JEAN'S FIRST POST OF 2014

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  I also hope you enjoyed the Christmas recipes.  Would you like them again next year?

We have taken down our Christmas decorations.  Katie's great-grandparents brought their Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve.  All talking from David, Bishop Joseph or myself could not convince them not to bring so many gifts.  When Grandmother Olive saw all the gifts she was really upset.  She said this has to end.  I was told to make a pot tea, bring some cookies, and invited Katie's great-grandparents into the dawdy.  They were in there a long time.  At one point Grandmother Olive came out and wanted the bank books that we had for all the children.  I asked her why and she said just give them to her, which I did.  Bishop Joseph, David and I waited and waited.  They were in there about two hours, when they finally came out.  What she and Grandfather Albert said I don't know.  When they came Grandmother Olive said a compromise had been reached. 

As this was Katie's first Christmas at our house - many presents were to be allowed.  All of the presents that were not allowed in our home were to be removed.  This ment us opening some presents to see what was inside and rewrapping them.  The great-grandparents were to return the items we didn't allow or give them to a charity.  After this year, they were to buy just a few gifts and put any other money they would spend on Katie, in her savings account. 

The children, while this was going on, were over at Bishop Joseph and Martha's house and didn't know what was going on.  On Christmas morning, everyone got more gifts than we would usually have, but we wouldn't argue with the compromise.  All of us had a very Merry Christmas. 

Bishop Joseph asked Grandmother Olive and Grandfather Albert how they did that with the Great-Grandparents.  Grandmother Olive told him, he is a great Bishop - very kind and understanding.  But some things he will learn, come with age and experience.  We all had to laugh, she was right.

Michael and Edward are now out of the public school.  They have sheets, they must fill out every month, telling what work they are doing.  In addition to his farm work, Michael, is learning how to work on farm equipment and every once in a while a car.  Edward in addition to his farm work, is doing painting jobs with David.  David thinks that Edward should take some courses in accounting.  Edward is really good at figures.  He can figure things before they are even written down.  As the Old Order Mennonites and Amish must keep accounts and file taxes every year just as the Englishers, it would be a great job for Edward.  Edward had never thought of that and said he likes to work with figures so we are seeing if he can take some courses.  David told him to take one and see if he likes it or not, but that there is a need for people keeping records and doing taxes.  But, Bishop Joseph did not approve of Edward taking courses in the public school system especially after we just got him out of one.  Edward spoke with one of Elmer's sons who keeps books for some of the Amish and does their taxes.  He took a correspondence course, which we are entering Edward in.

Grandfather Albert also can do figures like Edward without writing them down.  Grandfather said it runs in our family.  Edward laughed as he was a foster child and now our adopted son.  Also, Edward thinks it is funny because Grandfather Albert is white and Edward is black.  Grandfather told Edward that the day he came into our household -Grandfather Albert became Edward's great-grandfather like he did Michael's and Katie's and Grandmother Olive became their Great-grandmother. Grandfather never took any courses in accounting and also agrees, it would be a good idea for Edward, if he wanted.

Susan is back to our school, so Katie and David Jr. are the only little ones at home.  Katie has made herself big sister over David Jr.  She is a great help in entertaining him and watching him while I do chores in the house.  Katie is a big help.  We are still teaching her the language, reading and counting. 

Please remember to keep the Christmas Spirit not just in December, but all year.

Be With God,
Jean