ONCE IN HISTORY 1-1-11

Happy New Year to all in my book of friends and loved ones. We had a most memorable Christmas here in Ohio! Boy, oh boy! It's tough to be away from kids and grand kids, but look at the pictures. As you see, Sister Guenther and I kept busy making and delivering cookies all over the village. We even had Santa come see us in our apartment! What else could you ask for? He even brought a few gifts to put under our tree (which was a tiny fiber optic, bottle-brush thing, but, with a little imigination, gave the illusion of a tree. And Santa didn't even care. He found us anyway.

Our December was busy and active, leaving little time to whine about who we were missing. I had dreaded December when we came in June, but we actually enjoyed it very much.

Of course, the true reason for our happiness this year, is that we are priveleged to be in the service of the very Lord and Savior whose birth we celebrate! Each day we testify and honor and praise His Holy name, and our celebration this year was the more meaningful because of it.

Among our favorite tangible gifts this year was one from our children, who kindly sent pictures of themselves and their families (always a vital and a treasured gift), then added some sweet memories in a booklet titled, "Lessons Learned at Home". That's what you see me holding in the picture by the 'tree'. This now annual gift has become a treasured Orton family tradition, one we now value as gold. Though we, regretably, had to be excused as they gathered and read them to each other this year, we had no trouble imagining their tears and laughter, as we sat huddled together in our Ohio apartment, relishing their writings of childhood memories, and we added liberally our own tears and laughter. Thankfully, they were kind, and said nice things.

What a wonderful beginning to a New Year! And, what a date it is today! One/One/One-One , a day that is here today, and never to come again. Make it a good one! Happy New Year!