for the tree

Our newest Christmas ornament.

maggie

Miracles do happen. Evidence? There's a puppy in my house. In fact she's asleep on my lap as I type. For many years Janelle has asked for a dog being the animal lover that she is. She's owned numerous pets and has cared for them meticulously - and independently. She once kept a hermit crab alive for 3 years! Yet I knew that having a dog was very different than a rabbit or bird or hamster and to be honest, I just wasn't up for the task. Unbeknownst to Janelle, I had been praying for her to have a dog one day, but if I was going to say yes I knew it had to be God's doing, not mine. My heart began to soften this summer when Gary and Kathleen showed up at a soccer game with their new puppy, Gus. So we surprised Janelle for her birthday 3 weeks ago and told her she could have a dog. She sobbed - for an hour. Then she went up to her room and came down with money she'd saved for years in a small box under her bed. In another small box she'd written down prayers on little strips of paper folded up tight asking God to let her have a dog someday. Needless to say we were all in tears. The most tender part of it all for both Christoph and me was the way she had submitted to our decision and trusted us, but more importantly, God. What a joy it has been for us to see Him grant her the desires of her heart.

We drove up to the breeder's home in Pennsylvania yesterday to pick her up. She's a 7 week old Golden Doodle. Janelle has been in classes all day so Maggie settled in nicely on Evelyn's lap while she did school this morning.

Welcome home, Maggie

Meet Maggie, Janelle's birthday gift. More pictures to come....

Off Broadway!

My niece Janice (on left) got the lead role in an off Broadway musical production called Dear Edwina. If you're in New York city during the holidays, go see the show! Way to go, JJ! We hope to come up during Christmas break.