new address for TIM

Tim has moved and has a new address. It's

Timothy A. Wells
HHC 2-69 AR
FOB Rustimayah\APO AE 09390

It just takes a normal stamp as any postage to soldiers in Iraq is handled as stateside mail. In case you want to send any packages- a FLAT rate box at the post goes for just 8.60. I can squeeze quite a bit into one box. It doesn't matter how much it weighs. I managed to get 15lbs of stuff into one. It's kind of fun to fill up a box, an outlet for creativity. I hear the guys over there pass stuff around. Maya sent a Christmas tree, complete with ornaments!
I hope Tim doesn't read this post...... he will possibly be exasperated with all my antics and efforts. I hope he's up for yet another one. Growing up with me as a mom he should be used to it but I always try to keep him on his toes. After all, who needs a conventional mom? I think he panics when I tell him I have written Pres. Bush yet another letter. I just have to speak my mind on some topics.

Update on Tim's Gifts for Christmas by proxy

Well, Perla sent a gift in Tim's name to a person she knew last year . It was someone she had a hard time getting along with a while back. Thanks Perla.

During a cold spell, I gave the gift of warmth, in Tim's name! I kept the home fire burning almost around the clock ( with Jason's help chopping the firewood). Our Texas acclimated bodies can't handle freezing weather. I was back to foraging for firewood in that big pile . I had to battle quite a few fire ants that had a hard time letting go of their squatted homes. Those guys are ornery critters. Everyone in our busy household, huddled around the fire as much as they could as well as quite a few visitors. Tim's picture sits on the mantle- right next to the manger scene.

I found 3 more people that needed coats and an older man that needed shoes. One was a Hispanic girl of about 12, Rosa. She was the oldest of 7 children- sound familiar?

I heard that Maya and Tim's girls had something in the works. Stay tuned and Merry Christmas again and again. Keep giving the gift of love and "cheering up" to those the Lord brings across your path!

It's feeling so much like Christmas! Everyone here complained about my Christmas light job. What's wrong with Christmas lights that look like red hot, blinking jalapenos? After all we live in Texas.I thought they were unique. Well, I took them down. Boo Hoo! Teresa is vowing to redecorate the front yard with white lights! It still feels like Christmas. Perla and James added a wonderful touch with cards for everyone they could think of. The mailman, Bruce, man teased me a bit about that. The stack was pretty thick. Now I need to get on remailing them.

Well, everyone.... don't forget anybody! The personal touch makes a world of difference. We have wonderful families and a wonderful Family too.

Our phones are up and down but Maya was able to get through today with news that the ice storm up there is the worst disaster ever for the Joplin area. It seems like they are going to have to have a major tree replanting this spring. Sitting here on the Gulf coast, it is hard to imagine. It seems their area will continue to be without electricity for a while so she asked for prayer for them all. That's not good for little Valorie as her CF vest depends on electricity. They may have to go back to the old fashioned "clapping" to keep her lungs clear. One positive thing is that they have plenty of firewood and a new wood burning stove!

Ice castles!

Just in case anyone has been wondering about Maya and Tim- they are iced in from what I hear. Maya said Tim was trudging around in big boots on the ice. He's toting a chain saw trying to chop their way out of the property. Evidently a lot of trees came down. They don't have electricity but I hear the generator is working. She's faithful to call and keep us updated. It's winter.......just not in Houston. We had our air conditioners on today!

Finally- a good movie

Finally- a good movie.......
I think I have told everyone I know about the extra tall Ponderosa Pine tree in our back yard that got hit by lightening. It all happened 6am on the first day of the Renewal - July 15th. I was trying to check on the animals outside and comfort Teresa's poor guinea pigs that were cowering in the garage during the storm. I wasn't more that 12 ft. away from the tree when it got hit. All of our hair was standing on end from the lightening strike, my heart stopped a bit, and everything smelled real odd.
There was quite a loss of electrical appliances,computers and electrical stuff in general all over our neighborhood- our TV included. It was easy to see that The Lord had a message for me in all that. At the time, I wasn't exactly cheerful about not watching movies for 6 months. I was actually up early, wondering how I was going to check on all these storms we have in Texas without watching the Weather Channel. Well, all that to say that, since that day, strangely enough I honestly haven't been enjoying movies like I used to. The buffness has gone out of this movie" buff"...me. I just seemed to lose interest in most of what's coming out of Hollywood nowadays.

However-I was explaining all that to say I finally saw a good movie tonight! I would like to recommend August Rush. That definitely caught my interest in a big way. See it if you get a chance! Music lovers will especially enjoy it.

The Wells kids together once again. Birthday dinners always seem to draw a crowd. The older brother keeps a firm hand on the younger siblings. They can be a tough bunch to keep in line and a bit rowdy- especially at birthdays.

The only girl ( upper left) Elle and her brother pup who always seems to get the short end of the stick. He is actually making up for it by speed and crafty tactics.

This fellow in the middle is the leader of the pack. We just call him Ike and leave it at that. He really loves that bed tho' and won't budge out of it at the moment. He is quite a team leader and tries to keep everyone else together in the puppy bed too. Here you see the pack- all five of these delightful ones. They are almost too big for their cozy nest. They are also known as the "Wake up crew" and I believe they thoroughly love that label and consistantly work on perfecting their harmonies.

One more special day- the 55th in fact!

Yes, it's true, my husband of many years-(we were married in Christania, Denmark- July of 1973) turned 55 today. We began our married life by the side of a lake, with guests from many nations and all walks of life. Some Egyptians students surprised us by jumping up and dancing a traditional fertility dance in the middle of our wedding ceremony. Could that be why I had 7 beautiful children and my first child was named Nadia? We spent our honeymoon in Lund, Sweden- dining on smoked eel , cranberry juice and reindeer sandwiches. Someone had brought us over some special delicacies as a gift-some I could not even recognize by sight or taste.
Anyway, this morning, the birthday boy slept in a bit and I think he was trying to lay low to avoid the barrage of Happy Birthdays. He really isn't shy so I don't understand his trying to hide out. I had to put the puppies in bed with him to lick his chin to get him up in a hurry. 5 exhuberant Boston terrier puppies can have that effect.
His first Happy Birthday was a text message all the way from India. That's a tribute to a missionary right there. We're going to try to make the day special for him all day long- that is if we can find him. All of you who know him will understand what I mean. He really is a wonderful person, dedicated to his job of serving the Lord and living each day to the full. In fact, his days don't usually end until 3am. He has high ideas that I have admired over the years and I have to say, I have never been bored or have any regrets.
And not to mention- the 7 wonderful children we have together are the joy of my life! Thank you Jesus and thank you kids for all you do to make the world a better place!

My fifth child

She has been on my mind. I seem to always miss her extra at Christmas. No one left home quite as early as she did. So Perla Renee- you are the object of my prayers today! I did this crazy thing and designated everyone a special day in December. Hers is the 2nd. OK? I have so many wonderful memories of being her mom.