Birthday

What makes birthdays so special?  That day we finally lay eyes on the much anticipated, expected, hoped for, longed for child is worth being celebrated.  Whether it is in the first anniversary of that day or like Christmas, the 2016th, our family tries to make it special.

I think 2016 has been up there in one of my hardest and best years.  I've had some of the worst things happen and some of the best.  I am so thankful not to be alone through any of it. Even when I feel alone, I know God is with me.

Here are the best things from my birthday.....

My mom gave me special napkins!

Chris made awesome spicy shrimp and pasta.

Kristin and Ben helped with my cake

Chris made the cake and it was really good!

I got cool presents - somme all the way from Cameroon (thanks Heidi!)

The next day was even more birthday celebrations:

My friend Jessica came to visit and we saw Kristin's choir concert together 

Good job Kristin

And then we left for a girls' weekend away.  Oh my!  SO very much fun!

Monticello
Charlottesville, VA

God makes cool trees, doesn't he?

Amazing view 

Beautiful house and grounds, well worth a tour and most of a day.

Slave quarters.
I find I am fascinated now with how the slaves lived.  I am ANTI-slavery, but
I've seen how so many have to live in Africa today and I am amazed at how nice the quarters were.
We Americans have NO idea how good we have it here!

The gardens

You could touch everything - in the children's museum section.

Then off to my very first ever wine tasting.
Nice

Our hotel room at the Graduate.
Lots of cool UVA trivia in every decoration and furnishing 

Dinner at the rooftop restaurant.  Wow.  Wonderful pot roast and best apple pie ever later on.  

Bikes provided by the hotel.
And you know you are with a travel blog writer when  (I'll save that one for another day)

 Off to the Christmas market.

Really reminded me of France.
The bread was not quite as good, but it was beautiful!

Nearby visit to Highland, President Monroe's home

The original home area is lined with rocks in front of this house

A block of tea.
Ever wonder what the tea from the Boston Tea Party looked like?

Many historical things to look at on the grounds

Michie Tavern.  Lots of okay food, but really interesting grounds and shops.

Michie Tavern

Historic marbles

 The Carter Mountain Orchard was next and the view!

 UVA campus

 And another president's home:  Montpelier

Learning about cider from Castle Hill

Keswick Vineyards

 Keswick Hall

And then right into the Christmas season....

Santa  at Walmart.

The Nutcracker

6th grade Band concert

Amazing race style birthday party for Molly

Big Ben on his 11th birthday by Big Ben at Busch Gardens

Megan, my faux daughter, and the gingerbread house

Light Sabers on Christmas in the stockings

Christmas 

Matt Stoker came for Christmas dinner!  :)

It was a great birthday and holiday season. Gifts of time and places with family and friends.

Tough time for one child at school.  This is not the place- pray for for all the kids in public school.  The things that they face each day ~  peer pressure and bullying, 'locker room' talk.  Praise for the friends they have made and growth in many ways.  Pray for spiritual growth.

Pray for our time to be productive.  Pray for more prayer and financial support.  Pray that we share about our work and what God is doing in Cameroon effectively.

Pray for Chris's classes in Dallas January (Scripture Use) and February (Arts in Trauma Healing) to have a lasting impact on the work in Cameroon to the Glory of God.