The blessing of family

It has been an active time over the Christmas holiday here in Michigan. We have experienced a tremendous variety of weather...Lots of snow on the ground when I arrived in a rain storm. The rain turned to ice at night and the following day the temperature was in the upper 50's causing the snow to begin to melt away. During the night a strong wind came up. The wind along with warmer temperatures took all of the snow away other than the large plowed piles, leaving green grass all around. For a short time it looked like spring, but that changed. Winter temperatures have returned!

With the arrival of the two great grand children, we have been well entertained. It brings back memories of many years ago with a one and two-year-old to experience the excitement of Christmas. Daughter Sue and husband Jeff have done an exceptional job keeping up to seventeen of us well fed and entertained. Justin and Laura had us for a wonderful brunch at their apartment after Christmas. After enjoying lots of delicious food and having a bit of time chatting, the fire alarm in the building went off and we had to leave abruptly. We had lots of fun teasing them about the effective way they have of encouraging guests to leave.

After church Sunday, Lisa and I went to Lansing to visit Carol's grave site and see the marker which has been installed. We also visited friend Ross who will be starting chemo tomorrow followed by radiation each week to shrink his cancer in preparation for surgery in about three months. Tomorrow friend Bud in Charlotte will have hip replacement so they are much in our prayers.

This afternoon Lisa will fly back to DC and I will drive back to Charlotte on Tuesday, leaving early in the morning. The days have gone by rapidly, but it has been wonderful to be together with the family. We all greatly miss Carol and had a special time remembering her together.

It has been a blessing to once again celebrate the birth of Jesus. We join Malcolm Muggeridge who said "The coming of Jesus into the world is the most stupendous event in human history."

Love to you all,

Chuck