Keeping things interesting around here

On Sunday after church we finally had a VERY laid back day at home. It was just what we needed after so many days of meals and activities. For Christmas Destiny's mommy gave her a Nintendo DS and a prepaid cell phone. Destiny had been almost obsessed with them ever since she got here on Thursday morning, and it was driving me crazy. I just despise seeing kids become "addicted" to technology. I think the obsession is finally wearing off. Yesterday she had a great time playing with her doll and it's horse and wardrobe. She has always had such a wonderful imagination, and I so do not want her to lose it.

We also got out one of the gifts from Thyda and made a beautiful bracelet.

Today she has contented herself with one imaginative and creative thing after another, while the cell phone and the DS got little attention.

Speaking of the DS, I have to tell a story. A couple of years ago when the Nintendo DS was brand new, a little girl at school was the first to have one. As I waited with the kids during dismissal, she got the little thing out and began playing a game. The other kids were saying, "Wow, you have a DS!" As they oohed and aahed over it, I asked, "What is DS?" A middle school boy wisecracked, "Go back to the Segno." That still just cracks me up. What a great answer to give to a music teacher! Brownie points for sure!!

This morning I had a great disappointment. I was planning to go on a short trip with my sister Mary Ellen and my parents to my brother-in-law Elvin's house near Gettysburg. His daughter Lori and family from Michigan and his son Scott and family from California were there for the holidays and this would be our only chance to see them before they returned home. On my way to meet Mary Ellen, my car's transmission went out. By the time Dick could come to my rescue too much time had passed, and they had to leave without me. I cried tears of disappointment over the missed visit, as well as tears of discouragement as Dick came to the conclusion that we would need a new transmission. But as the day is passing, God is continuing to be faithful and our needs are being met.

Yesterday I wrote an abbreviated version of my annual letter and today I did my literal cut-and-paste family portrait. For the first time in my life I sent them to many people via email. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. Here's our picture (it is clickable:)

Back: Krister (Miki's husband), Ray, Thyda, George, Sophie, Lisa
Middle: Katrina, Miki, Bjorn, Sam, Jeremy, Frank
Front: Anthony, Lori, myself, J'von, Dick, Destiny, Adrias

As I said in my letter - the size of each head has nothing to do with that person's value!

And I'll copy the letter below for any and all who are interested in reading what you probably already know about us!!

The Stauffer Newsletter

Christmas 2008

Because most of our family and friends keep up with our family via my blog (www.musicaljean.blogspot.com), this will be an abbreviated version of our annual letter this year.

Dick and I have been walking a new road this fall since Dick became unemployed on September 3rd. We are thankful for unemployment pay, for the generosity of our children and many of our friends, for the ever-lowering gas prices, for my jobs at Manheim Christian Day School and Grace Community Fellowship, and for the amazing faithfulness of the Lord. We do not know what the future holds for us, but then, who does? Also this fall Dick needed another round of chemo treatments for lymphoma, which he again came through like a champ. In spite of the lack of fulltime employment, Dick has been staying amazingly busy doing various kinds of jobs for others.

Destiny, now 8, moved to Reading, PA this year with her mommy, but spends every weekend and holiday with us. We always look forward to having her here. She often gets to spend some time with Frank (her daddy) on Saturday evenings.

Miki and her children, Katrina (15) and Bjorn (12) spent a week-and-a-half with us this fall. What FUN we had! Dick also spent a week in March visiting them in Sweden, as did Anthony and Lori in August. They have big plans to move in April from the small town of Vannasby to the city of Umea where Krister works at the hospital and the kids go to school.

Lisa, George, and Sophie (almost 4) keep busy with their house in Tampa, Sophie’s activities, George’s job, their fitness efforts, and their church. They spent about 10 days in PA in June, and Dick and I have each been down there a few times this year.

Anthony and Lori have the biggest plans of all – they will become the parents of a son in the next month. Needless to say, I am delighted that they only live two hours away in State College!

Sam still lives in Downingtown, PA and continues to do very well at Pall Trincor, Inc. We have enjoyed many weekend visits from him this year.

Frank now lives in Hershey, PA and is working for a small HVAC company. He and his adorable little boys, J’von and Adrias, have joined us for numerous family events this year.

Jeremy is now a senior at the Art Institute of Tampa, with plans to pursue a Masters in Architecture. He enjoyed numerous opportunities to participate in community theatre this past year, always good reasons for Mom to take a trip to Florida! He came home when Miki and her kids were here and added lots of fun to our times together.

Ray and Thyda continue with the US Navy, based in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. We had many wonderful times together this year, both here and at their home in Virginia. Currently Thyda is deployed onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt from September to April. How Ray misses her, and so do we. Not being able to come home for the holidays was very, very hard for her. We are thankful for email and that she can call Ray sometimes.

Wow, if you're still with me, congratulations! You read my whole post!