In Memory of Hickory ---

It is with great sadness that we inform everyone of the passing of Hickory, one of our beloved cats.

Hickory had been diagnosed with diabetes and after several months of trying to treat it we realized that he was not getting any better and that we were only prolonging his suffering. We made the painful and difficult decision to put him to sleep so as to ease his pain.

Hickory was a good cat who liked to get into trouble when he wasn't spending time with his brother, Happy. Hickory was taken in by Mommy from a bad home when he was a kitten. He tended to be shy and often didn't like strangers, but was loyal and attached to those he knew and loved. He loved the kids and became more outgoing once they were born. Hickory tended to Mommy when she was pregnant and was always patient with the kids when they were younger, tolerating them as they learned how to care for a pet. Hickory also spoke for Happy often as Happy doesn't meow for himself much.

Our landlady was nice enough to allow us to bury Hickory in our backyard. The family often goes out to the grave to say goodbye. He is dearly missed.

Pictures of Hickory here

A Happy Family ---

The family has been growing closer throughout the winter and have been spending a lot of time together. We recently enjoyed observing the Memorial of Christ's Death, we spent our nights leading up to the day Jesus died reading scriptures about what Jesus was doing on that particular day.

Ella Grace, Eliza, and Daddy put a snowman together after our last good snow fall. We also had a wonderful day of sledding that ended up in a snowball fight, particularly between Mommy and Daddy.

Ella Grace is continuing to excel in learning Chinese, most of the family are now answering to their Chinese family title, Gi Gi for big sister, Mae Mae for little sister, etc. Eliza is picking up what she can from her big sister. Ella Grace also decided out in service that she is less nervous giving her presentation to a householder when she doesn't have anyone looking over her shoulder, so she's started going to the door alone with Mommy and Daddy usually watching from the car. What courage for her age!

Both girls are doing well at school and are growing at home as well, learning to help with chores. They continue to spend most of their time at home playing together and do not like to be apart from each other for long.

Snowman pictures here

Other winter pictures here

The Changing Seasons ---

There's been lots of fun of late as we get into the winter. Our first snowfall was good for sledding and making snowballs, Ella Grace and Daddy got to do both on a pleasant Friday afternoon after a doctor's appointment. The snowball fight was lots of fun as they could throw the snowballs about as fast as they could pick up the snow, due to the snow being so wet.

The family talent night was also good fun. Ella Grace and Eliza helped out by being background clouds in a poem recital. Ella Grace also continued her fine work as a camera person.

Great-Grandpa came home from the rehab center on Friday, Daddy and Ella Grace had the privilege of helping with that. Great-Grandpa is doing much better now that he is at home according to all reports and has even been able to stand up out of his wheelchair with assistance, which he wasn't able to do before. Daddy and Ella Grace enjoyed running around the woods behind Great-Grandpa's house and making fake footprints in the snow for fun.

This last Saturday the whole family did some house cleaning, throwing a lot out and finding things we'd been looking for in some cases. Ella Grace is planning to help Daddy work on video editing for the family, and Mommy has been doing a spectacular job putting up family photos around the house.

The family also purchased a 2003 Honda Civic with only 27,000 miles on it to replace Daddy's deteriorating Volkswagon. Daddy was sad to part with the VW but is enjoying the Civic greatly. The dealership, Cardinal Honda, was immensely helpful in helping the family secure our transportation needs for what will hopefully be a long time.

Pictures scattered here until Daddy can organize them.