Oh wait, it isn’t even the Christmas season anymore!  Ah well, consider this simply a mid January update on the P-D’s (or a Valentine’s update for those of you reading this on the blog).  Yes, we had every good intention of sending out this update during the Christmas season but instead we found ourselves enjoying a nice break, hosting an open house for our congregation, watching movies, playin WII and catching up on some well-deserved rest. 

We love receiving updates from our friends and family and hope this update doesn’t bore you to tears.  Most of you are receiving this via email in the hopes of reducing waste and what-not.  Some of you lucky folks actually received a hand printed envelope!  We did have to dig for stamps. 

2009 was filled with great adventures.  One of the highlights was attending the inauguration of the 44^th President of the United States of America.  We hope you can look beyond any partisan feelings and truly celebrate the momentous occasion.  We met a crew of our friends from seminary days and froze ourselves silly.  The spirit of community enveloped the crowd.  Sure, there were plenty of people, very little sleep, incredibly cold temperatures and long lines but it was a gift to share in this event with people from all over the country.  If we could only find a way to continue to live in hope rather than through rancor and fear… 

Katie is in third grade and her life is filled with great friends, a love of reading (just like Mom), a sense of humor (like her Dad) and a gentle sense of justice.  She has a real passion for history. 

She is fascinated by the Underground Railroad and Martin Luther King, Jr.  This year Katie celebrated turning 9 with a 3 day trip to Disneyland (thank you Mamaw!).  Unfortunately, Kerri’s mom came down with pneumonia while we were at Disneyland.  Katie is learning how to play golf, strums her guitar with abandon, beats her mom and dad in WII bowling while lying updside down on the couch and reminds us to enjoy each moment. 

Katie and Kerri enjoying an afternoon drink on the day of Katie’s 9^th birthday at the Disneyland pool.  Kerri dreamed of swimming in this pool when she was little.  Dreams do come true!

Katie at the Cozad-Bates house in Universtiy Circle, Cleveland.  Katie and Kerri walked with Joan Southgate for Restore Cleveland Hope. 

The latest edition to the P-D house is Molly, the wonder dog (second only to Clarence Dill, the wonder dog).  Molly is a 2 year old black lab we rescued.  She is great dog – full of energy but not overly hyper.  She even comes when called!   She loves to give big kisses, snuggles, lopes through   the snow, and, drinks wine – NOT!  Molly has fit right into our family and loves visitors! 

Jeff and Kerri celebrated 20 years of marriage (go figure!) with a night at the Ritz and seeing Billy Joel and Elton John in concert.  We could get used to being spoiled like that!  We feel pretty darn lucky to be married to each other. 

Life at Pioneer Memorial Presbyterian Church remains fulfilling and challenging.  We truly can’t imagine being anywhere else.  The community is stimulating, the opportunities are full and the snow is – fun!  We really do enjoy the change of seasons and snowball fights. 

As we enter in 2010 it is our hope that we continue to seek ways to live together in community, seeking what is best for our neighbors and serving the One who has called us into this amazing adventure.  Merry Christmas, friends!

Jeff, Kerri, Katie and Molly

January 2010

K2 and George Washington at the Smithsonian, January 2009

Katie and I took a few moments for her to answer a couple of questions about Mom…  pretty entertaining!

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Do your homework and no fussies! (Can you tell we are getting ready to do homework?!)

2. What makes mom happy?
Snuggling with me

3. What makes mom sad?
when I’m doing something wrong

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Tickles!

5. What was your mom like as a child?
like me!

6. How old is your mom?
I forgot!

7. How tall is your mom?
(with hand measuring at her forehead) I forgot that too!

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Snuggle

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Just take a nap (that is certainly true for the past 10 days!)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Being a writer

11. What is your mom really good at?
Car racing (we have the slot car track set up)

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Uh, you’re not very good at soumersaults (not true, now cartwheels are another story!)

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Work at the office and you are a preacher

14.What is your mom’s favorite food?
Salad

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
I like your sermons

16. If your mom were a Cartoon character, who would she be?
The mother that picks flowers (“What show is that from?”  ”I just made it up!”)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Games

18. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you always give me hugs

19. What does your mom like most about your dad?
He is funny

20. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
The Amish country

Greetings long lost friends.  Once again, the PD Christmas missive will not be hitting your mailbox anytime soon.  We could say it is our effort to reduce, reuse and recycle but truth be told, we just didn’t get to it.  I know, you are shocked! 

I thought about having each of us list some of our favorite memories of 2008 but Katie-who-lives-in-the-moment looked at me like I’d lost it.  I didn’t even try with Jeff. 

For the record, 2008 was fabulous.  Plenty of challenges.  Plenty of fun.  Plenty of travel.  Plenty of family and friends.  All in all, a great year.  So here are some pictures of the Advent/Christmas season. 

Hard at work!

Ta-da!

Kerri's birthday in Chagrin Falls

No shortage on frosting in the PD household!

Katie and her Build-A-Bear "Hannah Montana"

Until then… check out this post

http://christinekane.com/blog/word-of-the-year-wonder/

She came into the living room and obviously had put bright pink lipstick on.  It was spread carefully on her lips and strangely on the tip of her nose.  Fearing parental rebuke (she didn’t go to bed with lipstick on…), we ended up having a conversation tonight about lying.  But that’s not the funny part.

In the attempt to “get at the bottom of it” and discover what kind of lipstick-bearing alien might have entered her room and afixed the adornment to her face, she quickly folded and told me what happened.  Her confession and my observation were simultaneous.  You see, she has several posters of the Jonas Brothers hanging on the wall next to her bed.  Her favorite one is a solo image of her sweetie, Joe Jonas.  The confession:  Yes, she had put lipstick on in order to kiss her poster.

There it was.  Pink lip prints all over Joe’s face.  And a noticable “hole” in one of the pink images — where her nose had rubbed against the poster and thereby unknowingly adorned another portion of her face!

The girl had lipstick on her nose from kissing her Joe Jonas poster.  I could hardly contain myself while tucking her in (yes, after the talk about trust, telling the truth, and how I will love her no matter what she tells me).  I came down the stairs, turned the corner into the living room, and busted a gut telling Kerri the whole story.

My life as a father.  Who’d have ever imagined?!?

Me to Katie:  “I’m going to call Mamaw, do you want to talk to her?”

Katie to me:  “I’m too tired Mom. Mamaw wore me out.  She did baby-sit me for that one day Mom!”

I know that will come as a surprise to my mom and I sure hope she had a couple of good naps today!  Love you Mom!

Hannah Montana watch out!

May I take your order?

Starting the trek to the top of Lookout Mountain

Yes, she is hiking in a skirt!

We made it!  Assembly Inn in the background

Big smiles!!

Taking in the view

Camp Rock Party!  Oh, the dancing!  This shot was obviously taken during the serious part of the movie!

Reading has been a BIG thing this summer. 

After an afternoon with Kristin, her hair and “make-up” stylist.  Can you see the pink eye-shadow?

Check out those braids!

I think this may be the first day of quiet in way too long!  Jeff is in Atlanta for a D.min. class and Katie is off to day camp.  As we loaded up today to head off she said to me “Mommy, you get to have some quiet today since your chatterbox will be gone.”  It appears that Katie has a very keen sense of herself and her mom!