Eli at Christmas

We have had almost a month away from home enjoying time with each part of our family while Matt is on terminal leave. He will be starting school in January and we are pretty sure we will not be traveling for a while after he starts. So, we wanted to get some visits in before that. Eli has really enjoyed Christmas. Last year he was a little too young to understand and have fun with his new toys, but this year he played with each one as it was opened. It was a joy to see him tear the paper and enjoy what was inside. He go more toys than any child could ever play with. I'm not sure where we are going to put them all?!? I guess I should have asked for a toy box for him! :o) It has been a blast traveling around and seeing family. We were able to visit Matt's Grandma Lois, Grandma and Grandpa Piazza, Aunt Gigi and family and Cousin Mike in St. Louis. They are such warm and welcoming people. We always enjoy our slow days visiting and relaxing with them! In St. Louis, we also had the joy of visiting some spiritual friends as well. We had a meal with Edna and Leroy Walters. They are a really neat couple and a couple worth visiting if you are ever in St. Louis. They are a couple who is committed to sharing the Gospel and it is so encouraging to see how much zeal they have for doing it!! We then went down to Camdenton, MO where we visited Matt's Aunt Robin and family and Uncle Ricky and family. It is always a treat to sit and laugh with them! They are so much fun! After our short visit with them, we traveled to spend the night with a family we had never met. It was really cool how it all worked out because we had asked Leroy fro someone to contact in the Springfield church to make sure we would make it there on Sunday. We called the couple, Nancy and Chris Meesey, and were invited to spend the night with them in their home. It was such a treat! They are such an encouraging family! We enjoyed talking with them until very late Saturday night and enjoyed most of Sunday getting to know them and enjoying the joy that spills over in their home. We then traveled down to Pocahontas for a nice visit with Grammy and Granny (Matt's grandmother and great-grandmother). After which, we headed home and the real excitement began. In Conway we visited Dad and Barb, Grandmother and Grandad, Papaw and Joe and Destiny and family before heading out to the farm at Cleveland and spending the night with Mom and Ken. We have enjoyed many days of shopping and decorating and preparing for our big Christmas here. It has been such a joy! Now we are thinking about leaving. It has been almost a month and we are all ready to be in our own bed for a night or two. There is so much to share, but I'm going to leave you with this. Eli learned to howl this trip and you have to hear it!