I read "The Last Lecture" last wk. it made an impression on me like few books do...

Recently read several articles by parents who said they'd rather sacrifice "things" & take their children on trips maybe even to other countries & cultures...Last Fall Stephen & I took Cliff ,Elaine ,& Carrie on a 2 day trip to Annapolis MD. Historical, quaint ,little waterfront town...The naval academy is there so mid-shipmen were all over, plus we saw 2 weddings from our room.

Johann, want to watch Tom & Jerry?

The day after Christmas we went to Fla. with our3 youngest again, stayed on Siesta Key with my br. Rudys & their 6 from MO, we played lots of SCRABBLE  with Rudy & Marietta..

Christmas at home with the family joined by Uncle Nate(from Canada)&uncle Ira..

Rudys & our kids playing games on our Florida  porch..we were so blessed with beach weather every day...double fun with the cousins..Some of them played in the volleyball tournament.

Wagler builders

royal welcome, Stephen & I on another adventure...

Breakfast at the lodge

I like relaxing in our cabina hammock...

then we walk to the beach

coconut trees line the shore..Where are all the people?

The dreams will come to you...

make a decision?

howler monkeys eating dinner in the rain forest...

know where you are!

welcome!

locally grown

breakfast

we walked here for dinner,

Carrie called this fascinating patch sticks..

hummingbirds sat on this beside my hammock...

Carrie says these are outside our door too...

She liked these!

These were growingout of tree stumps(not planted)...

This morning I went to my local moms group where the J.P. McCasky High School Gospel Choir presented their program, they come back year after year ,for the cookies they say, I always come away inspired & encouraged that alot is right & good with our world...They are a diverse group from a public school in Lancaster city & how their faces shone as they sang "Going To Bethlehem to see that Baby"....              Have I gone to Bethlehem...?

 Sometimes we get this better then thou attitude ,our children go to private schools etc. & live pretty sheltered lives,(we think) but are they as excited as these children seemed when thay sang of the babe?       I'm looking forward to their concert soon maybe I'll compare!

  Life goes on & sometimes  I think I can't put one foot in front of the other(it's my age a friend told me) but Gods mercies are new every morn. & I discover them as I go on my morn. walk...".Count my blessings name them one by one".

It seemed like once I finally learned the ropes of xanga everyone fled to Facebook or somewhere else but I'll contend myself to stay with my good old xanga...

I won't get to see all my family at Christmas but hopefully most of them can come for the wedding in May!(can't wait). We have a weekly Mon. night conference call which is realy great to connect with mom , dad & the sibs.  My bro. Jonas was ordained minister this Fall in a little church out in MO, that wasn't supposed to happen as its never a Yutzy we always said,in- laws yes, many uncles , cousins ,bros. & even dad have been in the lot but this time it was the Yutzy...He seems to be doing fine...He was always the story teller of the family &now he can tell the greatest story ever told!