Home for the Holidays

Happy New Year!

I am back in Africa after a lovely Christmas holiday in the States!  I enjoyed nearly 6 wonderful weeks with my family and friends.  

I took full advantage of the snow - sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, snow-shoeing....

It was great to be home!

Here are some pictures, in random order, from my time there:
 

Family, greeting me at the airport.

"Auntie Kim, do you recognize us BIG kids?"  
A year and a half is a VERY long period of time in the life of a 3, 5, 7 or 12 year old.  
It was so GREAT to see them!

With my sisters on Christmas Eve.

As I rarely, if ever, experience winter these days, I prayed for the opportunity to enjoy a snowy winter Washington wonderland while I was home. 

God certainly did answer that prayer. 

My 6 weeks of winter were COLD and snowy and, just as winter should be, only 6 weeks!

Though I didn't have enough time to visit everyone that I would have liked to, I had a great time catching up with friends.

I loved sharing a cup (or seven) of tea with my dear friend, Dottie.  She was a missionary in Mexico for over 40 years.  She prayers for the Didinga (and me) without ceasing.  Christ shines through her.  She is an inspiration.  I LOVE her!

I also spent a few days with another one of my best-friends, Lindsey.  I had a great time with her family.

I also played in the snow, a lot!

Family sledding party.

 

My nephew, Evan.  He's a kick in the pants!

Snowmobiling with my Mom and Dad.

With the help of my sister, brother-in-law, nieces and 3 year old nephew, I learned how to ski.  I LOVE skiing.  I could REALLY get into it.  Well, I could really get into it if I wasn't a poor missionary living in South Sudan! 

Chopping down our Charlie Brown in the woods behind the house.

Oh, was it ever COLD!

More sledding - here we are trying to stop the tub before slamming into the barn at the foot of the mountain. And people think that living in South Sudan is dangerous!

Enjoy the rest of your winter!