Happy New Year!

For the past several years we have gotten together with a group of friends at a hotel in Des Moines to swim and play on New Year's Eve. This year we decided to do things a little bit differently, and invited everyone to our home. After doing a little calculating and realizing there were going to be 21 children from 8 months to 15 years of age, we decided to reserve the middle school gym. We were there from 6-10pm, and had a really good time. The big kids (dads) were able to play basketball, football, and dodge ball. The little kids were able to play with the school equipment such as balls, scooters, tennis rackets, hockey sticks and jump ropes. The battery in my camera was nearly dead, so I didn't get many pictures. Here are just a couple.

Maci, Katie and Taylor dancing.

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Jocee got a little sleepy and decided to take a rest on the scooters.

After returning home, we played Wii until just before midnight, then switched the channel to watch the ball drop in Times Square. A couple of the families were planning to stay at Troy & Theresa's, so a little before 1:oo they headed out for Hudson. Just a few minutes later, Jeff's phone rang. Andy and Julie had gone into the ditch as they tried to turn around and help another vehicle that was upside down in the ditch. The big guys bundled up and headed out to help them. They were only a couple miles from our home. They were unable to dig them out, but we were able to get a towing chain from the Schildroth's, and got the little kids and Julie back to our house where it was warm. In no time, the big strong guys had the Suburban out of the ditch and back to our house. We had hot chocolate and tea waiting to warm them up when they got back. We are very thankful that no one was hurt and that we were able to get to them in a hurry.

As Shannon and I laid in bed that night, we made sure we tallied up how many people were in the house, just in case of fire. The final count was 25. Chase had gone to spend the night at Troy & Theresa's house.

We all went to Troy & Theresa's for soup and snacks on Tuesday. We spent the afternoon watching football and consuming way too many calories. When we got home, there was a strange breeze blowing the garage door shut as I was trying to come in. Some time throughout the day, the west door to the basement had blown open. It was 45 degrees in our house. We fired up the Europa corn/wood/wheat stove, and had it toasty warm in no time.

We really enjoyed the time spent with friends. We don't get together very often outside of IRBC where we spend a week together every summer. I think one of my New Year's resolutions is going to be to spend more time visiting and fellowshipping throughout the year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24