Announcing Baby Jones!!!!!

Our best Christmas present was when Jeremy and Charissa brought these ultrasound photos across the Skype screen! Lots of whoopin' and hollerin' and praising the Lord for this little miracle!

Christmas2010

Thanksgiving

We had a delightful day at Gene and Monique's. Jeremy and Charissa checked in via SKYPE for the photo session and most of the meal time! Toby checked in via phone but we didn't keep him long :)

Fall Family Fun Night

Ron and Alisa brought the boys up for our church's annual party. Everyone loved seeing them again and meeting Brooks for the first time! Brady loved all the games, but especially the candy!
Be sure to double click so you can see the comments on each photo.

Meet Brooks Corban Lewis

Brooks Corban Lewis was born on Sept. 28. He was a healthy 7lbs. 6oz. - the same size as his daddy was. Brady seems to have adjusted well. Congrats to Ron and Alisa!

Tanzania!!!!!!

We spent 2 weeks in Tanzania. Our friends, Bruce and Kathleen Chaffer, Jay and Pam Johnson, and Bob and Lynn Male came along, too. We spent the first week being tourists and the second working at the Highlands Youth Camp. What an unbelievable trip!
I composed my album on Facebook - here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=249749&id=832831683&l=093734fb4f

Brady's New Mitt

The week before we left for Africa, Toby came home for a couple of days and we had to spoil Brady a little. Grampy Norm gave him his first baseball glove and Grammy Kate gave him some new PJ's w/ monkeys, of course! The croc head in the pond is something we were asked to bring to Africa to float in the pool at the bottom of the waterslide at the camp we're helping build. Brady loved it!

CBS Retreat

We had a gorgeous two days at Trailwest in Buena Vista to "Be Refreshed" - our theme for the year as we study Acts. A hike to a water fall seemed appropriate. We had a little initiation for our new gals as the chef lifted the covers off their plates to reveal Rubber Chicken Marinara!

Victoria!!!

What a great Girls Getaway!!!!
Mom, Sandy and I had a blast, just the three of us exploring Victoria for several days!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=195760&id=832831683&l=cd248bb5c1

Fathers Day 2010

Mothers Day 2010

What a delightful day! After a lovely church service, Norm grilled an amazing steak dinner for me and his folks. Later, Ron, Alisa and Brady (and the October "bump"!!!) came up. Toby called in at some point, and we also got to Skype w/ Charissa and Jeremy while everyone was there. Brady gave me a beautiful "B" charm and a sticker that says "Very Loved Grandma" - I'll probably have it laminated!

Toby's Surprise Visit !

Thursday, April 22, Norm came in and told me he'd picked something up for me while he was in Denver. It was Toby!!! They'd kept the secret for 2 weeks! What a great surprise!

The first night we had Sarah Kelly over to play Catan. Then the Lord ordered up some snow, so for Toby's only ski outing of the season, he had 2ft. of powder! He and Ron Henry took in a Rockies game and we all spent Sunday afternoon together at Red Robin.

It went by quickly but any second I have him is a treasure!

Ron Henry's Birthday Celebration

Though we were a week late, we finally got to celebrate Ron's 29th birthday. Charissa and Jeremy's teammates, Jay and Jackie Parks, were here visiting before heading to their language training. Their little Lydia is just a month younger than Brady. Their little Cole was curious about this interaction but too young to get in on it. It was hilarious to watch the 2 year olds interact in this side-by-side stage of development. They entertained us by jumping off little chairs and competing over the little rocking chair.Be sure to watch the videos below this post.

Brady & Lydia Chair Jumping

Brady w/ Lydia Parks - chair jumping

Rocking Chair Rumble

From Brady w/ Lydia Parks & the rocking chair rumble

Off they go!

Charissa and Jeremy left today to live in N. Africa for the next few years. Please pray for their safety and effective work. You might notice that Charissa's pretty blond hair is gone in these last few photos - she went brown in an attempt to blend in a little better - we'll see :)

(Double click on the photos to go to full screen and read the captions)

Family Portraits

Charissa requested that we have family photos taken before they leave for N. Africa, so our dear friend Judy Brown took these wonderful pictures! Unfortunately it started snowing so there are reflections of snowflakes in the ones outdoors, but we'll treasure them no less.

Charissa's camera 11/09-2/10

Grampy Norm is 51

CBS Teaching Directors' Conference

Jan. 21-24, we had the opportunity to stay at the Broadmoor for my CBS - TD conference! There were wonderful speakers and people from around the world. Meals were always accompanied by fascinating conversations! It was a great time of encouragement in the Word! On Friday, we went to see our friend, Emily Chaffer at Compassion Int'l and she gave us grim info about the devastation in Haiti after the earthquake. Some 15,000 of their sponsored children are missing!
The Lord did a sweet, personal thing for us, though. Thirty years ago, we spent the first few nights of our honeymoon at the Broadmoor. When we first got there this time, we were given a room w/ 2 small beds, but my friend, Marilyn Betsch, had told me she was praying that we'd have a great room. So I went up to the desk and shyly asked if we could have a better room. The gal was so sweet and guess what? There was only one room left w/ a kingsize bed and she gave it to us!
Why is the thought of reenacting our honeymoon so funny?! Besides, we'd need that whole crew of people that crashed our party, wouldn't we, Chris, Gene, Cheri....

Brady Turns 2!