Happy New Year!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Many of you have seen all of our family members on this site, but one we haven't shown yet is....."Monster" our female bearded dragon.

We used to have her in Rita's room as that was part of her room redecoration to go with the Monster Energy drink.

She now is in our dining room, for the winter, to be close to the warmer rooms. Right after we moved her, she was anxious and would hiss at you but now she is very interested in what is going on and likes to come out of her cage to ride on hands, shoulders, and cuddle while you watch TV or type on the computer.

So for the New Year we wish you a calmer life, like "Monster" has, lots of handling to get to know people, warmth, happiness and to be closer with family and friends. Love to all!

Christmas is over????

Well, we have traveled safely, opened presents, visited with family (by phone, by SKYPE, and by mail), friends, and eaten way too much. I am sure you have also.
Well, maybe not all of you SKYPE'd? We spent over 2 hours on the SKYPE with each of our children and grandchildren. Presents on SKYPE, we ate with each other on SKYPE, and we laughed on SKYPE. For those of you that have a web cam, download SKYPE for free and visit around the WORLD!!!! We do! Just remember which time zone you are calling so you can get them while awake.

We got a lot of things and the biggest was a Wii World Tour Band. Charlie, Rita, and I can really "rock out" together now. It was so big I had to hide it upstairs in a closet and they had to go and find it!

The best thing for Christmas was time with family whether in person or by phone or by SKYPE!! I trust your Christmas was special.
Love,
Darleena

Christmas 2008

Well today schools are closing early and closed yesterday for today and we don't have any snow yet!!! But they promise it is coming. We sent out our Christmas letters out and probably many of you have received them. Here is a shortened version for the blog!

Christmas 2008 December 11, 2008
As, we are sure many of you are doing, we are also praising God for keeping us safe this year and for providing for our every need, not our wants but our needs! Darleena traveled to Florida to see her Mother last January. She had surgery to repair an abdominal hernia and contractures from the stroke on her foot this year. She has also been very busy doing arts and crafts for Craft Shows with Rita. They paint rocks, crochet, and are thinking of other ideas for shows. Rita changed schools this year and is now a junior at Schenectady Christian School. Rita has her driver’s license, has her own car (that she bought), and is on the Cheerleading squad. A very active young woman! I traveled to see Chuck, Miyoko, and the children in Jakarta, Indonesia this year and had a wonderful time! I had been praying, for a while, for opportunities to preach and God opened up an opportunity for me to fill in for a very small church in Ballston Spa. Just this last weekend the Church voted 100% for me to be their Pastor so I will be doing this, while I also continue to work for the State of New York as a Supervising LPN. Now to fill you in on the other children! Come and visit, you don’t need to call first!

Love and Merry Christmas to all!!

Last weekend update! For those of you that didn't call!

Well for those of you that didn't talk to Dad this last weekend this will be the first you will hear about this. Dad, Rita, and I have been praying as Dad has been wanting to return to the ministry and preaching. Just before he left for Indonesia a small struggling church, in Ballston Spa, asked Dad to come and fill the pulpit for a bit when he returned. A little over 2 weeks ago they approached him to ask him if he would consider becoming their Pastor. Dad said yes, he would consider it. This last Sunday they voted and he received a 100% vote, and he accepted. He is now the Official Pastor of the Greater Commandments Ministries Church of Ballston Spa.

Rita is very excited about this, as are we. Right now, there are only about 20 people that attend and as they have been without a Pastor and regular preaching many people have left to find other ministries to worship at. Dad feels he can do this and his job for the State of NY. We all need to pray for him for the strength to do both jobs.
Love Mom

recipe and off to Pennsylvania

Ok, so all of you want my friend Penny Schlueter's Shepherd's Pie recipe now! Well here it is: Simple one right! Call if you have any questions! I love to get phone calls!

I just got back at 10:00 pm from the Sight and Sound trip to Lancaster, PA that I went to with my church family for two days. It was so great! I had fun with my church friends and trust me 7 hours in a van each way really gets people close!

Now you are wondering why we would go to Lancaster, PA, right? Well, there are outlet malls there and what a better way than to shop to get ready for Christmas and then there is this great place there that puts on live shows! With live animals even in the show! check out the web site to see it: http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSiteSS/

When we got there we were greeted by this beautiful statue of the Lion laying down with the lamb.

Then right inside was this beautifully decorated Christmas tree to enjoy while we waited for them to open the doors for the event we went to see.

Under the tree were these really close up and beautiful scenes to look at and think about.

Of course, there were Amish restaurants and horse rides to enjoy. Believe me I did!

If you can get to Lancaster, PA or Branson, Missouri to see one of these you should. It was great fun!

Now I only hope the craft show goes well tomorrow and I sell alot for Rita.

Later........