Growing Salt Crystals

Scroll down to the bottom of this page to turn off the playlist so you can hear the music that accompanies this video.

Shannon is studying rocks and minerals in Science, so we conducted an experiment where we grew some salt crystals. It was a great experiment. We attempted to do time photography since the crystals were growing so quickly. Next time we'll be sure the tripod does not get moved at all!

More Christmas happenings

On December 6, Liz and Nancy attended the annual Fairhaven Ladies Christmas Tea.  We were treated to beautiful singing and delicious goodies with our tea in a gorgeous environment. Each table was individually decorated by the woman hosting it.  At our table, the hostess gave us the china we were using as a gift!

On December 19, Shannon attended a party at Alaina's home where she got to make a Gingerbread house.   We haven't made gingerbread in soooo long!  Here's her house after many nibbles had already removed some of the best candy pieces.

Shannon and Liz have been busy making gifts for our friends and family.  Here's Shannon pouring the ingredients into a jar to create a "jar mix."  

The best part is delivering the gifts.

Swim Clinic

Swimming in December?  The kids participated in their annual Fall Swim Clinic from October to December 4 at the local Community College.  Here they are on the last evening . . . freezing in the cold evening air.  We're so grateful to have the warm swim parkas!  

Christmas Traditions--Old & New

Anyone who has been in our home during December has seen our Advent Calendar hanging on the wall over the piano.  True to FitzGerald family tradition, the banner is up once again and ready for our December devotional Advent Foretold, written by our dear friends Gary and Wanda Sanseri.  We never tire of studying the Old Testament prophesies of the coming Messiah and their New Testament fulfillment in the Lord Jesus.  Here is a picture of Shannon removing the cover for the next picture.

As part of our focus this year on Shannon's homemaking skills, she is making most of her Christmas gifts.  We visited the fabric store this week so she could purchase supplies for several of her projects.  She had a fantastic time picking out fabric, needles, and other notions.   

 

Liz's Birthday

How would you like to spend your 50th birthday?  I cannot think of a better way to start my day than to worship the Lord Jesus with the saints at my church.  What a glorious time we had, too!  We had the blessing of hearing Susie, who is home from college for the holidays, sing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."

Then we had FOUR baptisms!  Three young men who have been raised in our church gave their testimonies of how they discovered their need for Jesus as not only their Savior but as their Lord.     

They were followed by Darren who has learned that following Jesus means giving 100% of his heart to the Lord.  What a great testimony!

Our dear friend Erich finished off the service with a terrific sermon from Colossians 3.

After church we drove up to El Cerrito for lunch with Grandma Nancy at the Macaroni Grill. We enjoyed delicious Italian food as well as our waiter Rico's singing of "Happy Birthday" in Italian.

Thanksgiving 2008

We celebrated Thanksgiving with David's mother at her home in Berkeley this year.  Shannon and I met her early in the morning to pick up the turkey and fixins.  Back at the house, Shannon learned how to make my family's traditional cranberry sauce.  

While waiting for the turkey to roast in the oven, we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and drank egg nog.

John and David interrupted their conversation momentarily for a picture after the yummy dinner.

Joshua played various songs for Grandma on his keyboard we set up in the kitchen.  

We had such a lovely day at Grandma's house!