Advent 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

We are marking the close a year filled with travel, grandchildren, and lots of activity! Mary continues to be active in retirement, and Mark continues to be just too busy.

We began the year escaping Iowa cold by traveling to Southeast Asia. Because Mark was not scheduled to teach in the "January Term" at Luther College, we took another Overseas Adventure Travel tour to Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Obviously, there was much more to see in all of these places than could be crammed into three weeks, but we got a good overview. High points were the "temple city" of Bagon, Myanmar and exploring the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. You can go back through our travel blog, Radio for the Eyes, for details and photos, if you wish.

We traveled to Washington, DC -- at spring break by air and in August by car -- to visit Sarah and her husband, and to spend time with our granddaughter, Harper. Once again this year, Mark's parents accompanied us on the long car trek to DC -- an accomplishment at their ages, but a testament to their good health.

We flew to DC yet again at Mark's mid-semester break in October to meet our new grandson. Corbin Everett Lucas was born on September 23, 8 lbs. 6.6 oz. 21.5 inches long. He was nearly a month old when we got to meet him, but we've gotten to see him again at Thanksgiving (when this photo was taken) and will get another quick look after Christmas. In between visits, we're thankful for Facetime and Skype!

Other excursions included a weekend with friends at Lake Okoboji in June, several days in Door County, Wisconsin in July, and a trip to Mary's family in Omaha early in December. There were also a couple all-too-brief visits to Katherine and her husband in the Twin Cities.

The birth of a new little boy in our family reminds us of the birth of Hope we celebrate in this season. May that Hope fill you with joy throughout the new year.

Mark & Mary Johns