Merry Christmas

Joyce and I wish each one of you a very Merry and blessed Christmas. We trust you are having as much fun and experiencing as much blessing as we are. To God we give the glory. You will notice in this photo that there are shadows in the picture? You know what that means? Yes, sun!!! It is a beautiful sunny day in LA -- about 70 degrees. This is our campground for about another month. Jana and Korak's house is on the left with our pickup and fifth wheel waaaay back in the driveway. Notice how narrow the driveway is? Just a little wider than the RV.

Our joy quotient topped out Wednesday evening with Ginger's arrival. We picked her up at the airport about 10:00. All of us are having a blast shopping for each other, playing with kids, enjoying the weather, visiting, and just being ALL together. This is the first time in many years that the four Mumaus have been together at Christmas -- and even then it was for only a day or two. And to top it off, we get to have Korak, Josiah, and Lilly with us.

Our friends, Rhonda and Eric with their children, Andrew and Katrina, flew in from Japan Monday morning. Rhonda is Joann's daughter (this is the Joann of the "knock out the closet and make a bigger kitchen/dining room" job last October). They are very special to us. Rhonda was a little girl when we moved to Newberg and met her family. She and her brother grew up with our girls and we've kept contact over the years. I married Rhonda and Eric and rejoiced in the births of their children. After a couple years in Japan as single missionaries, they married and are there now with Asian Access helping to plant a new church way down in the southern part of the country. Anyway, they flew in, rented a car, and headed for Lake Havasu, AZ where his family lives. We were able to meet them at Avis and take them to lunch before they started out. In a week they'll go up to Oregon to see Joann and connect with their supporting churches.

I want you to know I have been very spiritual lately (is that why Santa was so good to me? Naw.) Sunday I went to church at Marina with the kids -- two times. We went to the early service because Josiah, Korak, and I lit the fourth Advent Candle (the 3 generations of guys). But the ladies had nursery duty for the second service so... church again. Actually it was good because they had a lot of music -- really good music. They DO put together some awesome worship experiences. Then last night Korak and I went to the Christmas Eve service at 6:00 and Ginger, Jana, and I went to one at 10:00. The girls and I have a "tradition" of going to a midnight Christmas Eve service together -- sometimes we can't because we're not together and sometimes it's not midnight, but we always try to find one we think will be really good. Last night we went to Belair Presbyterian. This is the church that was pastored by Don Moomaw and is where Ronald Reagan attended. It is big, grand, and stately -- and it was a good candlelight communion service.

Oh well, how about a couple more pictures! Top is Officer Josiah is his new uniform about to give Grandfather Gene a citation for unauthorized picture taking. Bottom are the bakers, Ms. Jana and Miss Lilly in her new cooks uniform. They are making an apple pie of which I need to sample. So I've blabbed on long enough.

The weather is great and it's time for a walk. The Lord is good and it's time for a talk. Always remember, you are loved, even if from a distance. Be careful, be grateful, be useful.