Red and Green

 Ahhhhh . . .  (long sigh)

 At home after our church Christmas service.

Had to get the tree in there or you might miss the significance of the shirt and tie! HA

Look at these two!

Could they secretly be Santa's elves?!? 

Grandchildren ~ the delight of old age!

Just got back from some time with my favorite big and little people!

I spent some time at the Zion Library before I left.  I was well stocked with books, CDs and educational videos.  (That sign language video for babies was way over my head!  However I did learn the sign for hippo since James was rarely without his!!)

 
We made some cards and used foam alphabet glitter stickers.  That was fun.  I'm not sure that you could have added any other sticker to Alaina's card, it was packed.  "grin"

Alaina got her first Thumbelina Braids.  So cute!

One day it was so warm the kiddos headed out to play.  Of course that included water puddles, mud and unmelted snow.  Oh such fun.  At one point Gretchen looked out and discovered that James had removed his boots and was walking around in his nice white socks!

This grandma's heart was renewed!  

"Grandchildren are the crowning glory and ultimate delight of old age,
    and parents are the pride of their children."  
        Proverbs 17:6  (The Voice)

Our Valentine's Day

  We had a Valentine's Day Luncheon to honor and show love to our beloved Grandmothers/Moms.  The Barnards, Andersons, and Wendtlands joined us in celebrating.

Crystal, China, Candles!

We wanted everything to be beautiful.

Owl be your Valentine!

 Susan made these darling owl favors and filled them with chocolate.

 

 After lunch we had a time of sharing.  Everyone got a joke to tell.  The Grandmothers also got to share memories.  Their stories from the depression, testimonies of God's faithful love, their love of  family and stories of suprising events were wonderful. For some things we laughed until we cried.   

We Sisson gals

Abby brought her camera to take family pictures.  Thank you Abby.  The pictures I've put up are from my camera.  I can't wait to see hers.  

 

What kind of flowers do you never give on Valentine's Day?
  Cauliflowers!

Dessert table partially filled.

When you think of Valentine's Day what candy do you think of?  The majority thought of conversation hearts.  The other half thought of Chocolates.  Well---- we had all sorts of desserts to satisfy every taste. They were not all out yet.  Drool!

Q:  If your aunt ran off to get married, what would you call her?

A:   Antelope.

The goodies that each family took home.

 Thank you Betty for the fudge!

Do skunks celebrate Valentine's Day?
Sure, they're very scent-imental!

Barnard Ladies

 We broke up into groups to play games. 

Wendtland Women

Playing games.

 Don't get any ideas that you might beat these ladies.  They look sweet - - - but they are card sharks in disguise.  I was like a lamb to the slaughter. 

What do farmers give their wives on Valentine's Day?
Hogs and kisses!

Anderson Ladies

 The guys were here too.  They wanted nothing to do with the china and crystal etc.--- except for the food.  After all they have their pride!  "smile"

Angel just loves Robby and Matthew

 They entertained Angel while we were sharing stories and jokes..  We heard all sorts of loud and strange noises coming from the basement.  No body plays like boys.  She loves it. 

The whole group except Haley.

This was our favorite joke:

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising.
I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors.
I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour.
But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.

 We had a blessed time.  Happy Valentine's Day!


From 1 Corinthians 13 the Amplified Bible

 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.  It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

Yippee Snow!

This is the first significant snow this season. It is sooooooo beautiful.   In my opinion, winter is an ugly time of year without it. 

Mr. Snowman after his walk

  We lost a branch.  Had to go out with a broom and knock snow off to save other branches.

 These two went for a hike with a camera.  I can't wait to see the pictures Haley took.

It was just starting to snow!

View at dusk from my kitchen sink.

Kwanjula Part One

What is that you ask.  Well here goes. A Kwanjula is basically an African/Ugandan betrothal ceremony. The word means to introduce.  It is a day when the bride-to-be formally introduces her future husband (and his people who escort him) to her parents and relatives.  Some of them have already met but this is a time of publicly acknowledging their engagement. 

Andrew and Fiona celebrated their Kwanjula on November 25th.  

The party was held near Kampala Uganda.

 View of beautiful Kampala from the deck of the Cassia Lodge.

Lake Victoria is in the background.

 Xandi & Baby, Laura Capp and Fiona

On the chosen date the bride's family gathers first. 

Here are some of Fiona's friends and relatives.

  These traditional dresses that they are wearing are called Gomesi.  Fiona wore this for the first half of the day.

  Then Andrew's friends gathered.

Kanzu and Gomesi are cultural dresses for males and females respectively.  Here are the guys in their Kanzus.    Andrew said that he had to have his suit coat buttoned or it would be considered a declaration of war.  He was careful to button all three buttons.

Andrew with the many gifts that he gives to Fiona's family. 

Notice the basket with 5 chickens! 

There is a traditional Mutwalo, bride price, required.  It may involve a number of cows or simply a Bible.  It depends on the family.  There are also other items that are required.  These baskets, Bibos (covered in netting above) contain all sorts of things: fruits and vegetables, bread (a good number of loaves), sugar, salt, soap, paraffin, cooking oil, curry powder, sugar and a host of related items.

 Andrew's group had to seek permission to enter from one of Fiona's family representatives who gave them a really hard time. Sometimes they require a bribe! 

Andrew's side coming in to the party.  His tent is set up opposite Fiona's.

 Andrew was also required to give the official brother-in-law a cock.  I bet he was glad that he has had all that experience raising chickens with our family.  "smile"

 

   Xandi acted as his sister and Judson as his brother.

 Here are Andrew's friends bringing in all the gifts.

I'm not sure if this took place before the gift exchange or not but Fiona's Aunties served Andrew and friends a chicken dinner.  It was first smoked and then steamed in banana leaves.  It was yummy.

So far Fiona wasn't even allowed in the celebration.  She missed about half of everything and stayed in a room off to the side.

Part 2 to follow shortly.