Merry with Thanks!

This title seems fitting for our combined Thanksgiving & Christmas post -- we are merry and full of thanks!

For Thanksgiving we drove to Kansas City for fun-filled family time with many (not all) of the Kubaczs.  It truly is a blessing to have family close by which draws more family near during the holidays : )

Gracie enjoying the feast!

Girls with Uncle Josh

We attempted a photo shoot with the girls in matching outfits...

which turned into a playground photo journal (as expect for two two-year-olds).

Although not pictured, we enjoyed spending time with Nona, Boppy (aka Papa Jeff), Darol, Cheryl as well as JAM (thanks for hosting)!

Upon returning back to Wichita, we had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Christmas party (hosted by our church and a local international student outreach) for some of the refugees we have met over the past few months.  We shared some Christmas traditions with them -- giving gifts, making ornaments (with the kids), eating Christmas cookies -- and read the Christmas story.  

It was a sweet time of fellowship.

Dean chatting with some of the men.

Ladies visiting after the gifts were given.

Decorating star ornaments

Gracie helping unwrap a gift...she couldn't resist : )

For Christmas we headed east to South Carolina for more fun-filled family time.  
But before we went, Gracie got to see this winter season's first snow.

We -- as we're sure many of you can relate -- celebrated Christmas in many "parts" this year.

Part 1: pre-Christmas time with Kubacz's at Nona's house

Ginger-Barn
Baked by Nona
Designed by Cherith
Assembled by Cherith & Dianna
(not pictured but..decorated by little girls)
Eaten by ALL

"Alphabet Train" puzzle time with Boppy!

Horse ride with Nona, Uncle Josh & Anabel
"Pinky is my favorite" --Gracie--

Part 2: Plyler "extended" family Christmas

No photos but we had fun reconnecting with Dianna's Aunts, Uncles & Cousins.

What did Dianna unwrap at the annual Plyler family gift exchange?

A pink microwave bacon cooker!

(for those unaware, Dianna was the only vegetarian present)

A visit with Mary (Dianna's college roommate) & Brandon topped off the evening...thanks for stopping by!

Part 3: Plyler family Christmas

This year we opened our gifts on Christmas Eve morning -- the 2-year-olds present didn't seem to mind celebrating a day early!

Electric guitar dogs
definitely a hit!
(Good job Papa!)

Nanny & "Great"-granddady
We are SO blessed by all the time we share with them.

Gracie & Dylan

Part 4: Annual Plyler Christmas Party

It was fun (and nostalgic for Dianna) to celebrate Christ's birth at Millbrook Baptist Church's candlelight service followed by Jesus' birthday party.  This has been a tradition for the last 20+ years and has made countless memories.  Thanks, Mom & Dad (aka Nana & Papa), for always making Christ's birth a celebration in our home!

Part 5: Kubacz Christmas

Mid-morning on Christmas Day, we headed back to the upstate for another round of Kubacz family time.  Nona hosted a lovely dinner party, and we were able to connect with 3 (out of 4) of Dean's siblings, his Aunt & Uncle, and a couple cousins, too!

Story time with Aunt Cherith

 Part 6: LeGrand Family Christmas

Back to Aiken in order to spend some quality time with Dianna's cousin, Derek, who drove up for a quick visit.  Then more gift exchanging at Nanny & Granddaddy's house.  

How blessed we are to have this wonderful time with family!

And even more, how blessed we all are to have reason to CELEBRATE:

Christ is BORN!

And after all was finished, we attempted to catch G in this year's Christmas dress smocked especially for her by Nana...

Classic pose for our little girl!

A very MERRY Christmas to each one of you!

Love, DD&G

Frosty Smiles

Yep, the morning frost has started already in Wichita, but that's not what gives us frosty smiles.

Gracie was excited to trade in her Wendy's frosty coupon (thanks Nana & Nanny) for...

a delicious ice cream treat!!

Now THAT kind of frost makes you smile : )

What other Fall favorites bring a smile to this sweet face?

PUMPKIN Pancakes!!

We have really been enjoying Fall this year.  

Aside from fun Fall-themed treats, Gracie went on her 1st camping trip with Daddy!!

Our church arranged for a Father-Child Campout a few weekends ago.

Dean thought this would be great Daddy-Daughter time as well as...

a perfect chance to try out the new tent (replacement)

that came while we were in Niger.

Gracie enjoyed playing outside, sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows,

But she was NOT interested in sleeping IN her sleeping bed.

ON her sleeping bag was as close as she got!

Other exciting Fall events:

GMHC (Global Missions Health Conference)

Once again we were blessed to participate in this annual conference.  We enjoyed quality time with dear friends including our annual meal with the Edmunds (thanks again!), reconnecting with folks from Galmi AND hanging out with Darol (Dean's brother who lives in AZ -- missed you Cheryl!!).  Topics of conversation centered on West Africa, cross-cultural ministry, community health ev@ngelism (CHE), sharing Good News with M.s, processing (and praying) through loss.  We were encouraged; we were challenged; we were enriched!

While we travelled to Louisville for this 3 day conference, Gracie stayed in Kansas City with cousin Anabel, Uncle Josh, Aunt Michaele, Nona & Paisley.  She had a BLAST!  Thanks JAM & Nona!!!  We are looking forward to more fun times in KC over Thanksgiving -- and hopefully we will remember to take pictures.

We will leave you with one final picture of G...

in flip flops for Fall!!

(a true Carolina girl at heart)

With Fall smiles,

DD&G

Trunk or Treat?

Yep, that's right, TRUNK or Treat!

Thanks to an invite I received from a co-worker, Gracie and I were able to experience this fun Halloween alternative hosted by 

Central Community Church in Wichita.  

And boy did we have fun!

A little Pink Poodle again

Still cute, even if Mommy did forget
to get the pants out of storage!

A brief explanation for those who are unfamiliar with "Trunk or Treat":

Trunk or Treat is a safe Halloween alternative.  Sponsors (in our case church members) gather in a large parking lot where they park their cars, open the "trunk," decorate the vehicle and hand out candy.

Gracie braved the spider's web to get this treat.

A quick trip through the BUS.

And on to G's favorite "TRUNK"

The Wichita Fire Department's bucket truck!

Even got a closer look!

And to complete the evening...

the cool pink poodle eats
a Hot Dog!

We were thankful for this unexpected activity tonight, although we missed having Daddy along.  Also we missed our sweet friends the Carrigan's with whom we have trick-or-treated the last two years!

Who says you have to wait for October 31st to dress up anyway?

G dressing up the Boyz...
Love the Headbands!

Trunk-or-Treat!

It's been a while

Once again, time seemingly slipped away and along with it another month.  There have been thoughts of writing several times but only now do we follow through.

We have been keeping busy:

Sep 28 - Oct 8   Trip to Florida -- We had a GREAT time!

Mickey Mouse!
(Just at the airport -- not actually Disney World)

A 4-day Prefield Education Conference prompted the trip.  This conference introduces parents to the unique challenges they will face raising (and educating) their kids in a cross-cultural setting.  It occurs twice a year, so we thought we'd capitalize on the Orlando conference since Dianna's aunt, uncle and cousins live there!  To add to the fun, Dianna's parents and grandparents drove down from S.C. to spend the week -- and take care of Gracie while we attended our conference.

Enjoying some pool time with Ethan, Hannah & Papa
at Grandma Julie's & Granddaddy Dicke's house!

Pumpkin Patch

We also had to great privilege of spending time with our Chad teammates, the Downings!  They are on furlough and home-basing out of the Orlando area.  AND as if that weren't already enough -- our families took a day trip to Sarasota and visited with the couple who initiated the work in eastern Chad!!

WOW!!

G with 3 of the 4 "D-family" girls

Sunday morning "smiley face" pancakes!
YUM!  Thanks Suz : )

Dean left FL before Dianna & G so that he could spend a boy's weekend with his dad and brothers in Arizona.

Boating and Fishing while enjoying God's splendor

The girls enjoyed a bit more FL sunshine -- and sweet time with family -- before meeting back up with Dean in Wichita.

At the airport with Nana & Papa

Oct 19 - 21  Weekend to Remember

Yep, we had a little couples' getaway last weekend!  The Neefs, a sweet family with 4 little girls still at home, graciously offered to watch G, so that we could have a weekend together (THANK YOU!).  We drove down to Oklahoma City with our dear friends (and housemates) the Cardwells and enjoyed the marriage conference put on by Family Life.

And in between all these trips, we've squeezed in some time to make special treats, too!

G sampling while showing off her lastest "treat."

The hustle and bustle of activity is not the only thing that's delayed our postings.  We continue to process our losses over this last year.  Please pray for us as we ask hard questions.  Pray that we would draw close to our Lord who weeps with us.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, 

He groaned in the spirit and was troubled...Jesus wept.

John 11:33, 35

Little One

A little one laid to rest today.

A life short-lived on earth,

Eternity to find.

A little one joined another today,

A sibling who'd gone first

Into HIS arms sublime.

Our little one's not forgotten today.

 Although, an early birth

Separates us for a time.

A year ago, we never imagined we would bury a child.

Yet, now, we know this way too well having walked it twice before.

Today, we buried Baby K4 next to Baby K2 on a farm in Kansas.

Baby K3's small frame rests in Galmi, Niger.

Our hearts ache.

Our tears fall.

HIS love sustains,

through it all.

Please join us as we pray for healing --

body, heart and soul.

And, also, please join us as we celebrate
the precious miracle God entrusted to us a little over 2 years ago!

Resting and Trusting in the Giver of life,

DD&G