Today's Mail

Due to the cold, USPS did not deliver yesterday. Thus, today was mail day.

Besides the usual junk mail, postcards from a friend and packages of Lyme treatments (restock time), we had two packages that made us smile. 

Norwegian yarn by way of England for Hannah's and my first Norwegian sweaters (kofte). The package had been sliced nearly in two in its trans-Atlantic journey and came to us wrapped in cellophane. Sadly a ball of yarn was lost in the ordeal. Let's hope that a transport worker is being blessed by the unexpected gift of light sea-green wool.

Special packaging of Elsa-friendly (chemical free) hair conditioner. 

When Hannah Feeds the Birds in a Snowstorm

One Last Goodbye

In January the family telephone company officially closed all accounts and stopped renting office space (more like storage space) from the new owners. When all together for the holidays, our family went for one last visit of the building constructed by Grandpa and used hard for several decades. (Forgive our appearance. We were more than weary after our intense November - December schedules.)

The front desk at which many a town-folk came to pay bills and chew the fat.

Dad's first office wallpapered by Mom in their early married years. 

A few of the many maps and graphs marking present and future telephone cables and equipment. 

Christmas + Family

- Christmas Eve with Grandpa -

At 102 years, Grandpa can no longer see or hear well. Mom and Hannah get speaking duty whenever we are with him, since his aging ears can hear their tones. We had a special evening as Grandpa sang along with a few carols, listened intently as Mom read the biblical account of Jesus' birth (as he always did in the past), and savored Christmas treats.

- Christmas Day -

Maren and Jason celebrated at our home for the day and stayed overnight. Sweet memories made. 

Ours wasn't a perfect Christmas by any stretch of the imagination. After a marathon of appointments shortly before, our bodies were fraying at the edges. Yet God was (and is!) with us. With Him we have hope and joy... no matter what our bodies tell us.

Christmas Blooms

Sights of Christmas