Yikes, Another year!

Well, it's been over a year since I blogged and I feel....okay with that!  I'm attaching our Chirstmas Letter to catch up on this past year.  WOW!  A lot has happened!
Check it out...
 

Merry Christmas from the Reynolds

Jambo was the Swahili word we said most often while on our mission trip to the Masai Mara in Kenya, Africa this summer.  Our team, of 14 people, went to Kenya with the purpose of building the first classroom of a high school.  We learned that there was not another high school within 30 miles.  Education is so important!  This is important especially in Africa where these young masaai women are married off at an early age if they are not in school.  We worked with some amazing African men while there and were so blessed, upon the completion of the school, to pray in our own native tongues to our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It was such a beautiful reminder that God is present and working in the lives of ALL his children all over the world.  The school was constructed of mortar & brick.  We soon learned that we were shoddy masons, at best.  Steve, our foreman taught us the word “Haraka” meaning Hurry or Quickly!  Apparently, we were not the fastest “mzungus” or white people they’d ever worked with.  A special blessing for us was having Ernie’s dad, Ernie I, as we called him, join us on the trip!  Frisky cheetahs, pesky warthogs, roaring lions, relaxed rhinos, graceful giraffes, angry hippos and a lovely leopard, were some of the beautiful animals we saw.  We were truly blessed to work with Africa Mission Services and all of our friends in Kenya to do the Lord’s work. 

If you’d like to see videos of our trip please see our blog at africanadventuremasaimara.wordpress.com

‘Twas the night before Christmas for Canines and Winged things

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house the dogs were asleep, all ’round the house.  Visions of rawhides danced in their heads.

Stallion, Suzy and PJ’s stockings hung on the chimney with care, in the hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

When what to my wondering eyes did appear?  But Ernie half-asleep interrupting Santa’s reindeer!  As he lumbered to sleep, what should he hear?  The birds squawking with all their might, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

 

Ernie announces move to Maui

Okay, now we’ve got your attention!  A year ago we spent Christmas on Kā’anapali beach in Maui with Abbey’s Dad, Mom & brothers. (Her Uncle, Aunt & cousin live on the island as well!)  Ernie then announced “We’re moving to Maui!”  He would love to spend every day, especially in the winter, in Maui.  But, as of today we are not living there...yet!  We did have a wonderful time snorkeling everyday (seeing lots of cool fish & sea turtles), swimming, floating in the ocean, & watching whales play in the water.  Ernie, also went deep sea fishing for the first, and maybe, last time.  We loved all the sunshine, relaxing, yummy food and being with family.

Softball champ rules the roost

 

Everyone knows that there are two seasons each year; bowling and softball seasons.  This year, Team Plumbco won their softball division championship.  Through many hours, they conquered the diamond with dust, sweat and tears!  Ernie then competed in the SDA Brush Prarie Tournament and his team battled it out with 35 other teams and emerged the undefeated, undisputed champions!  The thing that made this first place trophy so sweet, if there is something more than just winning, was that Ernie’s mom, Carol was there to witness & cheer him on to victory!  What a sweet end to summer!

 

Other stuff...

Let’s face it, if you’re reading this portion of our newsletter you are an exceptional human being and friend!  Most people we know have given up reading and will never get this far.  Here is where we should bury the really juicy details of our lives.  Well...here’s what you get.  Abbey and her girls went to Jamaica in March for a week of sun, swimming and reggae!  They climbed Dunn’s River Falls, ate a ton of jerk chicken and lounged with beverages.    In April of this year Ernie was thrilled to participate in the Union College Warrior’s Weekend!  He was able to coach women's volleyball and play on the men’s basketball team.  He spent some time with family & friends too!  It was a highlight. Another highlight was Ernie adding Abbey to his Fantasy Football League.  Abbey surpassed all expectations and is hanging in there with the boys!  I think that’s it for our year. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and your family this Christmas Season.  Love,
Ernie & Abbey Reynolds

Oh Winter, My Old Friend and Foe

 Winter wonderland, winter woes.  What will it be?  Woe is me I believe it will be a long one whatever the precipitation may be.  The sun sets too early in the afternoon and I slip and fall on the way to my car in the parking lot, I reflect on the long, cold, wintry months.  In the bleak and dreary chilly nights I find myself enjoying more than ever the bright and cheerful Christmas decorations gracing my home.  A smile and a sense of wonder seizes me when I watch flakes as big as feathers float down in the distant street light.  I take another sip of my peppermint hot chocolate and whisper my holiday dreams to Santa as if he can hear.  The neighbor's Christmas lights cast a multicolored hue on the snow as I snatch the newspaper out of the biting chill.  Curled up, reading by my fire with the lights of the Christmas tree cast shadows dancing in the dark.  My heart warms with thanksgiving for the gifts of a home, family, friends, and the dogs lounging at my feet.

All of this draws my mind to the true nature of the holiday season, the worship of the Son of God.  He was given to all peoples thousands of years ago as an atonement for the sins of the world.  A living hope for all people, of all nations, for all time.  What a wondrous, miraculous blessing.  This causes my surroundings to grow still and silent in the night while starlight through the window still illuminates the glory of the Lord of hosts.

Merry Christmas!

Cider Pressin'

Several weekends ago I was reminded of the wonderful simplicity that Autumn holds. All you need is apples, friends and a cider press to make fall magic! The wonderful J.B. & the Walters Family hosted- Marianne, Scott, Amy, Steve, Sarah, Ernie & me for an afternoon of cider making mayham! Missing in action were Jennifer and Scott who were home with their new baby, Caleb! We crushed apples, squeezed juice and strained the necter of the gods into 26 gallons on apple cider. Deb made us hot apple cider to drink and we snacked on yummy treats and the laughter abounded. A hike through the orchard completed the wonderful experience with friends! A perfect weekend!

 

A New Adventure

So I got married a month ago. I feel rather confident that I now have mastered the art of being wife, mother of 3 dogs and still keep the house running and packing my new husband's lunch everyday. However my life is not always so organized and I'm sure this dilusion that my life is 'mastered' will fall away in twenty minutes or so and the world will be right again!

L.A.D.I.E.S.

Lovely American Daughters In Exodus South

Yes, we did it. The girls and I headed to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, with much enthusiasm and boisterous clamouring. We resided at the all inclusive Iberostar Resort. We were awed by the beautiful accomodations, mountains of food and drink and the azure waters the pristine white sandy beaches kissed.

I shall include some pictures and hope that they will convey the wonderous time we shared as Amy turned the young 3-0 and I celebrated my last girls trip unwed.

Yotel London

Seeing as I never really finished this blog with my final London pictures I figured I would post some pictures of the most comfortable bed I slept in the WHOLE time I was in Europe. Yes, I am aware that it is more than a year after I actually went to Europe but forgive me...life is indeed busy! Here's to sleeping in the airport & actually having a bed! Woo Hoo!



Our Yotel was created for people under 5'5" although, HAPPILY, our feet did not hang off the beds! They claimed to have wireless Internet, this was a lie. They claimed to have Internet on the TV, this was a lie. They said they could bring us food from any restaurant in the airport. This was also a LIE! The only place serving food as late as we were when we checked in was Starbucks (thank God for American companies) and so we got pre-made sandwiches & yogurts. We did however get a handicap accessible room so our bathroom/shower was twice the normal size of a yotel bathroom. The only issue is that the door is glass so be super sure of yourself and your bodily functions as you take a #2 in a glass room with a 6'x6' room next to you where your room mate is trapped. I now feel extra sorry for the animals at the zoo. We later (in the morning) found a curtain to close off the bathroom. A day late and a dollar short I guess. On to our mother land and home to my little dog! Few. Now you know THE REST OF THE STORY!

Chic Shopping & Students for Christ!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Last night we had yummy spaghetti Kristen made & we played with the noodles making fun mustaches. Then today...After a yummy frustruck (breakfast) and a leisurely start to the day we took the train to Kurfersterdam (sp?) which is the chic shopping district in Berlin. We passed a cool sand castle building competition while on the train. Berlin has so much going on, all the time! We were on a hunt for some Swiss chocolate that the lady in Switzerland promised us was in Berlin. We wandered the street to no avail. So we went to visit the Memorial Hall in the Emperor Wilhem Memorial Church almost completely destroyed in WWII. Only a portion of the tower & hall remain. It has been purposely left like this to serve as a reminder that "This site is both an admonition against war and destruction, and a call to reconciliation in Jesus Christ." Now that's powerful. The church hall had amazing mosaics on the floors & celings. I really liked the nail cross desplayed. I just reminded me of all that a couple of nails (just comon elements) can remind me of and the overwhelming gratefulness at how undeserving I am of God's grace. There is a new scantuary & chapel built on the site and all the stained glass windows are made from fragements of glass recovered from the old church. So amazing! The sanctuary is kind of ugly from the outside but the color from the inside is amazing! It caused me to think of how the Lord looks at the heart not the physical apperance and that James 2 passage about the least & the greatest being the same in God's eyes. We sat inside the sanctuary and listened to the organist play while looking at the beautiful windows!!! Well we went down to Alexanderplatz to go to the Kaufhof Galleria department store to buy me a new purse!!! :) and to see if the chocolate was there. NO it wasn't but my purse is super cool! So we asked someone there if they knew where this super duper special chocolate was and they said in KaDeWe (ULTRA CHIC SHOPPING, think Sak's 5th Ave) So we eventually found KaDeWe in Wittenberg Platz (even the U-Bahn station was super beautiful)! We bought LOTS of chocolate and other fun little things to bring home. We didn't even tempt ourselves by looking at clothes we couldn't afford! Back to J & K's to get the car & K drove us out to Tegel Airport to pickup John's sister, who we had breakfast with in Efurt, Stephanie, returning from CA. The traffic is crazy & the taxis are insane!!! Kristen totally kept her cool, I was yelling at other drivers from the back seat but Kristen was totally cool. We headed out to the Students for Christ meeting, John & Kristen's weekly meeting with their students. It was soooooo cool! We got to eat a light dinner, spend time worshiping in song & then J & K's pastor Paul preached to the group and another John helped translate. It was so amazing to meet some of the girls that Kristen does Bible study with and great to see the group worshiping and so committed to the Lord. How exciting! One of the girls (who helps Kristen lead Bible Study), Rike, was making Kristen translate everything back & forth into German & English for practice even though she speaks perfect English. Kristen's a rock star at her German, I'm so proud of her! We were laughing because Amy had her hair in pigtials and Rike said, "Like Pipi long-stockings" How could she know that we love Pip? Awesome! Also she was cracking us up because the reasons we are "Not Normal" Americans are tri-fold, 1) We have traveled abroad a lot, 2) We are 27/28 and not married. (According to her, normal for Germans, NOT Americans. She said she'll be in Ohio in December & shel'll round up some German husbands for us by then, he he. I told her I was doing okay with my man. She gave me a skeptical look) 3) we are thin (Oh...bless her heart!!!!) Love that girl! Hopefuly when she moves to Louisiana next year she'll come visit Amy & me! Yesterday we went North to the Baltic Sea town of Stralsund. More on that later.