Merry Christmas!!!
December 27th, 2005
Merry Christmas!! Get ready for a long one…alot has happened!!!
We had a GREAT time at the Great Wolf Lodge!! Trenton and Ariana we so eager to get to the swimming and waterslides - we only ate breakfast and did not eat again until around 9pm!!!
![](http://gallery.trentstrek.com/albums/Dec05/thumb_20051227079.jpg "Beautiful decorations at the Wolf "Snowland"")
The lodge was decorated in the “Snowland” theme…Santa was there for photos…snowflakes hanging from the ceiling…decorated Christmas trees…and even a Snowman decoration contest!!!
Joyce, Pete, Robbie, Ashley and Andy Black were there also - all of the kids got along so well…Ariana loved to have another girl to play with.
Trenton helped Andy fight a battle at Wiley’s Woods (where EVERYONE gets hit with little nerf balls..we played there for at least 3 hours the second night).
Robbie and Trenton loved the hottub!! We could get dizzy watching them go from the swimming pool to the hottub…back and forth!! Joyce and I were able to talk a couple of times during the trip -
Robbie is doing well, though he is tired from the steroids. His new treatment began on the 26th…we are praying that this new treatment will help keep the tumor from growing. Robbie is a brave and strong young man!! Joyce and family are doing well…and just being at the Lodge with all of them was so special…we felt like we had known them for years!!
When we arrived home…little did we know that there would be another SURPRISE awaiting us!!! A bible group at Suncrest decided to make our return home very special!!! We drove up to see that our house had been decorated outside complete with garland/lights around the front posts, a wreath on the front door, and lights that lined the driveway (we caught Joey and Melanie Davis in the act of getting everything lit)!!! Then as we entered the house, we saw flashing lights around our windows, garland hanging from our doorways/windows, many decorations added to our tree and rooms, and so many other beautiful Christmas touches (including a nativity scene in the living room)!!!
Every room was beautifully decorated - Seedlings (the school Trenton had attended) had brought over Gingerbread decorations and also had handmade cards from Trenton’s classmates!!! Trenton was SO SURPRISED!! He loved the gingerbread men hanging from our balcony rail!!! Then, Holly brought over a full dinner complete with turkey, stuffing, potatos, green beans, and gravy!!! So I did not have to cook at all….I was so happy and started to cry from the time I arrived all through out the night!! Clint and I want to thank these generous brothers and sisters in Christ…they took time out of their Christmas events to make sure that we had a special surprise…to make our Christmas even more memorable!!! May God bless you in this joyous season and in the upcoming year!!!
On Christmas Eve we attended the service at Suncrest - it was so beautiful and really reminded us what Christmas is really about - “the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ”!!! The service ended with candles raised to the air singing Silent Night, Holy Night - it was so spiritually moving - how glorious it is that we have such a loving God- that he would send his son as a baby to grow into a man to die for all of us - our sins - born to die for me - THANK YOU LORD FOR LOVING US SO MUCH!!!
Trenton and Ariana were surprised on Christmas Eve by a vist from Santa and Mrs. Claus!!!
Santa brought gifts and a stocking for all of us - filled with so many great things!! Trenton was speechless - he did his foot shuffle and hunched his shoulders up as Santa walked in (Trenton does this when he is bashful about a situation - he does this around cute girls sometimes too, ha-ha). Thank you so much to Joey and Melanie Davis for making this visit possible!!! Ariana figured you out though - but did not want to ruin it for her brother. There are no words to explain how you and your families have touched our lives this Christmas - it has been SO SPECIAL for us because of you!!!
Trenton and Ariana finally went to bed and fell asleep - ready for the next day - to be with family and (of course) to see what Santa would surprise them with!!! Ariana received a guitar with a stand, Scrabble, Disney Scene-it, Equate, and a makeover Brats doll head….Trenton received the Leapster Mulitmedia with cartriges, Tinker Toys, Maze Books, Shake n’Go cars, and a Megazord (which is all the cars for the SPD Power Ranger Station)!! They were very pleased with their gifts - not too much, but just enough!!
As the family started to arrive (Mom & Dad Richards, Denise, Chad, Jarett, Nicholas, James & Aaron, and Aunt Wanda) and the food was finally ready to eat, we all sat down for a very hearty Christmas meal!!!
Mom brought her famous taco salad and mac & cheese; Denise brought her famous banana pudding and fruit salad; and I prepared the turkey, ham (from Heavenly Ham), Potatos, and Stuffing. We all ate very well - so well that dessert was not even requested until much later in the evening!! After dinner, we turned OFF the Bears game (but we HAD to tape it - TIVO worked great for this) and sat in the front room to watch the DVD that Suncrest gave to us…it was perfect…and we thanked God for all of our blessings…so much love He has for us…so much time to be thankful for…..
Now for the gifts: Grandma & Grandpa Richards gave each grandchild a bag filled with fun goodies (not eating goodies, but toy goodies, etc)…complete with binoculars, Star Wars watches, cameras, and Ninja Turtle slippers/pajamas for the boys, and 2 pairs of pajamas for Ariana (the only girl)!!! We had a gift exchange for the grandkids only - so they opened these gifts also - paper flying everywhere…and many “MOM LOOK AT THIS & DAD HELP ME OPEN THAT”!!! And then came the GAG GIFT for Clint and I….Denise and Mom decided to wrap up our rusty pizza pans (yes, they were definitely VERY rusty!!) along with a set of new ones!!! Thanks alot - I was just thinking the other day that I needed to replace those - then the thought gets pushed aside like so many others….
We then gave Mom and Dad their gifts: For Dad, a new set of wood table trays and a Bible Guide for Grandparenting - For Mom, a new vacuum cleaner, a Bible Guide for Women, and a special album from her grandkids (filled with pictures from when mom & dad first married up til today)…YES, she started to cry…but we were all crying! Thank you God for the history - there is so much LOVE is this family - and we can get through anything together - with You as our guide!!!
We wish all of you a joyous, prosperous, and healthy NEW YEAR!! We have been so blessed this season!!! Thank you to all who have called us, left us messages on the site, visited the site to see how we are doing, who have given their time to make our memories of this season so special!!! GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!!!
LOVE
CLINT, DONNA, ARIANA, & TRENTON
