Gentle Reminders

Sometimes I find myself a bit disappointed by the fact that Julie and I were unable to find a house this summer (at least one that we could afford). I look around our 900 sq ft. apartment and wonder when....if we will be in a home. The checks Julie and I bring home are enough to live on, but the math just does not seem to work out in order to buy a home.
The dark days of winter are upon us, which usually are difficult for me to meander through, but just the other day, as I sat at our dining room table, the blessing poured to me in the form of a sunrise. Here is the view I saw out of my apt. window.
May God remind you daily that your needs are taken care of the disappointments of the day can be washed away with the next mornings sunrise.

Santa Train

Being in the U.S. this year for Christmas has been a bit different than our last two years. In Korea, the holiday is sporadically celebrated. Much fewer Christmas decor and certainly fewer Santas. This being our first real holiday with Micah, we have taken advantage of all opportunities, short of the mall scene, to visit Santa.
The latest visit was to Pt. Defiance Park and the Santa Train. For $2 we rode the train, got several minutes with Santa and despite the rain(surprise) and cold, had a great time with our friends, the Wiseth's.
Micah was a bit tired, but a trooper as he sat on Santa's lap and ate his biscuit. He asked for more tofu, cheese and Pediasure to help him keep his weight up during the Holidays.

Future Elf

Micah wanted to assure himself a spot on Santa's good list, so we took him to hob nob with Rudolph, Santa and Santa's helpers (some of Jim's students). I'm sure if Santa doesn't come fulfill Micah's wish list, then his grandparents will.

One of Micah's wishes is that he will gain weight this Christmas. Weighing in at 17 lbs and 12 ounces, he is vying for an Elf spot and may take Buddy's place at the North Pole this Christmas. Although Micah hasn't grown much physically, he is developmentally growing leaps and bounds. It is so nice to be able to better communicate with him now that he knows quite a few signs and words: ouch, more, hot, windy, bird, cold, food, daddy, water, milk, and shoes are some of the signs he has mastered and "amen", "bannana", "truck", and "dada" are his favorite new words. Too fun!

Bucket Boy

As is typical of children Micah's age, the box the toy comes in is a bigger hit than the actual toy. Micah loves to entertain himself by walking around with the bucket that holds his blocks on top of his head. Luckily this bucket is clear, so it allows him to avoid most of the collisions with stationary objects around the apartment.