MERRY CHRISTMAS. We have had a wonderful day, and pray you had the same. Kids got all they wanted and more, and Becca's favorite phrase of the day was, "This is the best Christmas ever." It was a true delight for my mom and I as we had snow falling on Christmas! Something we never see in South Carolina!

BECCA UPDATE. Becca is doing GREAT. She had one rough day just after coming home from the hospital, but she is acting 99% normal now! Getting ready for Christmas is taking up most of her time. Scott's mom (Mincy) is with us and the kids are enjoying time with her.

BECCA HOME FROM HOSPITAL. After a year and a half of daily antibiotics to prevent urinary and kidney infections, yesterday Becca underwent surgery to correct this urinary reflux problem once and for all. The surgery went well and tonight Becca is back at home. She has minimal pain from a three inch incision on her lower abdomen. She is stitched together on the inside and "superglued" on the outside (per the doctor). She is her usual cheery self asking for cheeseburgers and chocolate cake. She is disappointed that there is to be no PE class, running or wrestling with her brother Nicolas for the next 4 to 6 weeks. Thank you all for your prayers.

GRANDMOMMY ARRIVES. Since we couldn't spend Christmas in Detroit AND South Carolina, we decided the next best thing was to bringa bit of South Carolina TO Detroit. Mincy Stargel (grandmuddy as the kids now call her) flew in yesterday.

YET ANOTHER BIRTHDAY PARTY. With Becca's surgery just a few days away, we decided to celebrate her birthday (again) a bit early. Of course nothing would do but a trip to Chuckee Cheese! She loved it and (yes) so did Dad! She turns eight tomorrow (December 17th), but we are going to celebrate Nicolas' birthday this evening instead (so that his sister can join us). It looks like CHUCKEE CHEESE again! Oh well...

DETROIT BRRR. Well we aren't actually in Detroit, but you couldn't tell it by me! The suburbs look like big city. And we had snow the first few days. Kids were thrilled. Dad even got in on the exitement with an early snowball fight on the way to school. Speaking off... We are soooo blessed that Warren Woods Church of the Nazarene is taking care of us. They found us a nice cozy house to live in, furnished it, left all kind of goodies around the house, and paid for our children to attend Warren Woods Christian School! The school made room for them and went out of their way to welcome Nicolas and Becca who made a great transition!

SCOTT'S HANDS. Went to a hand specialist on Monday. Found out that my problem is actually three problems: deQuervain’s tendonitis, Carpel Tunnel and artheritis in the thumb. The Doctor wants to work on them one at a time, and the two injections he gave me have already worked wonders!!

STATESIDE. Well it has been too long since I updated this newsletter. Yes, we finally made it to the States to beging our furlough. Of course that was last week! We spent a few days in Lakeland visiting Seth and Dorothy Walters and speaking at Higland Park Church of the Nazarene. What a great church! We showed our new video for the first time there. It was well received!

On Monday we used some free tickets to go to DisneyQuest in Orlando, and then Tuesday Linda and the kids flew up to Detroit. I took the long way, driving the van from Florida to Michigan.

BAPTIZED. Both kids were baptized Sunday night at Quisqueya Chapel. It was a great service. Linda had taught the class for four weeks, and they were both ready for it! Hopefully pictures to follow.