Jon & Ellie Home from Uganda

Unfortunately, my dad had to leave a bit early, but we were able to keep my mother for another week!  Just in time to pick up Jon and Ellie on their return trip from Uganda.  Ellie helped to start a foundation there called "Peace for Paul" where they help to house, feed, and educate several dozen children.  They were able to go for a few weeks and spend Christmas there.  I think if we were to spend Christmas with these children, we would feel a little ridiculous about how overboard with go with the holiday.  

(Ellie I hope you don't mind that I got a few pictures from you!)

 This is a picture of Jon and his little buddy, Luke.  

 Here is Ellie with a lot of the children making paper Christmas trees to decorate the house.

 This picture makes me so happy.  Several people at the Service Center at Snow College helped Ellie make stockings for each of the children and they stuffed them with random knick knacks like balloons, stickers...  The kids were absolutely thrilled!  Those grins are worth a thousand words.  

 Jon and Ellie, you are doing incredible things there and those children are so fortunate to have been touched by you both.  Though, we are glad that you are home now!  

Even better... we are glad that you were able to make a stop here on your way home!  We are so fortunate to have seen them TWICE since we've lived here!    

 And we were able to introduce them to Baby James!

They brought with them this awesome little soccer ball made of banana leaves for Carl. He absolutely LOVES it!  (Surprise?)

Also, they brought back this magnificent nativity!  I wanted to cry when I saw it.  It's absolutely beautiful and so well made. I adore it...if you couldn't tell.

And this neat little mobile for James!  Isn't it neat?  James loves it...and Carl especially LOVES it!  Thank you Jon and Ellie for being so thoughtful!  We'll have to take a trip to Uganda ourselves one day!

  Also while they were here, we were able to link up with some old friends of ours, the DeCooks.  They lived near us when my family lived in Illinois.  They were on their way home and were able to stop by for a few days.  We stayed up extra late and chatted and played games while they were here. It seemed like just yesterday that we had last seen them!  I guess that's how you know you have a great friendship! 

It's been a lot of fun around our home lately!  I have to honest that I love having people over to our little home.  It's so nice to gather and eat and converse under our own roof.  We love you all!