Merry Christmas to all
and especially to Steve and Marian in Africa
Another snowbound day and no-one really cares as it is Christmas and most everyone is at home with their families. Six inches of snow this morning with way over a foot on the ground, and another foot of snow expected this afternoon when the weather front comes through. I don't think we'll do anything other than stay at Mike's home and try to stay on top of the storm with the snow-shoveling.

Our entire family is with us at our son Mike's place and we just finished with the gift-opening. Carrie and Kurt were just able to make it out of a snowblown Portland Oregon on Tuesday to join us. It was interesting to see little Nora opening some of her gifts and then climbing up next to grandma to help open other presents.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and especially extend greetings to Marian and Steve in Accra, Ghana where snow is almost mythological -- show this picture to your local leaders if they want an idea. We appreciate the wonderful Christmas story that Marian posted on the Shipley mission blog; it gives us pause to comprehend the real meaning of the holiday.