Merry Christmas !

 The last nine days involved cleaning, organizing, unpacking and settling into a new routine.

Campus remains quiet because most students left for the break and because occasional rains drive folks inside their homes.

Folks remain busy planting their fields. Many are waiting to use rented oxen as the owners plant their fields first before renting the animals. 

Much of the work therefore takes longer when done by hand, waiting for the oxen to be available, but to wait could mean that the rains will stop before the crops mature enough to be harvested.

Rains started early this year.

This past week almost daily we've enjoyed at least a sprinkle of rain and clouds.

Cory and a couple of the students worked on weeding the orchards and garden as well as planting some of the trees from the nursery.

Fritz and I restarted school which took some figuring out as not every subject in Allegan was taught in the same order. However we've transitioned very well and are making progress.

To renew truck paperwork that expired last week and to purchase needed supplies for the agricultural project Cory traveled both Wednesdays and added on needed shopping. 

He does not travel alone as often he gives rides to others or Patrick goes along to help out.

We also started up a new way to connect with folks by joining Epistle. I plan to use this to post short video's and posts throughout the week and continue to post longer ones here. 

We'd appreciate at if you would sign up for our Epistle team. Just click this link   = https://the-thede-family.epistle.org/subscribe 

Fill in the form with your name and email. Click confirm on the email that was sent to confirm your subscription. Then you'll be asked if you want to be notified daily, weekly, or monthly about new posts. 

Midweek Moments will be a weekly post focusing on prayer requests, plans for the week, and how the last week ended up being. 

We left Puff and two kittens in the spring. We returned to the 'kittens' now named Puma-the black male and Miss Kitty-the calico female. Two days after our return Miss Kitty became a mom of 3 tan kittens who are now sharing Fritz's room. 

Christmas for us will be a special church service with a meal following. We will also enjoy some special meals, watching Christmas videos, and connecting with family by video.