I am waiting for your father and contemplating Christmas. I have been thinking about our nativity characters, and looking for the "Mary" that would represent me. It has been almost a year and still I fight against this assignment! I am not Mary the holy mother. Please help me to see what you have seen in this "character" of Mary. I guess this also serves as a reminder to be looking for your figures. Help! I love you all!!!!!! MOM

Favorite Family Holiday Traditions

Hello all! We are counting the weeks until we are together. We have also made some beginning headway in creating our homemade gifts! More importantly, we are excited to just be HOME, holding our nephews and playing games while endlessly munching on goodies.

On to my current favorite Christmas traditions:
1) Playing games.
2) Making treats to enjoy together (I love Christmas morning brunch and sitting around with .
3) Our day in Ft. Wayne, making returns and finding great deals!
4) Playing rock band!
5) Watching the Christmas Story and listening to Christmas music.

Here are my favorite childhood memories:
1) Sledding.
2) Cutting down and then decorating the tree.
3) Almond Bark from the Herendeen's.
4) Christmas Break-I wish I still had extended time off from responsibilies!
5) Snow!

I have many other fun memories, and mostly, I just love coming home and being with all of you! I'm hoping for a delightful snowy Christmas that makes us lounge around in our PJ's and cuddle with my snuggly nephews. Just a little over a month and we'll be boarding on plane into the cold Midwest. We will be ready to be present and engaged with all of you!

Love love love,
Kristi & Ryan

Christmas and Quatemala

Hey all! This is your long lost brother who hasn't posted in quite a while. I've talked to most of you since returning (Matt we'll catch up soon), but Quatemala was amazing! Kristine and I grew in many personal ways on the trip and very much enjoyed our time there. We became attached to that place and to those kids and wish we could work there more. Anyways, upon returning home we are already getting geared for Christmas. In fact, we began working on Christmas gifts this past week. To answer mom's question, my favorite traditions are as follows: anything with all of us. Recently, traditions have been fun and important but frankly I just enjoy being with the family as a whole. In terms of traditions, I have always enjoyed gift time, brunch, appetizers, Persyn time, Ft. Wayne day, fireplace and movie, etc. But recently it has been outdoor fun (sledding and walks in woods) and games such as Balderdash and Things. The most important thing for me is that we show up focused and dedicated to giving our time and thoughts to each other so quality time is true and fulfilling. When that happens we have fun with whatever we do. I love you all and can't wait to see you soon!

Welcome home Andrew and Kristine! I am anxious to hear all about your trip and we are also glad that you are back home safely. We are looking so forward to Christmas! If any of you would like to share the things that make it special to you, I would love to hear them. I also have to admit that I have not sent Matthew the info he requested, so for those of us who are slackers, get on the ball!!!!! I will also send a copy of the nativity story characters for us to begin thinking again about them. I for one can hardly wait to be all together. I enjoy playing games and talking about what is happening in our lives. Of course most of all I love the laughter. I am missing you all so much today! I love you!
Mom