CHRISTMAS EVE

Every Christmas Eve we get together with Heiko's family and eat and open a few presents and just enjoy each others company. This year we had it at our house and there were just a few of us. It seems like it's getting harder for everyone to make it each year. We did miss those who weren't able to make it!

Aysia with her cousins Anastasia & Annica

Austin with his gift from Oma & Opa

Colton with his cousin Nicholas

Oma & Opa

Heiko's brother Torsten & Angie

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

CHRISTMAS THINGS
By Marian Di Stefans

A few days ago I ran across this saying:

"It's not the things you do at Christmastime,
But the Christmas things you do
all year through!"

We hurry and scurry and buy lots of gifts for each other. We send lots of cards and spend lots of money. We condense these activities within a period of two or three weeks and we become pressured by it. Everything becomes so commercial that it takes the joy away.
We begin to feel it's a drag; some of us even begin to hate Christmas. We lose sight of the origin of the Holiday.

Here, in a period of weeks, we shower each other with attention, cards, parties, and gifts. But remember, there are 52 weeks of the year. Why not spread it out? Why not do the "Christmas: things the other 49 or 50 weeks of the year? I don't mean that we should continue the wild pace all year through, but to continue the Christmas like kindnesses and thoughtfulness throughout the year.

Send someone a card during the year, for no particular occasion, just say "Hi, I'm thinking of you." Wouldn't the recipient cherish it a great deal more than the card he got at Christmas along with many, many others?

If, during the year, you saw an inexpensive trinket a friend would like and you sent it to him or her, wouldn't it be more appreciated than the Christmas gift that becomes lost-and even forgotten-among the others under the tree?

Let's not lose sight of Christmas kindness between December 26th and next December 1st. Let's do Christmas things all year through!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

WHERE ICICLES COME FROM!

YEAH FOR SNOW

I JUST LOVE THE SNOW!!!

TRADITIONS CONTINUED

One of our many traditions for the Christmas season is having a party with my side of the family. We eat, play the white elephant game and enjoy each others company. Each year we take turns and this year it was at Dorothy's house. I love being with my family. We sure missed not having my brother Michael and his family with us but look forward to seeing them the day after Christmas!

TRADITIONS

Every year I have Heiko and the kids make snow flakes and we hang them on our front window.
Here are some of their creations

OUR TREE

Now that the decorations are up
I feel like I will survive Christmas!!