Monday, December 26, 2005

Merry Christmas!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas day. We started with just our family and finished the day with a house full (I think 30 people). It was a great day of celebrating our Savior's birth and spending time talking, eating, playing games with lots of laughter and love. I pray that you and your family had a great day. Merry Christmas from the Searles Home.

I know Sue has mentioned Abby, a little girl in Hawaii that nearly drowned ( http://www.prayforabby.com/ ). Abby's family has seen great benefit from using a SCENAR device. We decided to purchase one and see if it would help Luke. Here is a link that explains a bit about a SCENAR device. http://www.scenar.info/info/articles602.php

There is a training session on how to use the device the third week of January in Hawaii. Sue and I have never been to Hawaii and have decided to go. We were able to use air miles to get free round trip tickets. The training is at one of the hotels near Waikiki beach and we have been looking at hotels in Honolulu. If you have been to Hawaii, are there any hotels that you would highly recommend? Or on the flip side, any that you would stay away from? We are looking for something that is comfortable, clean, generally nice, but not extravagant. If you have any suggestions, feel free to post a comment or you can email us at howslukedoing@yahoo.com.

Again, Merry Christmas and may you have a blessed New Year!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas to the Searles from our family and Happy New Year as well! It is so wonderful to see the changes in Luke and everything going well for your family. We really enjoyed Amy's production (as always). It is so much fun to watch the kids every year. I just adore and and every one of your kids. I can hardly believe that Lily is a year. She is so beautiful and yes, a true joy.

Like everyone, we have been somewhat caught up in the busyness of the holidays, but we make sure we focus on the true Reason for the season.

We had a couple of scares this week with Jacob, so it reminded me that no matter how much I was working, or how tired i was, family is most important and I needed to slow down to enjoy it, so I have been more patient with my kids this week, and cuddled them more. We are truly blessed to still have Jacob with us. Of course we are blessed to have all our kids :) I wouldn't trade any of them, LOL.

(I guess I should take a brief moment to remind any and all parents to make sure to keep blind cords up and away from kids no matter the age. I know we are taught this from the moment we have our first child, but I guess now that i have four and Jacob is older, I wasn't thinking much about it. I hope you don't mind the reminder here, Sue and Gordy. But last Monday, Jacob climbed up on his dresser-a danger in itself, but we have had a hard time getting him to stop this- and he got ahold of the blind cords, wrapped them around his neck and jumped off his dresser.. thankfully the blinds did not hold. They snapped off and all Jake got was a rope burn around his neck. but very scary, and something we never expected from a three year old. It was difficult to realize or even consider how much worse it could have been, but we are focusing on the blessing that he is just fine. No damage to his neck at all, thankfully.)

Anyway, we had a wonderful Christmas at our household. It was very relaxing after a very busy week at Walmart. :) I really enjoyed just being with family (and coming to church, we even got my brother to go, which is the first time in quite a few years he has gone to church on Sunday with us) I hope many of you out there got a chance to slow down and just enjoy the day as well.

Happy New year to everyone!!!

-Teresa, Lawrence, Zachary, Jonathan, Sarah and Jacob (Karen and Amanda too)

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas!

I am so glad to hear that you had a good Christmas. I've never been to Hawaii but I have booked hotels elsewhere using Tripadvisor.com. It's a good site because it offers reviews from real people who have stayed at the hotels. You get a very good sense of what the hotel is really like. People who have stayed in the hotels can also post their own pictures of that hotel on the site. I'll be praying for your training. I hope it is informative and fun and that all stays well at home!

Blessings,

Laura Smidt

Anonymous said...

Gordy, Sue and family

Hope you all have a "Happy New Year" and that it a blessed one! Love you and miss you all. Hugs and kisses.

Love, Lori and Lonnie

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ said...

If you need any "help" with another couple being with you, Norm & I would LOVE to join you! Ohhhhh . . . I know it's the hard way to go! We have always dreamed of going to Hawaii. Someday - or we will wait for heaven, which will even be better! :)

Thank you for sharing the link about Melissa. My mother's heart sure hurts for them. Thank you too for all your notes of encouragement. You have been a special part of our lives. Our kids talk often about you - and Stephen shares often regarding his truck. :)

God's blessings of peace & health for the new year for you and yours.

Love, Loni

Anonymous said...

Hi Searles Family!! Happy New Year to you and may God continue to richly bless you all in 2006 - and continue His amazing healing in Luke! I haven't posted for a long time, but follow Luke's blog and pray for him, too.

Wanted to pass along a hotel NOT to stay at in Waikiki - The Park Shore looks ok on the website, but the rooms were a bit yucky - old stained carpet was the main drawback. Hope you have a relaxing time!

Blessings to you!
Stevanie Sweet

joshuathomure said...

Hey Gordy and Sue not far from the Hawii trip! I pray that it is better than you expect. May you be abundantly blessed as you go and you return. May everything go smooth while you are gone and May Gordon find the sweetest Geo-Cache ever!
Love ya forever,
JOSHUA