Riddle Family In Italy

New Year's Day...

I actually can not write about New Year's Day yet, it is only New Year's Eve 2010!  However, to all of you, we want to wish you all a wonderful New Year!  This past year has seen many changes for us as a family and we are glad to have experienced them.  There have been struggles but there have been many beautiful moments also.  In the coming year we know that no matter what, God will be with us as he has been through this past year.

We pray that each of you would feel the presence of Christ with you as you enter into 2011.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever!  Blessings from our family to yours.

Narnia Movie in Italy...

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is one of our boys favorite books.  The older two have read the book numerous times and all three of them have listened to it many, many times since we have it on our ipod. (Thanks Shawn & Laura!) One of our plans for the Christmas break was to take the boys to see the movie and watch it in 3D.  It would be our first 3D movie! 

We have run into a slight problem though and I am actually glad to have the problem.  The movie here in Bari is sold out through the 6th of January!!  For us right now it is not a good thing, we want to see the movie!  However, if this movie is this strong around the world, then it means that they will make the next one!!  That will be great!

Once we find a little time and tickets, we will be going to the theater with some of our friends here to see this film.  We are looking forward to it.

Have any of you seen it?  What do you think?

Blessings for the New Year!

Snowing!

I hope to get some pictures up here in a little while!  Last week it was near 70 degrees with sunny skies and we were loving it!  At least I was!  I do not like the cold at all.  Two days ago it turned cold and today it is snowing!  The boys are loving it!  The kids in this area do not get to play in the snow that much and many are throwing what snowballs can be made.  It is cool to see, but I much prefer the warmer weather to this!  We take what we get.

Christmas 2010!

The Christmas Season is here and for us, it is always a special time.  The boys get a little more than two weeks off from school, most of the offices and businesses shut down and we are able to sit back and relax a little as a family.  That is something that we do not get to do every day, as I am sure many of you understand.

The sights and sounds of Christmas are always fun and bring back good memories.  Saturday we were in the kitchen cutting apples for apple crisp and apple sauce with Christmas music playing and it was cold outside and all felt right at that time.  The smells, the sounds and the temperature all told us, it is Christmas Time! 

When we put up our tree this year, Isaiah kept saying with a bounce in his step, "I Love Christmas!"  His smile and enthusiasm were wonderful to see.  All three of the boys are looking forward to Christmas, as we all are, as a time to relax. 

To each of you, as you prepare for this Christmas, remember that it is not about the gifts that we receive from family and friends.  It is not the amount that we spend on this gift or that one.  The gift that counts the most is the one that was given more than 2000 years ago to each of us by God himself.  Christ came as God's gift to us and if we accept this gift, then we can truly have peace on Earth.  Blessings to you all during this very special time.