Tim & Vanessa Lorentzen Family!

January 3rd- Well another new year is upon us.  God is faithful and good.  Our friend Aliene and her son Elisha flew out from Monroe Washington last Tuesday and stayed until this morning.  We had a wonderful time with them.  Elisha wanted snow to play in and on Thursday it snowed about 6 inches so that was really nice.  Jasper worked Friday morning for 5 hours for the neighbor (he does peoples walks and driveways as a business in the winter and does yard work the rest of the year).  We did go to the ranch New Years day and Holly and the kids had come up from Rapid City so it was good to see them.  The 8 nights of Hanukah just flew by and it is good to reflect on how God delivered His people in the past AND it is always good to be reminded that He still does for us today!

January 9th - We have been having above average temps and no moisture.  The weather is one you can count on to be different here in ND!  Celebrated Ross's birthday on Saturday (although the birthday is actually today) and had an enjoyable time.  Hollis did not come.  Had our monthly bluegrass jam session yesterday at the Gateway Mall and that is always tiring but fun.  Vanessa goes in today for jury duty so we will see if she is chosen or not.  Jazmyn gets into everything it seems!  They are so inquisitive at that age.  Come to think of it I am not sure at what age they grow out of it!  Well at any rate in spite of the inevitable downs, I am thankful for the children God has blessed us with.

January 16th - We had a very quiet birthday for Vanessa - went out to eat as a family and then had a small cake gathering.  Hollis is older! Had a little get together with him yesterday for his birthday.  Hard to believe that he is 19.  The weather remains nice.  No snow.  We had a wonderful time on Saturday at workshops and then the concert by Blue Moon Rising and then jamming at a local bluegrass families house until 3 in the morning.  I guess you are only young once (and I passed that a while back but who is keeping track).  They did a news story on the local news and I was told that Starlit, Jasper and I were on the news.  Music is a wonderful thing to be able to enjoy and share with others.  Our good friend Dennis Clark came down for the concert and stayed overnight.

January 23rd - More wind and warm weather.  Some moisture would be nice!  Did have just enough Friday morning to make things slick and there was a bad accident on the interstate just west of Mandan with several semi's involved.  Jazmyn is a terror!  Well, I suppose she is actually just a normal 16 month old!  Climbs on chairs and gets on desks!  Go-go-go all the time!  She sure loves music.  We started a weekly jam on Sunday afternoons with Vanessa's students so had some fun with that.  Had a Creative Memories party for couples on Friday night and that was fun.  Neat things to do with your pictures.  Grandma Blanche is still in the hospital and doing poorly so please pray for her, the doctors and the family up there who are caring for her.

January 30th - Well grandma Blanche passed away Sunday.  She was almost 95 and was suffering so while we will miss her she is in a better place!  Still no winter weather, as a matter of fact we have set record highs.  Very strange.  The kids started Spanish lessons.  A lovely lady is trading Vanessa violin lessons for Spanish lessons so that is neat!  We are at the stage with Jazmyn that we need to keep doors shut and chairs away from tables and desks!   She is such a monkey.  Can say words like apple - up - baby and can sing (one word over and over) songs.  She can actually  sing most of Lightly Row.  We got Zion a new bow - what a difference that made.  Did not realize how shot the old one was.  George gets old next month!