Greetings and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We are both well and happy to be celebrating another Christmas together with all of you.

Might just be together online via email or facebook but distance is never far in heart miles.

We had quite a to-do list to tackle when we got back from our May to October 8,300 mile trip. Lou looked at his list yesterday and told me that he had finished the last thing on it. Fixing showers, removing and replacing washers & dryers, getting heat into some of the classrooms and such were completed. Those were basically on his list before we left in May so we knew they would be waiting for him when we got back. There were others added once we got back here.

One "to-do" we didn't plan on was having to evict rodents that had decided to move in while we were gone. The clean-up was epic. It took almost two weeks of cleaning before I would even consider moving out of the camper and back into the motor home.  I truly don't like cleaning up nightly "calling cards" daily and we are very relieved to have them gone.

We came back under pressure that the weather was changing over to winter early and we sure didn't need a mouse issue to deal with on top of that.  We've set records for rain in November and for record cold temps for December. I guess this is where the complaining ends and the bragging begins.  Kind of like the back to back snow storms and -40 below zero wind chill temps in ND.  They've got bragging rights for that, for sure. It's not even winter up there yet.  Winter don't start until tomorrow.

I feel like I am still a month behind and was only able to dash this Christmas message out tonight. I spent the past 3 weeks working on the school class photos for The Mountain Ministries academy. I just finished that project today so all the teachers can distribute photo's to the students before Christmas. Men and women enrolled in the Mountain Ministries programs (for addiction) are allowed to have their children living here with them.  Some of them regain custody of their children while in the one year program.  Those children are basically home schooled here in the Mountain Ministries academy. They are not the only children going to school here, however. It's open to Shiloh Church members and the Mountain Ministries staff, full time volunteers and directors who have children.

Now a little recap of our children, grandchildren and (Lou's) great grandchildren. We praise the Lord that they are all busy and healthy.  We enjoyed spending time with them last summer. It's wonderful to see them doing so well.

2 yr old Roman is an "older brother" now. Jeremy and Sarah had a baby girl, River Soleil, born April 13 in Michigan. Yes, they are cute!! Two weeks went by very quickly for us. Roman is able to talk to me a little on the phone and we hope to skype as he gets older.

Lou's youngest Grandson, Patrick Millard, is engaged to Kimberly Gatza. The wedding date is set for June in 2017. They have planned this wedding for over a year and it's going to be beautiful.

Lou's youngest daughter, Beverlee, and her hubby, Jeff Millard, enjoy being grandparents. Their daughters, Brittany and Jennifer enjoy being very good mommies.  It never slows down at their house. Expect that trend to continue. Right now the score is tied at 2 boys for Brittany and 2 boys for Jennifer but expect a tie breaker in 2017... Brittany has recently announced that her #3 is on the way.

We were scanning old photo's for a few days during the 2 weeks we were visiting Lou's children, Pam, Terry and Beverlee in Elgin, Illinois. I have not had time to do any editing or uploads but hope to do that the beginning of January. I have a lot of work to do on getting that done.

The highlights of our trip all have to do with the time spent with our family and good friends. Whether it was in ND, SD, MN, WI, MI or IL, it is all "the best" memories of 2016.  We were so glad to be able to get to see them all and make some memories.  The older we get, the more precious they are.

This is us... trying to take a "selfie" with my cell phone.  One of MY favorite video's of 2016... but I wasn't trying for a video. (and neither was Lou!! LOL!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=picdk2Z0W24
(Click on the link to see it.)
You Hit the Video...

Merry Christmas !!  May the Lord Bless you with a very Healthy and Happy New Year!!
Hugs!!

Kathy and Lou