Santa

Merry Christmas to all!

We cannot possibly sum up this past year.

It brought love, wonder, and joy to our family.

Thank you all for joining us here on our journeys.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,

The Conant Family

Chrissy & Gerry

Grace & Lila

Daphne, Harry, Oscar, Snakey, and Raymond

Lila's Surgery

Snuggling with Grace after surgery on Wednesday.

In her hospital jammies shortly after arriving on Monday.

I was very surprised this morning when the surgery team did rounds.

Dr C's partner says, "So, my question for you is, when do you want to go home?"

I say, "Today." thinking he'll say that we should wait until tomorrow but he agreed!

So we were released about 12:30 and got home about 1:00 pm. Lila got a big smile on her face when we walked in the door. We were only there Monday through Thursday but it seemed like a long stay.

When we checked in on Monday they started an over-night clean out process for the surgery Tuesday afternoon. It was a long night, up every couple hours with the nurses checking on her, putting her on the potty, poking and prodding, etc. Tuesday's surgery was about an hour earlier than planned. It was done in about 2 hours, everything looked good, and Dr C was very happy with the results. That evening we had a complication that required going back to the OR Wednesday morning. He did an excellent job fixing it, Lila spent the rest of the day drugged and sleeping. She started eating a little last night and a lot this morning. The eating provided the desired results in the tummy and the ostomy bag. The nurse practitioner trained me on how to care for the ostomy. We signed some papers and came home.

I'm relieved this first part of the surgery is over. The next round will be in June (5-7 months from now).

We had a blizzard this week while Lila and I were tucked away in the hospital. Grace had 3 days off of school because of the cold and snow. She and Gerry were able to come visit in spite of the awful weather. It did Lila and me both a world of good to get to see them.

Getting Caught Up

It's been so hectic around here that I haven't posted so here are pictures from Lila's baptism, Thanksgiving, and a few early Christmas pictures. Enjoy!

The first ornament that was hung on the tree this year.

Another one of Mama's silly poses!

Pilgrim and turkey, Grace made both costumes this year in Kindergarten.

Tony presenting Lila to our congregation. Our wonderful congregation is just crazy about our new Little Miss.

Family portrait on baptism day.


We check into the hospital tomorrow for colostomy surgery. I hope we're home by Thursday, Friday at the latest. I have a schedule for Grace and Gerry next week that includes coming to visit us at Children's. Luckily, it's only a 20 minute drive. I will post Tuesday when surgery is over.

Jesus's Christmas List

I received this list today in an email. I edited it a little to share with you here. I try to teach my Sunday school class how to live in the real world as Christians so this really spoke to me and I hope it will inspire someone else.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, for they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3.Write the president and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Be patient with the people who work in retail during this season. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christ mas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Stop shopping on Sunday. If the stores didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no Christmas tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.