Happy New Year 2024! Wishing you a peaceful one

The Taylors had a fun Austrian party with great food and Krampus!

In Germany one finds Kriskinkle, Beltznickle, Pelsnichol,  Some see the Belsnickel as an amalgamation of the forgiving, gift-giving Saint Nicholas and Krampus, a horned, half-goat half-demon, who during the Christmas season punishes children who have misbehaved.

Colby& Mackenzie Bauer, Dan Smoot(Krampus),Tyler&Brigitte Pace

Christmas Eve afternoon at Marc and Fernanda's,with parents and brother Ed.                Marc giving me gifts

                The Taylors came caroling to invite me to dinner

   Christmas afternoon at my house with our white elephant exchange

A highlight of Christmas dinner was having our two missionaries, Nick de Schweinitz (Baltimore Spanish-speaking mission) and Kelly Taylor (Iowa Swahili- speaking) able to talk to each other via phone

                               Emily, Peter, Fernanda, Marc

       Holidays are puzzle times: Provo and de Schweinitz

Celebrating Bob Hammond's 80th at Riverwoods Manor with Utah and California friends. Bob, Miriam, Susan McGown

Bob & Kaye Paugh (above); Lisa Budge&Glenna Hammond (below)

              New Year's Eve dinner with almost the whole family

(clockwise from left) Stephanie, Elise, Evie, Lucie, Phoebe, Cordelia

               Luke, Hannah, George, Aaron, Simon, Andrew, John

          Ken, Pete, Marc, Fernanda, Peter, Rebecca, Emily, Julie

                George and Hannah battle it out for many minutes

.....But Hannah, after a very close competition, was the winner

          We played lots of other quick games, organized by Emily.

Another gift puzzle from my sister Elaine (this one was very hard: weird shaped and difficult to join pieces)

I hope all the pieces of your life come together in 2024!

Let's pray for better efforts for peace in this torn world.

I'm always grateful for a fresh start