December 2008                                   

Hello everyone! We’re not sure what it’s like where you live, but sunny Southern California has certainly lived up to its name this year and we are still experiencing balmy weather well into the holiday season. Since today is more appropriately cool and overcast, we hurry to send you holiday greetings before the sun decides to come out again.

Coolest Year Ever! We got to go to the Oscars!! Well, not to the actual ceremony, but about as close as you can get without being a member of the academy. Ed entered us in a drawing to sit in the coveted bleacher section above the red carpet (which, by the way, is a complete circus – what they show on TV is nothing). Anyway, we were selected (!) and were excited with the prospect of seeing some famous faces – which we did! Gina’s favorites were Johnny Depp, Jennifer Garner, and James McAvoy. That was a great, great day.

Also, this was an unusual year for us because it didn’t involve any travel to faraway lands (unless you count North Dakota). Instead, we planned an early spring trip out to the Midwest to visit family. Highlights included five days in Bismarck and New Leipzig with Ed’s mom and dad, George and Shirley, an evening visit with cousins Frank and Judi Annette in St. Cloud, MN, and another five days with Gina’s brother and sister-in-law, Ron and Edith, at Andrews University where Ron is finishing his MDiv. We topped that off with a romantic hideaway stay at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan.  Click HERE for more.

We enjoyed catching up with family who came out our way to visit with us as well. Gina’s uncle Elden relocated to nearby Loma Linda to study for a year, so in April her grandparents, Esteban and Olivia, helped him move in to his apartment and stayed a few weeks to get him settled. Gina enjoys nothing more than shopping with Mami! Ed’s mom and dad drove down this summer and spent part of their visit with us, including the Fourth of July, when we had another smashing Independence Day potluck with family and friends followed by several glorious fireworks shows from our deck. We’re still a little full from that meal. Mom and Dad also stayed a few days with Ed’s brother and sister-in-law, Ron and Susan, who recently moved themselves from Phoenix to San Diego with our adorable niece Paige. Now they are closer – yay!

We added another member to our family this year in June, our new kitty Dodger (short for Artful Dodger). He’s a handful. Our current Dodger dilemma is how to keep him off the Christmas skirt, away from the Christmas ornaments, and out of the Christmas tree. Essie, our sweet and perfect “first child”, usually just watches his shenanigans from the sidelines, but Dodger is an instigator so Essie sometimes joins in the fun.

Thanksgiving was spent on the road as we drove up to Sonora, California to spend the day with Gina’s grandparents, Ken and Doris, and her dad Leonard. That was fun. We’ve acquired the table-game bug from Grandma and Grandpa, and you may blame them for our obsession with Mexican Train. If you like said game, please inform us and we will invite you over for game night. Ed was happy to be able to watch his recorded Cowboys game (which they won) after we got back home, without anyone giving away the score. Ron drove over from San Diego to have a second Thanksgiving dinner – yum!

Mom flew down once from Pasco during the summer, and again last week to help Gina celebrate her birthday. We did this by going to Disneyland. Beyond that, here we are, in the midst of all our holiday music craziness (we played in three concerts last week alone) and wondering how people do this with kids. Then we remember that this all started with the most inconvenient and ill-timed birth in recorded history, that of our Lord in Bethlehem, and it reminds us to focus on the real reason for the season. We wish you His blessings during this holiday and in the New Year.

Love,

Ed & Gina