In early November, my mom got an unexpected vacation from work with the way her new schedule goes and the way getting days off can be arranged. She graciously took some of that time to visit us up here in Herreid and we loved the time together.

Thanksgiving went very well but quite differently than we had originally planned. We had hoped to go camping and bought heat 'n' eat type varieties of all the Thanksgiving meal trimmings. Unfortunately, we woke up to a cold, blustery day - like the wind was gusting over 30mph and we didn't want to be rolling down the highway in our tents like a hamster in its wheel!
So, my dear, kind husband volunteered to drive us to my parents in Sioux Falls and we arrived just in time for a 7pm dinner. My Aunt Andrea even surprised our family (but my parents knew) by swinging by for a while that evening. Steven is out of vacation days and so worked on his laptop the next day while the kids, my mom, and I went to the sales shopping.

I love shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I love shopping in the crowds. I love shopping when I'm the only one in the store. I love shopping by myself. I love shopping with friends. I especially love shopping with my mom because we like to look at the same things and keep the same pace. I miss shopping since we've been in Herreid. I love shopping almost as much as I love garage saleing, and that's a lot!

We left leisurely Saturday morning and, on a whim, stopped in Madison to have lunch with the Brown's and catch up with them for just a bit. Their newly remodeled house looks amazing and Amy is still gorgeous and still has perfect hair. Amy, when you write out your will, remember I want your hair!

I'm not sure if this next topic is good news or bad news. Brace yourselves: We brought back the light blue minivan to Herreid. It's been working great (great?! how dare it work great after all the trouble it gave us on the way home from the Big Horn Mountains backpacking trip, grrr) and my Dad couldn't get it to act up so he'd know how to fix it. We have let it come home and are gratefully using the lower gas mileage to our advantage. It is still not my friend, however. I may have some grudge issures here. I'd say pray for me but I'm not so sure it's right to pray over relationships with cars. :)

The house is lightly decorated for Christmas. I chose "lightly" this year because I didn't want to have to put much away come January. No scrooge attitudes this year, just a little slothfulness.

Since we've been back, much of our house excitements have come from the many phone calls attached to adopting. Our hopes are getting up, very up! There is even a decent chance of us being able to meet and visit with this intriguing girl named Paige before Christmas; how awesome would that be!!!

If you're in the shopping mood and out of people to buy for, she is fourteen and loves NASCAR, hair styling, fishing, and listening to music. Caleb and Sarah are getting jazzed about her maybe coming here. We'll get to paint and decorate a room according to her style pretty soon, if all keeps going so well, among a thousand other things. Can you even imagine the thousand other things?

We hope to snap our family Christmas picture to be printed for the church and any cards we mail out today. Those of you who get this newsletter and check the blog, I'm not planning on sending a card, just for time, guilt, and postage reasons. Will you still love me anyway? Of course, we give a picture to every family in the church and then I might send just a few out to some people without internet or those I don't have their email address. If you think that's grossly unfair, let me know and I'll get one to you too.

A thrilling part of the most likely adoption, is that we may have to retake our family photo and send out two this year. I totally would not mind at all!

I'll try to write a more formal Christmas letter next week. This weekend is our parsonage Open House and so I'm cleaning, making a wide variety of dips and things to put in the dips. It's a dumb name "Dip Bar" but I think it will be a nice change from the traditional cookies and treats at the other open houses. Plus, it should be relatively easy to do and not any more expensive than making fancy goodies. If you're in the area, stop by anytime on Saturday the 9th afternoon or early evening.

Keep us in your prayers please. And Paige too.

Blessings,
Marcia for the Swann's