Update for 12-27-06

I'm Back to the computer after a week off.
As Joe wrote, my surgery went well and no cancer so we can close that page. We had a wondeful Christmas long weekend with all the kids here except Mike and his family who were in San Diego visiting Heidi's Mom and her sibs. We celebrated Christmas the first time on the 23rd with our traditional beef wellington as the main course except for those of us vegans who weren't taking a free day. We had wonderful barley lentil stew. We opened gifts that night. On Christmas Eve we had two services at church. One in the morning and one in the evening. At the evening one, Joe sang "O Holy Night" with our son Kevin and we tried to videotape it but one of the mikes was not on so we retaped it at home later that evening. Our son-in-law Kirk, our computer guru, will put it on the blog when he has time. They did a great job. The little grandchildren got to hear Joe sing for the first time in church because children aren't usually allowed in our clubhouse where our church meets, but they gave special permission for Christmas service. That evening, Joe told stories of his childhood and it was amazing the kids had never heard some of them. Christmas day we went to our daughter Cassie's and had Lasagna. She stretched out her table to fit 12 of us and it was lovely. Kevin took Karen to the airport at 4 and we stayed and watched home movies of the Moore kids when they were little. Although Joe fell asleep for part of it, it was a lot of fun. Joe felt really well through the whole holiday although he had some quezziness again yesterday but he shared that he never expected to be here at Christmas when he got the diagnosis last July and he sure didn't expect to be feeling this well. We feel truly blessed with how prayers are working and that God has allowed us this time together as a family to share with them and special friends just how important they are to us. A pass it on saying I bought this Christmas is When God is all you have, God is all you need. We again thank all of you who so faithfully pray for Joe and for the family. We are doing well and are looking forward to leaving for Bonaire on the 9th of January for three months. Our friends from Holland, Henk and Wilma, and our friends from Germany, Roland and Renata surprised us with calls at Christmas. Thanks guys. You can't imagine how special that made Joe feel. May you all just take it easy these last few days of the year and reflect on all God has given you to be thankful for. We sure have. God Bless Take care Mary Anne