  :-(. So we went straight to their house, took Moma to the hospital to see Daddy (Who had gone by ambulance), spent the night with them, and talked them in coming home with us a day early for Thanksgiving...so we could help care for them.

~HOW WE PRAISE JESUS THAT DADDY WASN'T HURT WORSE AND THAT WE WERE CLOSE BY WHEN IT HAPPENED!!~

 ~Mom's delicious potato salad~

~THANKSGIVING~

~Game time~

 ~Gramp reading us a story.  We enjoy when he reads us stories.~

~SARAH TURNED 19!!~

(Mary wanted to write her Happy Birthday message.)

~CHRISTMAS CAROLING AT THE NURSING 

HOME, THE LODGE.~

~GOD'S BIBLE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM AND

OUR ANNUAL FRIEND SNACK AFTERWARDS.~

 ~Dear Anthony and Adrian opened up their lovely home for our annual friend Christmas snack.~

 ~God's Bible School~

 ~Kimberly got to play with the God's Bible School orchestra.~

 ~Yummy Snacks....Wonderful Friends...Fun times!~

 ~My Cappuccino punch~

~Kimberly and Sarah play at Chick-fil-A to raise money for medicines to fill 2 suitcases 

for the EFM Medical Brigade in February.~

 ~Elijah, Mary, and Abigail did their own raising money at home...for their club.... by making jello bears to sell. Elijah made them their fun hats.~

 ~UBC's Christmas program.~

 ~Gramp and Gram's house~

 ~Sarah playing and singing a special at church.~

~OUR CHURCH CHRISTMAS PROGRAM.~

Phillip and I got the privilege of being Joseph and Mary.

Kimberly, and Sarah sang in the choir.

Noah was Jesus as a teenager.

Elijah was a shepherd.

Mary was an angel.

Abigail was a donkey.

 ~We didn't catch Noah and Elijah before they changed out of their costumes.~

~Phillip as Joseph and Noah as Jesus as a teenager in the workshop.~

(These program pics came from Sarah Susan.)

~It was so DELIGHTFUL to see the snow start falling right before our program started.~

~It was SO FUN to be HOME Tuesday morning, the 17th, as it started snowing.~

~OUR CHURCH CHRISTMAS DINNER~

 ~Matching cousins....unplanned.~

~Stephanie Ryan sent me these pics.~

 ~Our family~

 ~The young People~

 ~CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND GETTING TREATS AT DUNKIN DONUTS WITH A FUN GIFT CARD 

FROM U. SCOTT AND A. LIBBY!!!~

~A delicious gift from the Jowers!!~

 ~At the Christmas dinner Abigail got a gingerbread house kit.  

She let her brothers and sister make a house too.~

~ARK ENCOUNTER!~

~"Grandpa" Hyatt took our family to the Ark Encounter as a NICE Christmas gift!! 

We had a blast!!!~

(Bro. Hyatt took some of these pics.)

~Getting to eat at Emzara's cafe.  It was DELICIOUS!!~

~We had just sat down to eat...when....

our DEAR friends the Sankey came in and joined us. 

What a delight to be with them!!~

~Petting the goats~

 ~Riding the camel!~

May you have a very Merry Christmas Season!!!!  

Let's keep CHRIST in Christmas...and hug each of those we Love a little tighter!

~HEATHER DICKINSON~