Oriel's House of Fluffy Pancakes

Newsletter 2007

“Mother, Santa Claus is taking over the whole world, and Walmart... just like that Dora, and Spongebob!”

So, for the newsletter… you’re not really gonna read this, are you? Nobody really reads these things, they just skim, right? Sometimes, I look for my name - rarely find it. SO here’s the run-down of 12 things we learned this year (in easy skim version):

1) Your 5th Anniversary isn’t a magic wand of maturity and understanding.

Celebrating it with family and friends spending a weekend in the Smoky Mountains helps.

2) Generally, we prefer the wedding to come before the baby - however, in the case of Deborah & Joe, they didn’t mind their brand new niece crashing the wedding and stealing a bit of their publicity.


Congratulations Deb & Joe, Ruth & Ian!

3) God does answer prayer--7 tiers, three bottom dummies, but it didn’t tip over. Whew! (but I don’t think I’ll do that again)

Thank you Jacob and Lindsey for allowing us to be a part of the very rich and God-honoring celebration of His providence in your union.

4) Turning 30 (even if it is on your golden birthday too) isn’t all that exciting.

5) If your husband is the best man, your daughter is a flower girl in need of a dress, it may be taking on too much to volunteer to make up a new kind of cake & frosting.

Unless you love the couple very, very much - then it’s totally worth it.

6) Kindergarten isn’t all it’s cracked up to be….when you are a whole year younger than you ought to be.

And sometimes the greatest challenge is simply staying in your little chair.

7) We have more to be thankful for than we ever remember


We missed Levi’s family this time but there was a mini reunion of O’s to fill up our trip.

8) 35 lbs of turkey + 9 feasting adults + 5 kids =


surprisingly few leftovers.

9) Seeing great grama twice in a couple months is not nearly enough.

Thankfully we get to see her namesake at least twice a week.

10) Two large road trips back to back is not recommended


Unless you get to spend time with some of the best people in the world....

and see Christin happily wed. YAY!

11) Snow (even just a few flakes wisping around) is one of the most exhilarating things for children….and that thrill is very contagious.

12) Advent calendars are SOOOO much better than stockings ever dreamed of being.

25 days of treasure-hunts and gifts -- need I say more?

We’ll leave you with the quote of the season. It actually happened two years ago.

Old man in Walmart: *grins*
Hello there pretty girl. What’s Santa gonna bring you this year?

Analeasa: *very confusedly looks at parents and then back to him*
(didn’t someone tell him, why doesn’t he know?) But…. Santa’s dead.
The old man walked away with his mouth wide open.

Praying God's rich blessings for you this Advent season, and into the new year,
Levi, Oriel & Analeasa

Posted by oriel at December 16, 2007 11:22 PM | TrackBack