The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

In case you're interested and around town, Liam and Max will be performing in their school's Christmas concert at 6:30 on Thursday, December 4 at the Wesleyan Church on the south side of town. Everyone is welcome to attend. See you there!

Book Exchange Update -- Now with Music and Movies!

Response at Thanksgiving was overwhelming in favor of doing a book exchange. Plus, Gram had the great idea to expand it to include more media. So bring your used books, CDs, and DVDs (none that you want back, please!) to Gram and Grandpa's house at New Year's, then you can pick out some interesting titles that are new to you. At the end of the day, I'll take any unclaimed items and haul them away for donation. (So again, if you think you'll want something back, don't bring it!)

Christmas Book Exchange?

Chris came up with a great idea. Who's up for a book exchange when we all get together at New Year's? I think there are a lot of readers in the family, and a wide variety of interests to keep it fun. You would just bring any books that you want to contribute, and then go home with something new and exciting to read...that you didn't have to pay for! What could be better than that? I'll ask people at Thanksgiving, but I'll post a poll to the right here as well, so we can get a better idea of the level of interest. Chris thought we could do kids/young adult books as well as adult titles. (Oh, and for you interested parties out there, she even mentioned bringing The Audacity of Hope as one of her contributions!) So cast your vote in the poll, or drop a comment in this post, and if this thing's a go, more details will follow.

Steve's Scholarship

Thought I would post this useful information about how to donate to Steve's scholarship fund. Gram mentioned it this weekend, and said how wonderful it is to see the family names when they publish the list of donors.

If you do want to contribute to Steve's scholarship, write a check to "Marshall County Community Foundation" and write "Stephen P. Jeffirs Memorial" on the memo line. You can send the check to the MCCF at P.O. Box 716, Plymouth IN 46563. If you send it in separately, your name will be listed separately on the donor list (from what I understand from Gram). If not, you can always give the check to Gram and she will give them all to the fund after New Year's.

New Gymnastics Schedule

Klaudia has moved to a new Gym!
Here is her new competition schedule:
Nov. 8 Gymnastics Michiana (Mishawaka) begins at 5ish
Nov. 22/23 Dream Catcher Plainfield, IN
Jan. 17/18 Indy School Zionsville
Jan. 31/Feb.1 Interactive Academy
Feb. 7/8 Elkhart YMCA
Feb. 14/15 Tulip, Holland, MI
Feb. 28/Mar.1 Gym Michiana (Mishawaka)
Apr. 4/5 Level 7 State, Connersville
April 18/19 Joys, South Bend
May 2/3 Horizon, Valpo
May 16/17 Joys, South Bend
June 24/25 Nationals, Downingtownm, PA

Hooper News

Amelia and Todd closed on their house as scheduled on Friday. With the energy of youth, they've already torn up all of the carpeting and are working on getting new flooring in. They plan to do a lot of painting and move in by the end of the month.

Amelia also reports that Taylor will be baptized in January at Elkhart's Trinity Lutheran Church. More details will follow, but keep that in mind as you make your plans for the new year.

Congrats again to Amelia and Todd for taking the big homeownership plunge!

Calendar Reminder

Please email photos for the calendar to me. Not just of your immediate family, but whatever pictures you have of anyone in the extended family. I'd like to have all photos by December 1, if possible, so I can get started creating the pages and get them ordered and printed in time. Remember, if you want a calendar, the cost is $15. If you're a member of the Mark Jeffirs family and you're reading this, please pass this info along to Mark and Carol since they don't have email.

Thanks!