I hate it when I let our blog get away from me for more than a month.  Well, I have done that...times 2!  Here are the updates on the Wood family.

Brennan turned 4.  We had a Transformers birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, and Optimus Prime even called him on the phone (which was really Mike Snelson's dad, Big Mike)!  We had a great time at the party as my dad was there and about 20 adults and about 6 kids.  As a young adolescent friend of ours used to say, "The only reason you adults have a party for your young kids is so that you guys can get together."  I guess that is partly true, but Brennan had fun too.  He is well-liked by many of the grown-ups in our circle of influence.  He converses with them on a level that boggles my mind.  He is even reading!...and he just turned 4!  I love you, my big "Brennan with a B".

Abigail lost her first tooth.  She actually LOST it...somewhere in her body.  She swallowed it while eating corn on the cob.  The whole tooth-losing experience was actually more surreal for us than for her.  While she relished the excitement of a whole dollar under her pillow, I was being overcome with emotion at how our only daughter is such a big girl.

My dad just left fom a nice visit here to sunny SoCal.  We had a great time relaxing most evenings on the back porch with a toasty fire, a stout cigar, and a Pumpkin Spice beer.  Some nights we even got out the cards and had a little Texas Hold 'Em gathering. The kids, of course, were spoiled daily withy toys and treats they certainly did not need.  :-)   Thanks, Dad, for a great Thanksgiving week with us.  PawPaw's rule!

Speaking of Thanksgiving, we really have so much to be thankful for.  I remember 3 years ago, not having steady employment, living on state assistance, nursing a failing van, coughing up bundles of money in rent, with family and friends wondering what the heck we had done by taking off to Port Hueneme.  Today, as Rick has gone from janitor to pastor, we now live rent free with 2 incomes, with 3 healthy children, a well-running, paid-for vehicle, and an opportunity to do Kingdom-work for a living.  To what do we owe such benevolence?  To His BOUNDLESS MERCY, that's what!

Love,

Melissa