Good morning researchers, I just want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year. I hope all of you make great strides in your research in 2005 and knock down some of your brick walls, and please know that I am always here to help in whatever capacity I can. We all have so much to be thankful for as this year comes to an end. I am giving THANKS for all of my wonderful volunteers that have helped add to our websites this year. As the old saying goes...we've come a long ways! Remember as you go about your holiday chores, the things you do today are the genealogy of the future. We will definitely be having a white Christmas here in Southern Colorado, I have about 14 inches of snow, and it's so very cold. Last night at 10:00 it was minus 2 degrees and I don't know what the overnight low was, COLD! Do any of you have holiday traditions that you would like to share with us? We celebrate on New Years so that the kids from Denver can be here. Here at the Mitchell residence, before we open gifts we light the fireplace, and sing a couple Christmas carols. One is always Silent Night, then an up tempo such as Deck The Halls or Jingle Bells. The little ones pick it out. One year they decided on We Wish You a Merry Christmas and went around hugging everyone as they sang. It was so cute. My oldest granddaughter is quite the little organizer and gets the younger ones to do things. The little people love this as they love to ham it up. Then my oldest son tells the Christmas story.........then on to the gift opening. My big boys always end up on the floor playing with the kids toys, with the little people watching! I always give the big boys a silly gift to keep them occupied. This year they are getting those real long skinny balloons. It will be interesting to see how many animals they can make out of them. Year before last, the big people had to do a treasure hunt to get their presents. The little ones laughed so hard that I decided it's their turn this year. Then the next day we have the big dinner. After we eat, the grownups sit around the table and say what they are thankful for this year, what goals they accomplished, and what they hope for the New Year. When I give my thanks I always include all of you, all of my "cyber family". And of course we all wish for Peace for our Country. I have received so many beautiful email cards and wishes for the season, and I thank each one of you for thinking of me. To all of you, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Hugs, Karen