Had a really nice time with our kids and grandkids last weekend. Caleb enjoyed opening his own packages and wanted to help everyone else too.

We had fun putting together those "some assembly required" presents and then playing with Caleb. He received a farm with animals, magnetic animals for the frig and animals starting with A-Z. It was an animal Christmas...er, not really. It was a Thomas the train Christmas too. His Uncle Rick couldn't resist getting him a Thomas with a track he can ride on. Between his Thomas bed and Thomas train engine there isn't much room left in his bedroom.

Little Abby is getting her own personality and it is a delight. She spent the entire weekend cooing, sleeping or watching us all with great interest. As long as she could be in the same room with everyone else she was content. She even sat for a couple of hours at the kitchen table while all the big people played a very loud game.
Sunday morning we had the priviledge to hear big Caleb's first official sermon. I was holding Abby. She is normally very squirmy but when her daddy started to talk she just calmed down and went to sleep. Caleb says he does that to people when he preaches but I know she was just secure. I was encouraged by his teaching on King Josiah that to be totally sold out for God we need to tear down the "high places" of idolatry. Very appropriate as we head into the new year to search our hearts for those places where our worship goes to anything other than our Father.

As we left Shelbyville Ken said it gets harder and harder to leave the kids. His heart was sad. Fortunately we get to have the kids here tomorrow for a couple days since Mama has to go into the city to work a day this week.

We go to Hawaii for a couple weeks on Monday and after all the work we have done this week to get this house ready to sell I will be ready for a vacation. Before we go we have to get those pesky W-2's mailed so everyone can get their taxes filed. I think this is my last official duty.

I'm painting a ceiling tomorrow if you want to help? Didn't think so.

Still in Machesney Park, Melody