Special Christmas Announcement & Update

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Years! I hope you all had wonderful Christmas and New Year celebrations. Our family enjoyed a quiet Christmas at home. This year was the first year James actually understood & eagerly anticipated the Christmas holiday. He learned in Family Home Evening that Christmas was a celebration of Jesus' birth, and then demanded that we have a birthday cake for Jesus. So a new McDonald family tradition was created; we now have birthday cake at Christmas Eve and all the kids make their Santa wish then blow out the candles. However; Santa still gets milk and cookies here - and James was determined to see that happen before he could go to bed.

We really enjoyed seeing the kids' excitement on Christmas morning. Although Mikey and Evey had no idea what Christmas was about, or even that it was coming, they certainly enjoyed opening the presents. Now they'll be pro's for their 2nd birthday on Jan. 25th. They grow so fast!

Jake and I recieved an early Christmas surprise. I came down with pnemonia the week before Christmas (I'm fine now) and while running blood work tests the doctors found out I'm PREGNANT! That's right, we will be adding a new member to the family some time around the end of August/begining of September. I still need to schedule my first pre-natal appointment & make sure we're only having one - but I'll keep everyone posted. We prayed about it & decided that this will be our last - upon delivery of a healthy baby I'll have my tubes tied.

A few days after Christmas we sent Jake off to Grand Rapids, Michigan to help cover President Ford's burial. We celebrated the New Year from afar, but he should be home at the end of the week. Anyway, all is well and we miss everyone.

May God Bless You,

Elizabeth