Eli's New Website is up and running

Happy New Year to everyone!



May God bless you all in the coming year.



We have Eli's website up and running. . .


The address is



http://myadoptionwebsite.com/journeytoeli/

A BLESSING

Here's to the beautiful family we love so much. Missing our Dads and Grandpas. And longing for our Eli to come home.

Having a place to go is home;



Having someone to love is family;


Having both is a blessing.


- Donna Hodges

MERRY CHRISTMAS

May your Christmas be filled with the joy of the Christ Child this year.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours . . .

Grandma and Philip decorating the Gingerbread House

Ready to celebrate!

Look at all of those stocking! Two dogs, a mommy and a papa,
and three children's stockings!

(Sorry Ted, you are still our little boy even though you are full grown! Hee, hee!)

A Christmas puppet show!

What a cutie!

Luke 2:10 - 11

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

A new kind of Nativity Scene

Philip, under the direction of his big brother Ted, created this version of the Christmas Nativity. They are both so proud of their creation!

Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus are inside the stable.
(Jesus is played by Thomas the Train - Philip's
most favorite character!)

The wise men are the puppy and the cootie characters outside the stable. Do you see the angels above (played by cars)!! The shepherds, sheep, and other barnyard animals are played by the remaining trains. So cute!

Ted is home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh happy day!



Ted is home from Ball State after 4 1/2 years at college. He begins his student teaching at an area high school in January and will live at home with us! We are so happy to have him back with us. (Probably much happier than he is to be home! LOL)


When Ted first got home today, Philip ran outside without his coat on to leap into his brother's arms. So very sweet. :)

Christmas trimmings

Even though this holiday season has been marked by deep sorrow over Dad's passing, there have been light moments, too.


Like the "help" I got when I wrapped a few presents . . . (not!) Hee, hee

Philip enjoyed tearing the wrapping paper into tiny bits with the help of his bear.

Kevin and Disney weren't much help wrapping gifts either!

And Soccer was rather bored by the whole gift wrapping thing, too!

Oh well, so much for gift wrapping help. Tree decorating was much better! :)

Well, maybe not! LOL!

There - that's much better!

Ted's Project

We just returned from Ball State after seeing Ted's show he directed for his senior project. It was a collection of Cole Porter songs - beautiful! We are so proud of Ted and the young man of Christ that he is. We love you Teddy!

Sorrow

We miss our dad and grandpa so much that it hurts.

Ted, Dad, Philip, and Uncle Al (Dad's brother)
last May

Dad is home

Dad went home tonight a little after 5 P.M. He is out of his suffering - no more sorrow, no more tears, no more disease.

For us - an incredible sorrow at his passing.

But the victory is won. Jesus has overcome.

Sad day yesterday

Well, after seeing Dad decline rapidly at home, we had to make the difficult decision to put him into inpatient hospice. Such a sad time, but we know God will never leave us or forsake us. We know that no matter our present struggle, Christ has overcome this world. He has overcome death. Such comfort in the midst of sorrow.