SEASON OF CELEBRATION

Yup, this picture got out of place. I couldn't figure out how to get it back to where it was supposed to be, and I like it too much to just delete it -- so consider it a Happy New Year from G'Gpa Force and Kinnon (and all the rest of us).

Another Christmas season has gotten by us. It was a great time for family and friends to come together (sometimes traveling on icy roads), eat lots, play games, and seriously alter the natural sleep/wake cycles. We are grateful for the gift of God that was behind all this, for the abundance that we share together, for safety in travels, and just for the time spent together -- more precious now that we are scattered most of the time to various places of school and work.

Kathy, Sara, and Andrew with a collection of Force family members (Thomas, Michael, Ed Green, Robert and Cliff) at the funeral of Dora Force (Cliff's sister-in-law)

Seth and Rachel, formally attired for the ASB Christmas banquet, which Rachel got home from Tennesee in time for to be Seth's date (convenient planning, eh?)

Seth, practicing to be Santa Claus on Christmas morning. The belly just doesn't quite do it.

Andrew wields the sword of Aragorn, the latest addition to his collection of blades. Nice gift from baby brother, Seth.

Seth, displaying some of his gifts.

Sara, with her Narnia pop-up book.

Sammy is skeptical about whether the old man can handle the exercise bar.

Andrew demonstrates how it is done by the athletically qualified

Seth, Sara, and Andrew showing off.

Heading out for a walk on the beach on a brisk day.

Sammy leads the way across the rocks. Sara looks for a different route.

Sara looking toasty warm on the windy cold beach

Kinnon is learning to walk. Taking a few steps to Auntie Sara.

Back Row: Greg, Kathy, Aileen, Vicki

Front Row: Seth, Sammy, Aaron, Kinnon, Zsa, Sara, Andrew

Me with my mommy and sister

Establishing communication with the next grandchild.

Auntie Sara helping Kinnon learn how to use his Christmas Duplo blocks

Kinnon getting the hang of it (maybe)

The basic four siblings: Aaron, Sara, Andrew, and Seth

Zsa and Kinnon and (?) in with the four.

Rachel and Seth, in casual mode this time

Aaron gets Kinnon to smile (cheesily) for th camera.

New Year's Eve: Haystacks at G'ma and G'pa Force's house

Zsa tries to get Kinnon to smile for the camera.

G'Gma Force bringing peace and happiness to Kinnon's inward parts

Rommel and Luna getting things a bit rowdy

The Skau family: Randy, Keri, David, Melinda. Getting together with us almost like old times in Nigeria.

Sure enjoyed having the Skau family here for a few days.

TRANSITIONS

Summer is fading into Fall. School has started again for everyone except for Sara, since Walla Walla doesn't start Fall Quarter for three more weeks yet. Andrew came home from his summer job at Big Lake Youth Camp for one day and was off to Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, the very next day. Sara came home from her summer at the Marine Biology Station at Rosario Beach and is doing some volunteer tutoring at the SDA school while waiting for WWU to start (check out her blog for some good pictures of her "academic activities"). Aaron, Zsa, and Kinnon were with us for nearly a week before going back to Loma Linda for Aaron to start his second year of med school. My sister Betsy, and her husband Rick and son, Jon, with his wife, Missy, and son, Korbin, came last weekend for a friend's wedding. It's been nice having family here.

The weather has been getting a little cooler, and the sun setting a bit earlier. There are many gorgeous sunsets. It's a nice time of year before the weather goes a bit less desireable.
Sammy, our Swiss exchange student, honing his skills for the basketball season.


What we see on our evening beach walks


Miller - Cress wedding on the beach


Rick and Betsy Claridge (and Sara distracted by Rommel) at the beach wedding.


Jon and Missy Claridge with their little energetic one, Korbin


Kinnon with great-grandma Force


Zsa and Aaron with Kinnon. Nice family!


Falling asleep on grandpa


Kinnon and Rommel get better acquainted


Seth helping Kinnon get the hang of that walking business


Sabbath afternoon relaxation


Life's pretty good as long as you have something in the tummy.


Kinnon dancing with Auntie Sara


We love having this little guy around!


Seth, Andrew and Sara, during the brief period of time when they were all home together.


Lookout point at Deception Pass, the weekend we went to visit Sara at the Marine Biology station at Rosario Beach where she enjoyed her best school ever.


Deception Pass, on the north Washington coast.

Other Wanderers with the Saunders

This weekend we had a couple of extra wanderers at our house. Thompson Clifford, a friend from our Nigeria days, showed up as a suprise on Friday morning. We had no idea he was in this area, or even in the U.S., so it was one of those "wow" events. On Saturday afternoon, we temporarily expanded our family with Sammy Christen, who is an exchange student from Switzerland. He will be with us for the school year and will be a senior at the local high school. It was a beautiful weekend, and we did get down to the beach a bit. Here are some pictures.