Happy New Year

Jena and I are back in Savannah to end 2009 but we will be home soon.  15 hours through Atlanta, Nashville, St. Louis then back in KC (ugh).  I will be back next week with a new blog post and information.  I used to think that New Year's resolutions were cheesy but I have realized that I continuously have room for growth and improvement in my life.  Whether it be spiritual, physical or family and marriage, it's still a good time to evaluate and improve.  A resolution does not guarantee any change but it's a start.  Realization is the first step.  Happy New Year to everyone!  

Happy Holidays

The gang is all home for Christmas.  For those of you who have kids, you can appreciate the fact that the process of taking a family picture (like the one above) is not as peaceful as it appears.  However, you gotta love the holidays.  It's great to have a full  house.  We may have a "White Christmas" here in Kansas City.  The extended forecast is calling for snow but when you get snow on a regular basis it's not like a white Christmas in Phoenix or Tampa.

Things are winding down here at Doulos.  Shelterwood High School wraps up tomorrow and Christmas break begins on Wednesday.  A few folks have already started the holiday break and by midweek it will be a ghost-town once again.  Jena and I will be in town all week spending the holidays with our kids.  We will be leaving town next weekend to make the long drive to Savannah.

May all of you have a wonderful Christmas.  Enjoy  your families, the rest, the food, the holidays shows and football games.  Laugh much and eat plenty with a thankful heart!  Jena and I are blessed and thankful to have all of you as part of our ministry team.  

Winter Sunset

Seems like the cold makes everything just a little sluggish.  Each week I get one more day behind on my blog??  It is also  tough to head outside into the freezing weather.  With wind chill factor, it was 0 degrees yesterday.  Brrrrr.

The sun was out today, just in time for our 

Doulos Day field trip to the Crown Center Ice Terrace.  It was clear that none of us are pro skaters which made it all the more fun.  A fun, festive, time.

Jena and Justin wrapped up the Fall semester at Blue River this week.   No more studies for a month!!  Justin will be leaving home following Christmas and moving to Boulder, CO to attend the University of Colorado.  It will take some time adjusting to his absence but he is ready.  

We will, once again, have a full house starting this weekend.  A family Christmas that I feel blessed to celebrate. 

 

Midwestern December

December is always a quick month at Shelterwood.  In two short weeks the Christmas break begins.  Last Thursday we had our monthly family night which included a holiday dinner in the home of one of our directors.  For chapel next Thursday we are having a coffee shop and open mic to carry out the holiday spirit and next Wednesday, more ice skating at Crown Center with the Leadtime class.  There is no shortage of yule tide cheer at Doulos.  We are up to 22 kids now with 11 in each house.  I anticipate some departures at Christmas but 2 0r 3 more families are in the Que.

The Midwestern cold has arrived.  Fortunately for us, the snowfall is scheduled to miss Kansas City this time around but it is still freezing outside.  The humidity that keeps things steamy in the summer makes for a bitter cold during the winter months.  Jena is up to her old tricks with the Christmas decorations in the house.  Quite festive. Our home here in Independence is much larger than the one we had in Broomfield so our house does not feel like the gift shop that it did in Colorado with more room to spread out the Christmas items.  

I trust you are all enjoying lots of holiday cheer!