Merry Christmas everyone! Or rather Feliz Navidad! We are in Spain for Christmas this year, living our dream trip. Since you are reading this blog, we know that you are aware of this trip of ours and have probably been following our progress through Finland, Norway, Paris, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Israel, Egypt, Jordan and now Spain. We have met so many wonderful people, had our prospectives broadened and our senses sharpened. The small bits that we are able to share with you via the blog can only begin to let you know what this experience has been like. We have learned a lot about ourselves and each other too which will help us to become better people.
Our family news is a blend of happy and sad times, as it is every year. In July, our new grandson Antonio came into the world. He is Jessica and Albert's first baby and was a whopping 9 pounds, 15 oz! He is now 5 months old and continues to be in the 90+ percentiles for both weight and height. He is a happy, curious little boy who delights all of us. In August we lost my mother to cancer. She was 90 years old and was "herself" to the end; bright, good humored and kind. We were able to say goodbye to her before we left on the trip and that was a blessing. A week after we left, she passed. We went home for 6 days in September for her memorial service and then returned to Paris. In October our newest grandson was born, Jonathan Hosea, to Peter and Tammy! He joins big sister Claire to make them a family of four. He is a doll; we have been able to skype with them a couple of times and will continue to do so. What a great invention skype is! We can see the babies and talk to the parents in real time as if we were in the same room, and all of it for free! Just today, Kris and Randy and their boys left for their first assignment in Tonga through YWAM! They will be ministering to the people there as much as possible and will be having some adventures themselves. Jo and Rich and their family have had a big change; their oldest, Caleb, is now a college student in California! Hannah, the second oldest, is taking Running Start classes as she finishes high school, so they feel as if they have two college students! Andrew and Michele and their two boys have added a beautiful little girl to their family. She is part of the fostering to adopt program and although the adoption process is not over, they are optimistic that she will legally be part of their family in the next few months.
We miss all of you. Being away is hardest during the holidays. We hope that you will have a wonderful Christmas season and a very happy New Year! May the God of all of us bless you in 2010.
Jon and Beth
PS We love getting emails!
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