The Christmas Season So Far

Christmas in China. We love it. Since this is a country that sadly does not celebrate the real meaning of Christmas we enjoy the concerts, parties and decorations by international friends. We do see the occasional Christmas tree in stores and decorations in downtown stores and even hear imported Christmas music played over and over again in certain grocery stores. "Frosty the Snowman" "All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth" (the OLD versions) And some clerks wear Santa hats. One recent Saturday we were downtown and two men goodnaturedly laughed at Mark and called him "Sheng Dan Lao Ren" (old Christmas man)..their word for Santa Claus. And he didn't even have on his red hat..! Maybe it's the white hair and beard, do ya think?

Right after Thanksgiving we went out to get a tree in a little store in the busy center of Tianjin.

The first taxi driver refused to take us, but the next one had no choice as Mark stuffed the over six foot tree into the front window and we told the driver where we lived. Mark tipped the driver and he drove away contented and puzzled ....

The ECC always puts on a very cute program. I LOVE IT !!!

Here is Lily, adopted daughter of our friends the Kuritars, sitting in the rocking chair next to the

Christmas tree in our good friend, Melinda Ackermann's Junior Kindergarten room.

Fall pictures of our Grandkids

Here they are ~ all 12 of them. Georgia, South Carolina, California and Mexico. We were so blessed to be able to see them and their parents last summer. They are some of the many reasons our hearts sing for joy !

JAMES is ONE !!!

Here he is - youngest of Tim and Allyson Reed enjoying his chocolate birthday cake !!

Happy Birthday TWINS !!!

Scarlet and Sophia Prescott are now THREE !

Pumpkin Patch with Aunt Fran

Here they are ! What would FALL be with out a visit to the Pumpkin Patch !! Tim and Allyson, their four kids, along with Tim's Aunt Fran, enjoyed a lovely day together in Georgia !

Precious Baby Luke

Our precious baby grandson is now in heaven with Jesus. Luke was born prematurely to Tim and Allyson Reed on October 19 and was too small to survive. We all mourn this loss, and anticipate a grand reunion with him and all our other loved ones who have died when the time comes and we are all HOME to be forever with the Lord. Til we get there !!!!! Maranata !

Party for Little Girls

This is the second year in a row that my teacher friend TJ and I have hosted a party for little girls...just something we enjoy doing ! ;-)

Unforgettable Pedicures and Manicures

Hannah, 5, and Lauren, 4, decided it would be a great idea to paint our toenails and fingernails on a lazy summer afternoon in Georgia. Of course I loved the idea and didn't even get upset when Hannah accidentally spilled red polish on my leg and foot. She was holding the little bottle in her left hand as she was polishing my toes with her right hand and the bottle kept tilting and tilting until I wondered what that cool stuff was dripping on my legs. To see her surprised look and loud, OH MY GOODNESS ! was hilarious. Of course we had to re-enact it for the camera. These and many other adventures are what made my summer one of the best yet !!!!

Our Dozen Grandkids

Timmy sings again !

Timmy the Two Year Old sings Praises

Here is little Timmy, almost two-years-old, singing early in the morning out on the front porch. I think you will recognize the song from this precious little boy.

Lauren and Hannah Reed with their kittens.

Fun in Mexico

YaYa's Brag Book

Summer Fun with the Kids 2009

Little Timmy loves to watch his parents milk the cow twice a day. Tim and Allyson milk "Hallie" the cow every morning and evening.

Uncle John greets Hannah after a long time.

Hannah picked lots of strawberries

Jamie and Mark after church

At the strawberry patch with a bunch of cousins and aunts and uncles in the great state of Georgia (where I was born many years ago !!)

Caleb hands a huge strawberry to Uncle John

Caleb Reed, 3 years old

John gives milk to the lambs - Stormy, Sunny, and Rainy

John's favorite lamb is Stormy
Ice cream at McDonalds on a Sunday afternoon in South Carolina

Jamie and Heidi's three sons Antonio, Joshua and Caleb

Aunt Bethany loves here nieces and nephews

John at the end of our strawberry picking time

Scarlet and Sophia- twin daughters of Craig and Leah Prescott

I had more fun watching the grandkids pick strawberries than actually picking them. It was a definite "grandma memory"

Swimming pool on the deck on a hot day

The twins

John barbecuing shish-kebobs in the rain.