Happy New Year! from the Suggetts

This is a time when I enjoy reflecting back on
joyful memories and everyday moments.

We share our 2009 memory collage with you.

We found joy through each season that

came and went in 2009 - a blessed year!

Wishing you many blessings in 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

New Years Eve 2009

As is our tradition to visit the Nighttime Park some time after Christmas; we enjoyed Wild Holiday Nights til closing time as the start of our New Years Eve celebration! here's an elephant decked out for the holidays: Beautiful evening to be out -- Here is the nightscape of Congo fishing village's waterfall at Mombasa Lagoon:

The Black Light Puppet Show was an absolute HIT with the kids!

[30 second video clip here]

they liked it so much that they watched both shows!!

Then...home and cozy warm in bed til our COUNTDOWN!! The party menu was sweets, sweets, and sweets (only once a year!): cinnamon sugar bagel poppers, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, chocolate pretzels, chocolate raisins, pasteles, swedish fish gummies, & jelly beans.

We toasted in the 2010 with sparkling cranberry, fun tunes, and the live webcast of the CBS Vegas countdown! Josh woke up in time and stayed up about 5 minutes before politely asking to go back to bed. Aidon willingly climbed out of bed just after midnite and stayed up for the rest of the party!

Farewell 2009!

10 on Tuesday

1. What a week!
2. I misplaced the camera one week before Christmas!
3. I was sure I left it at the classroom Christmas party.
4. It turned up today under the passenger seat of the car, which we checked at least three times.
5. I deleted Internet Explorer from the computer about the same time.
6. Only to find out (last night) that it was still on the computer - just needed a computer whiz to figure that out!
7. So, maybe i was Not supposed to blog Christmas week. maybe I was Not supposed to get many pictures.
8. There were few things going on at this house.
9. illness traveled from one family member to another - from the day after school was out, through even today (first day of recovery).
10. A week of mishaps, staying home, coughs, aches and sniffles...amidst the Christmas celebrations. Such is Real Life.

Kinder Christmas

Here is Lola and Shepherd Josh, who is holding the Shepherd's staff.

Aidon called Lola and Lolo in the wee morning hours to be assured that they'll be at the kindergarten Christmas program. His part was a shepherd.

Amongst the show cast were a donkey, wise men, angels, and more shepherds.

the Cast for "The Savior is Born" program recited Luke Chapter 2:
Shepherd, Sheep, and Wise Man:

Two shepherds just outside bethlehem:

My remembrance of a comical morning. I am very "literal" at times and followed the "costume idea" to the tee. Just a pillowcase, rope, and bedsheet - lots of safety pins. At first, the sheet was wrapped so tight around that he couldn't walk from the parking lot. I carried him to the "line" so we wouldn't be late. After cinching up the sheet with rope, there was enough space to walk -- just a 10 foot rope following behind! His teacher shared scissors to hem the rope belt and encouraging words- "He looks fabulous!"

By the end of "The Savior is Born" and the Christmas Carol "Silent Night", my heartstrings were touched by the good news of the incarnation of our Savior. That as a tiny baby, Jesus begins to fulfill His purpose on earth - to offer us forgiveness, cleansing, healing, and salvation.

An eternal life in Heaven with our Abba Father.

Their teacher, Mrs. Gray, helped me to remember that it is such a blessing that the children -- as each of yours do too -- have an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus this Christmas Season.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Humbled

Matthew 6: 1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it....but when you give...do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret."
Our tradition is to remember Saint Nicholas and how he served the Lord. We practiced giving -- in secret --as this former Bishop of Myra (modern Turkey) gave! The night before, the boys' went to work, sneaking things into each others' stocking when their brother was busy and not looking. I was blessed when Josh asked to pull money out his his "spending money" section of his piggy bank. He wrapped up the coins in paper, taped it up, and smiled as they dropped into Aidon's stocking. These two tugged on my heart strings when I followed the sound of hammering and found them using a toy hammer to nail socks in the wall - one for me and one for Pete - for our stockings. Here they are on the morning of Dec 6th, opening the stockings:

Someone had put coins in my "sock". Aidon said, "maybe you can get something you need with it.". Josh loved seeing others receive the gifts he had given to them -- all smiles and twinkling eyes. Josh still told us what he gave us - maybe it's cuz he's 3. Since both the boys, and the parents were secretly filling the stockings; we hadn't made sure the candy was evenly shared. Aidon had noticeably less candy. When I opened my sock, i gave him a fistful of candy. He stopped me and said, "No. I gave that to you. I am okay with less. I am blessed."

I was humbled by seeing children give from the heart...Thank you Jesus for working on my heart.

I can serve Jesus by...

This was the year that the kids really "got into" giving to a child in need through Operation Christmas Child. To keep them and myself in the practice "giving"; we have been sorting through boxes of gently used toys to pass on to our second and third cousins in the Philippines.

The scribble attached to the kids' piggy (giving) bank refers to people who had little, yet gave a lot -- 2 Cor 8:2 "Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty, they welled up in rich generosity".

the kids' take home craft from november 29th: It seems obvious to pass things on to those in need. However; being someone whose worked with preschoolers for over a decade AND who appreciates the value of developmental toys -- I have a hard time letting go of quality educational toys. I have passed this subconscious "holding on" to my young'ns. This week, we sorted through toys again, and filled another large box with toys to send out to the Philippines. Thank You Jesus for teaching us, by your example, to serve, give or sacrifice. We are so blessed, I am grateful for Jesus' sacrifice. He gave it ALL. Because God loves each of you and us, and God fills us with His Love, we have love to share. The "so much" we have to give, is such a relatively small gesture when I reflect on what Jesus gave each of you and me. and yet, I personally still need to put into practice giving up things I want or like. Lord, keep working on my heart.

Decorating

A few weeks ago, I asked Josh what he wanted for Christmas and he said, "a birthday party for Jesus!". Sing with us [click]: http://reallywoolly.fraboom.com/mp3/HappyBirthdayJesus_song.mp3

Oh boy, he was serious! Josh wants to make the cake right Now! We've started to decorate for the birthday party. Josh picked out the cake mix and frosting.

We are really looking forward to our big party on Christmas morning! We had fun at the free "Live" online Jesus' birthday parties at http://www.reallywoolly.com/

I've been looking at my own heart this Christmas season. And asking if I truly understand the real meaning of Christmas. God will continue to do His work on my heart, He is not finished with me yet.

Science of Gingerbread Festival

How cool that these are blue ribbon winners at the Discovery Museums annual Gingerbread competion! title "Baby Jesus":

side view of this award winning "Cathedral" (stained glass nativity scene):
Good times with dear dear friends:

the train "engineers":

freeze-frame dance:

Happy Birthday Timmy! Your godbrothers, Ninong and Ninang love you!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Those were the lyrics my mind was singing this first sunday of Advent. Aloud, I was wondering where we would catch some twinkling lights to remind us of the Star of Bethlehem. Since our advent devotion was in the morning, the night was free for roaming! as soon as the littl'un was up from nap, we headed down to Sea World!

Twinkling Lights. check.
Fun loving. check.

The nighttime Shamu Christmas show was beyond our expectations. First, was the instrumental solo sax "O Holy Night. The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior's birth" (Pete's favorite Christmas Song)

Then, Love In Motion Signing Choir (www.signingchoir.com) joined in, followed by Alto sax "Silent Night, Holy Night. All is calm, all is bright round yon Virgin Mother and Child. Holy Infant so tender and mild sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven. Christ, the Savior is born".

The finale: the entire stadium was asked to stand and sing with these words posted on the big screen: "Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing...Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!....He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love":

We loved it! We'd love to do this every year! and even one more time this year! if you have passes, we'll see you there! Also found out this show has been going since 2004..wish we found it sooner.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Our family friends, of three generations, continue to gather each year for an evening dinner.Some of the youngest generation are 16 year olds now!

I remember being that age and playing outdoor games

with these same friends, at this same house.

Now, "our" children are hitting the teens. We some times refer to ourselves as the "kids" still, bu we are not (all over 30 years old now!).

Here are all the men:

The ladies:
Roly & Puring's sprouts:

Cef & Jay's bloomers:

Bob & Minda's buds. Wow, the first complete pic in years:

Having a ball together

Every Thanksgiving morning, the boys and I head out to

We ALL really had a ball this year
We go there to visit "daddy", so we can be together a bit on the holi-"day" morn:
We explored the old trails with thankfulness for the familiar fun!

At the kraal, this deer gave a few "licks" unexpectedly:

Josh passed the food to Aidon who then fed the deer directly. They worked together to feed these animals God created, and Aidon helped dissipate his brother's uneasiness...

The morning ended at the Discovery Station's bear den, coloring thank you cards to zookeepers and animal behaviorists, and a story by the fireplace: