My Bubbling Teapot

I hate Christmas vacations because: Bits of wrapping paper, boxes, and gifts lay around all week. Crumbs from all-day snacking find their way to chairs, carpets, counters, etc. Everyone is in everyone else's way, trying to figure out new games, read new books, put together new puzzles. There is still the usual cooking, cleaning, and laundry all week long and sometimes it doesn't seem like a break at all for mom. Tempers seem shorter than normal. But there is more that I love about Christmas vacation: Cozy evenings reading with candles flickering on top of the piano. Putting together a puzzle every year (at least a 1000 piece one) Yummy brunches made every morning by prearranged volunteers. Lots of cookies and candy to make us all fat. Going to the zoo and going out for supper (this has become a yearly tradition. Kinda strange, but it's something we do together every year.) Taking time for playing games together. Christmas music floating around all of us all week. Going ic

We all want to wish you a very Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! John, Laura, Conrad (14), Austin (12), Derek (9), and Allison (7)

...is at it again!!! He whisked me off yesterday for a romantic overnight stay at an American hotel in Warsaw for my birthday. We had been there about three years ago and had enjoyed it so much that he even requested the same room. It was a wonderful, welcome break from the everyday life of being mom, wife, teacher. Here is my one and only picture to prove it. This is our complimentary room service breakfast that they brought us this morning... The Works!!! While I'm sharing pictures, I want to share some pictures from the team's Christmas program that we put on Saturday night. We invited all our English students, plus our friends totally about 70 people. Pretty amazing. The children preformed a very meaningful Christmas play "From the Scribe's view" interspersed with singing. The team helped with some songs and we had time for the audience to help sing Christmas carols (Polish and English) as well. Truely, it was a lovely evening from the candle-lined window sill

Today we celebrated Derek's 9th birthday. It brought back many memories...the many prayers that ascended before his conception...hours of walking the airport runway in South Boston, VA during labor...the joy of seeing such a beautiful child...seeing the delight in our other boys' faces at having a new baby brother. Derek is our giving child. He is never happier than when he is making other people happy. Many notes, drawings, and cards are tucked away in my "keepsakes" folder, ultimate treasures. He delights in surprising others by doing their work for them. He spreads sunshine whereever he goes. Today he worked ahead in all his school work just so he could have the day off. He had made a list for me before I went to America, listing in great detail what he wanted for his birthday. Does Derek look happy with his gift? He ordered cheesestuffed pizza, chips, pop, and chocolate eclairs He worked all afternoon helping to create his erector remote control truck. Does he lo

As some of you already know, I made an unexpected flying trip to be at my sister Judy's wedding this past week. My Dad had some free miles that he used to purchase my ticket only a little more than a week before the wedding. We decided to try to surprise everyone. But the trip wasn't without it's problems. When I got to Warsaw the first morning, my flight to London was cancelled because of the fog. (Warsaw can handle piles of snow, but not fog). The next day I went back to Warsaw and began my delayed trip. When I got to Vancouver that evening and my one hour flight to Portland was cancelled. (Vancouver can handle dense fog, but not snow!!!) Five out of six of my flights were either delayed or cancelled!!! I arrived in Portland a day and a half after I was planning. I had lots of stories to tell. Here are a few excerpts I wrote home while there: "Well, the story doesn't end yet...I don't have a way to call you so I thought you would probably check email first th