Partners in Health

While there are many ways to donate to help in Haiti, just wanted to quick share one that our friend Elizabeth pointed out: Partners in Health

She notes, "It was started by Dr. Paul Farmer (the subject of "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder) and has 20 years of getting health care to the people and developing a viable Haitian medical presence as well. Website is www.pih.org. They have been sending me updates every few days and, because their programs are outside Port au Prince, they have been able to bring needed medical staff and supplies into the affected areas quickly and efficiently."

Please take some time to pray for the people of Haiti, for their suffering, for their loss, for the rescue and care efforts. Don't underestimate the power of prayer! Nadia Bolz-Weber (Sarcastic Lutheran) had a good sermon on that this week. Plea to God for water for the thirsty, He understands and shares the suffering.

Charity Navigator has an overview of all nonprofits helping in Haiti, as well as ratings for agencies based on their effectiveness and % of funds that goes to relief work.

Catsup Packet

Only real news of the year so far was Bela's birthday. 11! Zoinks. We saw Avatar with some good friends and came back for cake, on the Caturday before. Ysabela's two big loves are cats and dragons, so cat people riding dragons... fuhgetaboudit.

Oh, there is the first family music video...

Fans of Dr. Horrible, beware!

Happy New Year

First post of the new year with an old photo. I think this is from Carmen and Oliver's first wedding at the courthouse, which would put it December 7, 1963. 9 mo.s and 3 days before my birthday. (They said it was a a good honeymoon at Chuck and Alice's cabin.)

Thanks to Ken P for the scan!

Chicago Redux

So, it turned out that we got the tickets to Banana Shpeel, and, thanks to grandparent-sitting, got to go. Karen and I took a one night trip to the Palmer House. It was quite a fun a show, with a real Vaudeville flavor and some spectacular variety-style performers. More dance than I was expecting, and it was good stuff. The premise is some audience members audition and then cause havoc.

We included 2 visits to the Art Institute, to revisit the 3rd floor of the modern wing, as well as catch the Arts and Crafts exhibit Apostles of Beauty, and the Caravaggio exhibit around The Supper at Emmaus. Both were worthwhile, with the arts and crafts being particularly well thought out.

A real discovery for us was the Heaven on Seven restaurant on Wabash. We had an awe-inspiring Louisiana breakfast, in particular the ambrosia that is their Voodoo sauce. It is now impossible to imagine a trip to Chicago without a visit there. There are 2 locations, with the Loop one being only open for breakfast and lunch. It made me very happy.

Merry Christmas!

May your Christmas be joyful!

Once again, we have a postal miracle and actually sent Christmas cards this year, of the e- and non e- variety. Ysabela references a couple movies they made, and those are here:
Humans are High in Fiber
Care and Feeding of Dragons

Xavier says: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years. Bela is not ready for comment.

Neither is ready to talk about presents yet. John got cool superhero tees, a Dr. Who DVD set, the RENT DVD, an unowned Calvin and Hobbes book and they came wrapped in handmade Tick bags. Karen is also not ready for comment. Makes it sound mysterious. If only they hadn't opened the monkey's paw...

Just kidding, no monkeys. See below, totally innocent:

Verse of the Day

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

- Luke 1:78-79

I thought the verse of the day today from Sojourner's just completely captured my feelings about Christmas this year.

Best of advent to you all!

December Catsup

Not too much going on with us - the usual Christmas/end of semester rush and bustle.

Bela's foray into basketball finished up with a Saturday tournament where they played four ten minute games. Hank and Marilynn came out for all four games. Up to the last game they had a chance to get into the semifinals, but ran into a determined Robinson team. Bela learned a lot, and really tried hard - especially considering that she rapidly regretted her decision to sign up. Her coach mentioned how far she progressed several times and was amazed at how well she listened. This Friday we had a father-daughter basketball game. Thankfully no pictures, but it was great fun.

Karen got the house decortated for Christmas, inside and out, despite all the other stuff going on. The house color looked a bit out of place in the browns and golds of autumn, but a little snow and voila, back to minty fresh.

Joseph and Mary have started making their way.

This weekend was the Christmas pagaent, and the fundraiser for the Sunday School to buy a cow for a family in a third world country. (Through Heifer International.) We thought a cow ($500) might be out of their reach, but the combined Christmas card sales plus bake sale raised enough for a cow, a sheep, and maybe some chickens. There was great rejoicing. Miss Leslie did an amazing job with both things going on at once. Karen had the sales looking like a real marketplace today.

Backstage at the pagaent.

Narrators on the march.

And I don't know if we'll finish the planned DVD production, but if we do, you'll see something like this:

Hmmm.