Happy New Year!

I've talked a little about our friends who have just become foster parents; it continues to be a learning experience as they move through the process. Thursday saw us driving north again for follow-up appointments, etc. It wasn't a bad day, but it certainly was long! We left Bakersfield at 7:30am and I got home around 9:00pm!! Whew.

On Friday our friends Theresa & Anthony arrived--Woo hoo!! It was fun to have a visit for the sake of a visit (although we love those "just passing through" visits too!) Here we are getting ready to enjoy that turkey soup I got around to making. ;-)

Friday night the DeCarlos came over to play some games and ring in the new year on East Coast time. We did end up playing one game at the very end of the evening, but mostly hung around talking and snacking. :-)
Meredith loves those koosh balls.
Lexie toasts the New Year (do any Ryders recognize that glass?) :-)
Sam and Kenadie sharing the chair.
Lexie setting up the board for Last WordAnthony with puppet; Dominic with Meredith (and Erik with the big grin)--this is a terrible picture but there's something so sweet about all these men enjoying little Meredith!
On Saturday Sergio joined us for a night of gaming into the wee small hours. Fun!
Anthony & Theresa left on Sunday morning and we headed off to church. It was a blustery, blustery day and we came home to . . . a Very Wobbly Fence. Here is my Handy Man doing his best to shore up the fence from our side (we couldn't get our back neighbors on the phone--it's disconnected--so we're hoping they respond to the note we left on their door!)
The temporary fix was facilitated by some zip ties I've had in the car for ages (Thanks, Uncle John!!!!)
Shortly after these pictures were taken it started to sprinkle and the wind died down. Hopefully this will hold for a while until we can get in touch with our neighbors!
Once the Quick Fix was done, we headed over to the Leaman's for some lunch and some football--the last games of the regular season. We have had an on-going bet of sorts this season: Brent & Erik for who buys coffee at discipleship every week, Erik & I for who takes the other to the Thai House at the end of the season, and Julie & I versus Brent & Erik for who will cook the other dinner at the end of the season. Unfortunately Julie & I lost this season (by 1.5%!!) so we will be making dinner for the guys sometime soon. Perhaps we can redeem ourselves in the playoffs . . . ;-)

May 2011 be filled with sweet moments and deep joys, and may you have the eyes to see them!

Love from,

christel