Christmas decorations still up????

Here are a few pictures from my short weekend visit with Frank and Darla, Destiny and J'von.  Darla's children were having a weekend with their dad, so they were not along.  Some of Darla's family were spending the weekend at a family cabin near Lewistown, so Frank and Darla spent Saturday afternoon with them before coming here.  They arrived around 6 PM.  

We went to a Chinese buffet to eat, then came here to relax.  Destiny has a very bad head and chest cold and was completely miserable.  I helped her to get a shower, and then she fell asleep on the living room sofa in no time while Darla and I talked.  

This morning we went to Anthony and Lori's church, and of all Sundays the service lasted longer than ever.  So afterward we hurried home for lunch.  I had made chili yesterday, so I had that in the crock pot, and it didn't take long to pile a bunch of goodies on top of it for a yummy lunch.  

Before I show this picture, let me please say that YES!!  I still have my Christmas tree and decorations up!!  I love them!  I considered taking everything down last weekend, feeling very sad about it, then I made an excuse  for myself that since Frank and Darla were not here for Christmas and had not seen my house decorated for Christmas, I really should leave everything up till their visit is over.   That makes perfect sense, right??

Here you can see how very miserable Destiny felt.  She said she has ulcers in her mouth that hurt when she smiles.  I felt so sorry for her, and it felt like there wasn't enough time to help her get better.

Frank and Darla at the computers this morning.  I was showing her my blog, and suddenly realized I had not yet taken any photos!

A cute shot of J'von and Austin playing together. 

Right after lunch they had to pack up and leave.  Darla needed to pick up her children by 5 or 6.  

Lori and Austin stayed for a while, and Austin provided me with a few laughs.  I'm such a bad grandma, but I just have to show you this adorable picture I took on Friday.  We're starting to put him on the potty after he wakes up, etc.  I always say,  "Can you push out some pee?  Like this?"  And then I make a grunting, pushing noise.  He sits there and pushes and grunts, and then starts to pee.  He just looks so cute, it's all I can do to keep from laughing! 

Meanwhile, down in Florida, Dick's having a great time.  Since we had not been with our Florida kids for Christmas, I decided we would have Dick give Sophie her Christmas gift in person when he's down.  Lisa told me that Sophie just discovered Polly Pockets recently, so I ordered some Polly Pockets and a house for them online last week.  They arrived the day after Dick did, and on Saturday morning when Dick was babysitting her, he gave them to her.  She called me to say "thank-you."  

This morning at Lisa's church the pastor preached a sermon about the importance of "belonging" in the body of Christ.  As part of his sermon they showed a video of the Christmas apartment makeover.  I sat here in tears as I watched it online.  It was so much deeper than the news clip that I posted before, and so beautifully shows Cyndi's story and Lisa's heart.  I hope you have time to watch it.

But there is sad, tragic news from our hometown of Manheim.  During the service at our home church this morning, my dear friend Kati received a call.  Her son, who is a football player for Manheim Central, had been in a car that was following another carload of his buddies.  The carload of his buddies spun out of control, was hit by another car, and all four of his buddies in the other car were KILLED!  They were all football players for Manheim Central.  Kati's son was not involved in the accident, but he witnessed the death of his friends.  Earlier this school year, another MC football player was killed in a car accident as well.  

We have been closely associated with the Manheim Central High School for many, many years, and I cannot remember any tragedy that took so many lives at once.  Life is precious.  Life is fragile.  There is so much else I could say, but right now we just need to cry out to God for comfort for the families and friends of these boys.  

I have continued to get emails from more of you readers. I love it!  So again, feel free to  email me if you'd rather not comment publicly.