TIS THE SEASON

One of our friends in the manger.



Yulia and Paul as "Mary and Joseph" at our church's drive through living nativity. We lucked out with the weather this year. Temperatures were in the 40s and 50s.







Making Turtles! A Barry tradition.

Karen's Dedication

I don't normally talk about my personal weight loss, but I must toot my own horn! I've now lost 20 pounds on Weight Watchers!!!!!!! I've been a WW member at least 10 times(I'm not exaggerating) and this is the first time I've actually received the key chain. Very big news for fellow WWers. PP, I owe you, babe. You're my inspiration.

DEDICATION

When Debbie, Kevin and I were babies, we were all dedicated at church. Our parents were promising to raise their children in the church and as Christians until we were old enough to commit ourselves to baptism.

Dedication is what our Missouri church practices. Every year they hold a baby dedication. There has never been any dedication for parents who adopt older children. Well, we have a new children's minister and he and his wife are considering adoption, so we were allowed to participate in the ceremony this year. In fact, there were 3 adoption dedications this year! It was a special day for us. Since we have no family close by we asked our small group to be our "family." We all sat together. One couple was present for the dedication of their grandson. Another for their new born baby. And another agreed to come up on stage with us for the dedication. We're so blessed to have such close church friends.

Yulia has been talking about baptism a lot since Kitty died. She wants to make sure she's baptized so she can be with Kitty in Heaven one day. It's very sweet but we want to make sure she knows exactly what she's committing to. Our kids minister will be starting Baptism Class 101 after the first of the year.

On a less serious note, the day was quite the social event for Yulia. She got to wear her fancy Christmas dress, go up on stage and wave to the crowd when her name was announced and everyone was calling her a princess(because of her dress.) After the dedication she told me, "Mom, everyone knows me and everyone loves me." Gotta love the self-esteem.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE

After a FABULOUS Thanksgiving, Colyn was able to stay until late Sunday. That gave her and Yulia a chance to make a gingerbread house.

Not sure how long the house is going to make it. Yulia's been ready to eat it since Colyn got on the airplane to go back to Texas.

FABULOUS TURKEY DAY

As many of you know, my FABULOUS blog is a bit febrile at this time. I can post pictures and comments, but not in the correct order. Perhaps I need to consult the FABULOUS Summer Mittig to correct this faux pas.

But, for now, just figure out the pictures for yourself:
-FABULOUS pool table in the now FABULOUSLY finished Barry Basement.
-FABULOUS family time
-Barry deck in FABULOUS fall with the fellas drinking frosty brews
-FABULOUS nephew Mike looking at the FABULOUSLY smoked bird.

We did have a great time. 12 Barry-Burnettes gave us a chance to try the FABULOUS new basements. Also, Fun, FABULOUS, family tours of the wineries, brewery, arch, casinos(where much money was frivously forked over) and the darkened former abode of Scott Joplin.

One bummer to the weekend. OU SUX beating OSU. Yes, makes perfect sense that two of the teams TEXAS beat are now vying for the Big 12. Alas. Woe is me.