Christmas Blessings

Here is to a year of blessings.  We celebrate the spirit of Christmas .

Christmas Reflected in a Child's Eyes

Having a pre-schooler and a toddler in the house this year has brought back the wonder of Christmas.   Watching them experience the pure joy of seeing the Christmas tree put up; their excitement of watching for Santa Claus in the Candy Cane parade, playing with the wooden Joseph and Mary tenderly, has helped us to see the season from a renewed perspective. Seeing through a child’s eyes helps us to focus on the simple joys of the season.

Our family is all gathering together for the holidays.  It will be exciting to have everyone together.  Our family is increased by one: Benjamin Nikolas Barnard was born April 7, 2011.  He was born exactly one year after Gavin.  Having two grandsons born on the same day will make remembering birthdays easy!

Lyndy and Nik are preparing for a new adventure in their lives. They are preparing to move to Nashville, Tennessee in the new year.  CMA- here I come!  They are looking forward to a new chapter in their lives.

Russell continues his studies at SUU in Cedar City, Utah.  He is writing, reading and studying hard. We enjoy seeing him every now and then.  He spent the summer in Utah, proving that he is a new Utah resident.  We are looking forward to welcoming Janae to California to celebrate the holidays with us.

Nicola and Danny are busy chasing their two active boys.  Noah is now 3 ½ and in pre-school.  He loves the animals and helping daddy in the yard.  Gavin is now 20 months old.  His passion is cars, then balls- and of course the new kitten that adopted us- Oreo! 

Lee and I think being grandparents is the best job in the entire world. Our lives are busy with work, church and keeping up with family members in all places.

Last May we took a memorable journey.  Lee, Russell and I went back to Germany to visit the places Russell served on his mission.  It was such a spiritual experience for us to meet the families Rusell served in Germany.  Traveling up and down the Rhine river, we visited Frankfurt, Mainz, Koln and many cities in between.  It whetted my appetite for more traveling.

It is time to reflect on the meaning of the season.  We wish you joy and pray you are surrounded by the spirit and love of your family and friends at this time of year and always.

Holiday Greetings

The tree is up, presents are finding their way under the tree. Christmas carols play softly in the background. The advent calendar has hidden candies behind a door, counting down the days till Christmas. Finding the candies is a daily activity for Noah. It is magical seeing the season through the eyes of a two year old. He loves to play with the stocking holders that spell out HOPE and JOY. He has a child nativity set he can play with, moving baby Jesus to be closer to mother Mary. The joy, the wonder and the pure faith of a child are reflected in his eyes. This is our greatest gift this season, experiencing the pureness of Christmas through a child's eye. As we prepare for the holidays, we look forward to having friends and family come by our home.

The newest member of the family

As I reflect on the past year, I realize it has been a signature year in our lives. Perhaps it is because it is the end of a decade? Russell returned from his mission in Germany. He loved the people in Germany. Serving the Lord during those two years there was a monumental experience for him. Rachel changed positions at work; she has moved from Social Work to Criminal Justice- Lyndy's field to Danny's!  We had some professional time together this fall.  Rachel was able to join me for a conference in St. Louis, Mo. She was able to meet with university representatives and helped me as a exhibitor at a booth.  We had a great time.

Lyndy and Nik settled in as a "married" couple. They moved from Pleasanton to Livermore. They have enjoyed making new friends and getting acquainted there. Nicola and Danny moved to Visalia with Noah at the end of January. Nicola was expecting their second child at the move. Gavin Lee was born in April, 2011. Noah loved becoming a "big" brother. This fall Lyndy and Nik announced they are expecting their first child (a boy) in the new year. And what month is the baby due? April- the same month Noah and Gavin were born. I don't think our grand-children know there is any other month in the year to be born.

The next year promises to be another banner year. We are looking forward to what it will bring. What new adventure awaits us? What new experience? What new challenge? What answers to prayers will we receive?

May the hope, beauty and wonder of the season be yours. As we sing about the new born babe in the manger, may the spirit of the season sink into our hearts, reminding us of the true reason for the season.

Wedding Photos

Finally!  We have wedding photos from Lyndy and Nik's wedding.  We were waiting for them from the photographer.  Several guests took great photos that they shared with us as well.  Thanks Laura and Chris :-D.

It seems like their wedding was yesterday,,,,, when it was exactly 3 months ago.... wait.....no... 3 months..... how can that be?


Sept. 11, 2009-  Dec. 11, 2009.

Yes, it was 3 months ago.  How time flies!

If you had told Nik last Christmas that in a year he would be celebrating his next Christmas as a newlywed, he would have laughed at the thought.  If you had told Lyndy that in less than a year she would finish her degree and be married, she would have scoffed at the idea.

Love has a way of turning us into believers.

We are so happy for the newyweds.  They are enjoying being married; loving each other more and more; learning about each other, sharing dreams and hopes, tears and fears, knowing they are in this together, as an eternal couple.  Growing.  Laughing. Loving.  What more can you ask for?