Happy New Year....All!

It's been some time since there has been an opportunity to post new comments on this blog. As everyone, we've been very busy for the first couple of months this year. Although, one of the most exciting things to happen was the day after Christmas when dear friends of our chose to have their private wedding in our home! It was lovely, and such an honor to host their memorable moment. Congratulations Mr & Mrs Gabriel Morris! Gabe and Bethany have become our 'adopted' children. See photos...

Happy Ayyam'i'Ha!

Our Baha'i community had another exciting party to celebrate friendships and family with an annual winner...a white elephant gift exchange. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what Ayyam'i'Ha means...here's a brief overview:

Intercalary Days (Ayyam-i-Ha) February 26 to March 1
The Badi' calendar (used by the Bahá'ís) is based on the solar year of 365 days, five hours, and 50 odd minutes. The year consists of 19 months of 19 days each (i.e. 361 days), with the addition of four extra days (five in a leap year). It was not specifically defined the place for the intercalary days in the new calendar. Therefore, the excess days have been assigned a fixed position in the calendar immediately preceding the month of Ala', the period of fasting.
In the West, the Intercalary Days (Ayyam-i-Ha) are the four days of the year (five days in leap year) which fall between the eighteenth and nineteenth month of the Bahá'í Calendar (Mulk and 'Ala'), February 26 to March 1. These days are set aside for hospitality, gift-giving, special acts of charity, and preparing for the Fast.
Fasting is the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests.... The Fast occurs from sunrise to sunset for 19 days until March 21, Náw-Ruz, which marks the New Year for Bahá'ís.
For further information, log onto www.bahai.us.

Other news...in brief...

Jim will be having some skin surgery in the very near future on a couple of spots that have been diagnosed as melanoma. Details still coming on when, where, etc.

I will be having bilateral knee replacement surgery on April 2nd. That means both knees will be replaced. I'm not even looking forward to the recovery on this; but, am told the results will be worth it. I hope so...right now, I can hardly walk at times.

Beth and Lil are moving along in their school year with ups and downs. They are looking forward to spring break, just for a 'break' from it all.

Happy Birthday to Jim who turned a whopping 64 yesterday!!! And, just think, come October, I'll be 60! Is that getting old, or what?????

That's if for now...it's late, so I'd better get some sleep, since that doesn't come often.

Love you all!