Busch Gardens & Baltimore

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When you've never been to Busch Gardens and you buy tickets 6 weeks in advance because you got 5 for the price of 1, you go even though it's 22 degrees!

First stop (after the outlets), Cheese Shop lunch, complete with "Dody Sauce" and bread ends:-)

The shuttle driver told us that NO rides would be open so when we found some kiddie rides running, we nixed our plan and went for it!

 Apparently roller coasters can't safely operate under 36 degrees because the metal contracts too much, not that you would want to be going 40-60mph in those temps anyway!  But what a tease to see them all!

 Thrilled to be on something!  When dark fell, we found the Pirate Ship open.  My hands were told cold to take pictures, but these three could. not. get. enough...and insisted on the back row!  We rode twice before trying to meet friends.  Since not everything was open, that meant standing in line.  Turns our walking around isn't so bad.  But standing. still. was. not. fun.  How are they always seemingly unaffected?!?!

 Thankful we stayed until dark, the lights truly are amazing....trees and animals everywhere are lighted, and the bridge walk reminds us all of the Peace on Earth we are so desperately desire.  Andrew wanted to hit Scotland before we left to check out decorations inspired by his ancestors. 

 We had a fun dinner and hotel evening with church friends, the Saunders, but everyone was so very cold and crazy we never captured it!  Then off to Baltimore where we enjoyed plenty of traffic and our first snow of the season:-)

 Perk to the frigid temps?  The river was frozen before it snowed so that snow stuck and the birds laid around. 

 The train display at the Wise Volunteer Fire Department seems to get more and more impressive every year!

And it wasn't too long ago that these special memories were captured...

The Best Christmas Memories

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The best Christmas memories we have are of visiting elderly folks from our Church who do not have family in town, and having old pictures come our way.  The pictures do a number on me, no doubt, but I am grateful for the times that I recall. 

 

Mom and her beloved cousin, Tiny, who spent her first Christmas side-by-side with our Lord.

Andrew had an encounter last week that I'm so glad he documented.  I asked him which great-grandfather it was and he immediately replied, "Granddaddy's Dad"....who he did not realize was the one that played football and basketball at Duke:-)  Oh, my heart sings for the strengthening of his belief achieved through this moment. 

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

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"For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9: 6-7 

Praise be to God.

A "Glorious" prelude

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRgzFTI7SuU

With Christmas Eve being on Sunday this year, the schedule was a bit different.  Our typical 5:30 service, half of which is our pageant, was in the morning instead....and with the cutest Ella cow you ever did see!

The Snow Lay on the Ground --- Andrew and Margaret diligently rehearsed their first verse duet.  Unfortunately, since this was a new addition, the kids' stage presence was a bit unknown and no one told Margaret to go stand by Andrew.  So while she was singing, her back was to the congregation and no one heard her.  What they did hear though, was a very brave and beautiful solo by Andrew. 

With only one evening service at 9:00pm, we went to Church of our Savior Episcopal at 5:30.  So close, we still ended up in two cars, did not get our family shot taken before church, and half of us changed before the other half were home!  Oh, well. 

 

 The annual make-out session, which continues b/c the kids' reactions get more and more entertaining each year!

 Thanks to Emily being in town, we have family shots on Christmas for the first time!

 ...and milk in Waterford.

 Ready or not, here we come!

 Sweet Andrew will not go to his stocking until he has played "Joy to the World" on the piano...but we wait for the sing-along.

 Mrs. Moon's ornaments----where is Margaret's?