HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!

The kids have a lot of trouble focusing in the mornings - they focus on arguing, grumpiness, sloth, and a few other things, but not on eating breakfast, getting dressed, or getting ready for the day. So, when the kids got down from the table after they had just been bickering once again and burst through our bedroom door, Faith and I agreed that we would take action and give them a piece of our minds. What they said as they entered was, "Happy Birthday, Mommy!" followed by warm hugs and wet kisses.

Faith, for her birthday, is going off to decorate for the seminary's Christmas chapel. She knows she can go out for supper or spend time with the family, but she feels like she should do this and I'm not stopping her. O brother! It has to be annoying to have a birthday so close to Christmas. Faith says people should put a ban on certain activities in the months of March and April to prevent things like this from happening. She's not upset, just practical. Our niece Shayla has her birthday on the 26th of December, and my brother Eric has his on January 1st. What can you do? Merry Birthday to you all and Happy Christmas to boot!

At least Faith got her birthday gifts throughout the year from myself and my parents. She has an antique Singer sewing machine in its cabinet, retrofitted with an electric motor so you don't have to use the treadle if you don't want to. All we need is a belt to run the thing (and space to keep it in the trailer!). We also love LOST, the show, and now have all 5 seasons of it. Mom bought two for us at a garage sale, Faith got the first one for my birthday, and I'm trying to place where the 4th season came from. The 5th one we downloaded because they didn't show it on CTV this year. Speaking of which, they're showing the last season without showing the previous one which really throws a monkeywrench into the cogwheel of life in the world according to LOST. Oh well. We've seen them at least.

Faith, have a great birthday. We love you and pray that the coming year will be one full of blessing and joy, dreams becoming reality, and security in the One who has provided everything you have needed and more. We love you, Faith. Happy birthday.

- Mark