Christmas Week Events including Amazing Grace

A puppy with a chewing problem & a propensity for trouble
plus a good amount of middle-aged inertia ...
kept my decorating to a minimum this year.
But Diane let me use the little tree that belonged to Reid---
who celebrates Christmas in heaven this year with our Lord.

Abby joined our present unwrapping via cell phone.
BOY DO WE MISS HER!!
My cousin Kelcy came for the day and we did what we do best...
Reminisce about our childhood and all our Burton relatives.

She brought me a beautiful Christmas bouquet!
My son Sam in the new vest his mother bought him!!
A great celebration of the birth of our Lord.
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Last night Jennifer and I journeyed to the Ottobar in Baltimore
The opening act for the evening was our Grace!!
crystal clear tones + original lyrics + great acoustic guitar
made her mother proud!!
And her old teacher was proud of her also.
For the record, Jennifer & I were the oldest ones in the bar.
Just a couple of old broads having fun!!

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

It took more than 2 teen-agers +
1 USNA Midshipman + 1 Navy pilot
to build our neighborhood's biggest & best snowman!!

It needed the artistic touch of THEIR DAD!!!!
Good Job, Jim...and Margie was the fashion designer...
A finished picture to come soon!!

Joe and the Big Snow

So this is what it looked like a few days ago from Becky's perch.

This is what it looked like on Saturday...

Those pesky birds kept taunting her with their dining habits.
She loved the snow---looking at it
frolicking in it
cardinals, juncos, chickadees, song sparrows, blue jays
...all hungry
In the evening we were at about 19 inches...

Brother Joe came from CA to be snowbound with us.
We kept toasty warm while we ate comfort food,
watched movies and worked a 1000 piece jigsaw.
Sunday brought the sun & Jim was able to cut a trail for BeckyAfter our snow shovel broke
our neighbor generously cleaned our driveway.
But Sam still had to find his car...
On Monday we were liberated!! No longer snowbound.
The metro was running and the Smithsonians were open.
We had a scary moment when we were
almost apprehended for newspaper stealing
But since that law enforcement officer was our neighbor Jim,
he went easy on us!!
We ended the day with a burger and fries!
Now for some videos of Becky in the snow...for Verena!!!

Holiday Catch Up

Jim, Covenant Life School's most diverse coach,
tried working with a new team this year:
Middle School Girls' Soccer!
A great 3-1-3 season with a sweet group of girls.
There was a sadness at the Thanksgiving table this year.
Larry's mother Winnie passed away on Sunday.
But we toasted her memory and wonderful life.
Are we techno lucky or what???
My guys watch a football game on the TV at the
same time they watch a soccer game on the laptop!!!
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The day after Thanksgiving we could be found
back in the kitchen... the SOUP kitchen.
blessed to be able to serve at The Lord's Table...
while the Flower Hill Bluegrass Band kept our toes tapping...
The CLC volunteers put out a delicious meal....And the world's cutest dishwasher was in hot water!!
Sam had a reunion in church with his 2nd grade teacher
when Grosenbachs visited Maryland from Oregon.
OH, the snow came falling down yesterday
But we got to see Stephanie's vacation pictures
over a cup of hot cocoa.
And today we said farewell for a while to
our "back-up" daughters.
Once their finals are done this week,
Sarah and Lauren head home to TX & CO.
Come January, they won't return to A.U.--
but will travel abroad for a semester of study.
I will miss them, but will pray for their time in
Paris and Edinburgh.
And look forward to their return next fall!!!