1801

Christmas was awesome.  I stood in a line with several hundred homeless in front of the old, now abandoned, Seoul station for free lunch.  When I reached the tables they were out of clean trays and about out of rice, so they serving stopped.  About a half hour before that I was talking to missionaries serving where I served in West Branch 45 years or so ago,  when I asked there and at the police station where the homeless can be found, none knew.
 
I did get two packages of peanut flavored hardtack, which I savored for the memories of combat ration ROK style that it brought.
 
If I sign this Sgt. Rock few will know when and where I was known by that handle, nor will they know how i was respected as a soldier even while I was being expelled as a soldier.
 
Whatever rejection any of us suffer–or abuse–in the name of Christ will return for His glory and Humbly ours.
 
Merry Christmas.  Sgt. Rock

Here is our favorite Christmas photo. It is Steve and his friend, Greg Rawlins. They are two of the “Baghdad Bad Boys”, a bluegrass band that has sprung up in Iraq. They have just finished recording a CD, and they are often invited to play at various functions around the base. They also play in church every Sunday, but on Sundays, they are known as the “Stained Glass Bluegrass”  :) 

January will mark one year apart for us. From there, we only have three more months to go. Upon his return, we’ll pack up and move to Vicenza, Italy for three years.

Many blessings for a prosperous New Year.

Love,

Tami

Here is our family Christmas picture this year.  We were so happy to spend Christmas in Utah.  It was a white Christmas, something we haven’t experienced for a long time.  I hope you all got email requests for your favorite Christmas picture.  Please send them in so we can see your cute faces!! 

Thanks, and lots of love,

Jen

p.s.  My blog is more easily accessable now.  You can visit us at http://figtreefarm.blogspot.com/

Hello all,

Please join us in celebrating the birth of our first baby, Josie Loraine Condie, born October 22, 2008.  For more super adorable photos, see: http://picasaweb.google.com/akcondie/JosieSFirstDays# For those of you who have received photos already, we’ve added more, for those you you we’ve missed, please forward this on to other interested friends and family who aren’t listed on this email.

We love you all,

Amity, Craig, Josie, Cosmo, Mogli & Zephyr

So today I was enjoying the warm October sun on the front lawn. I was struck by the glorious yellow leaves on the tree out there. Juxtaposed with the clear blue sky, it was quite stunning. While on my back I took these pictures:

Thanks, Grandma and Scott for planting that tree. The leaves on top are kind of like Scott’s hair (color, I’m not making jokes about your grooming!).

Did you know that our cousin Mike is a fabulous dentist?  Well, he is.  And you should all come and see him twice a year.  Or maybe we could do a group visit at the next family reunion!  Hah, just kidding, Mike. 

The reason we went to him is that we are here still, in Utah.  We’re staying for almost a whole year at 1801!  Can you believe it?  I can’t.  I’m so in love with this place.  The mountains are rusty orange against the blue sky.  It’s a beautiful Fall.

~cousin Jen

Josie Loraine Condie, was born Oct. 22, 2008 at the Mat-Su Regional Hospital in Wasilla, Alaska.

Some of you may have met Al at the reunion.  Well, today Jodie and Al were married in the Timpanogos Temple at 10am!  It was a beautiful experience to be there with them.  They were so happy, and we were so happy for them too!  For those of you who haven’t met Al, he’s a great guy, funny and charming.  Jodie and Al make a wonderful couple!  They will be living in Vernal, near Wendy and Daniel Ray.

so you can login to walgreen’s and see all of the photos from the reunion.

(ask jen to email you the username and password.)