Where did the last month go?

A lot happened...Christmas was great with family and friends...missed having Carli here on Christmas day, but she and Jeremy came home on Saturday, just in time to open gifts and enjoy the huge Kohler family get-together, then the Gerber family fun on Sunday.

Ted and I went to Lansing, Michigan for New Year's Eve/Day to be with friends Jane and Craig. So good to see their new home and see them getting settled into new lives in Michigan. Also got to visit with Jane's mom and see Riley at work. Very fun.

The not so fun part was the passing of my friend, Lois. She had a good Christmas day, and her boys were able to spend her final days with her. What an uplifting memorial service...such a message of salvation...but it was so hard to lose her. I miss her fun emails, her phone calls and her laughter...

Ted and I got to spend a week in Aruba with friends Mark and Jackie. Nice to see the sun again! Living in Ohio, we tend to forget that the sun still shines in the wintertime! It was beautiful, not what we expected, but warm and windy. The beaches were beautiful with clear blue water. An off road jeep tour and snorkeling were the highlights.

Now back to reality...hundreds of emails, phone messages, many responsibilities at church...and I haven't even checked my school email messages yet.

Please still keep Carli in your prayers. She is having some health issues that make a mother worry. Probably nothing, and since she just had a good report from Dr. Stallings, I am not quite so worried. But, as I say, it is a mother's job to worry about her kids, no matter how old they are!

Kelsie is also having issues reentering college life since her trip to Italy. I think that once she gets back in the swing, she will be OK, but it has been hard. Again, it's my job to worry-just wish I was better at giving my girls to the LORD...why do I always have to feel in control, when I know better than that?

OK-there's a chocolate theme park in China...sign me up! (Just saw that on the news...I'm glad that there wasn't anything more pressing to tell us about...). Sometimes it is hard to get upset with our lives here when so many are suffering in Haiti. We can't even imagine what those folks are going through. Hopefully the relief efforts will have some real effect real soon.