Home Sweet Home - and Merry Christmas, too!

I'm sure I didn't get this much loving on the whole trip! There's nothing like the arms of a child to warm you, is there? And nothing quite like their imagination, either - Georgia's the one who put me next to Jesus in the nativity scene - "out of the mouths of babes", eh?

I guess I'll be seeing you the next time I go out of town - there's talk of Canada this summer - and a visit or two to Colorado is certain to happen as well! Yeh, Grands.











As I finish blogging this past summer's trip, it's already Christmas! Where has the time gone?



I love everything about Christmas, don't you? I'm dreaming of finding a telephoto lens under the tree (anyone got a used one) for my lovely big Canon camera - and a backpack to hold my 'equipment' in. But more than the presents, I love the cards, the kids and the carols. May it all point to the reason for the season - to worship the King of Kings! Every time I read the gospel accounts of the Story in the bible, I stand amazed that God would make Himself human for us - to live among us, to feel our joys & pains and to die for us!! It's BEARly believable but SO TRUE!





Notice this year's Baker Christmas card! We figure that if we get it delivered by the 4th of January, we'll be OK - 'cause then it'll be on time for the Tenth Day of Christmas!!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas, 2009 and a fabulously healthy 2010 filled with faith, family and friends - and the occasional trip, too!

Love, Teddy Ricardo

Fantastic Farewell Dinner in an Artist's Paradise

Yes, Belgium was wonderful - as were Katy and Wilifried. Isn't it strange that they were the first people we met when we started our journey (in the airport, remember?) and the last people we saw before we left for home! They'll obviously be very special people in our book - for that reason but for other things as well (like their love of art and BEARS!)

Knowing that Wilifried's son and family are just up the road from us near Charlotte, NC means there could be a BIG chance that our paths cross again one day - and soon, we hope! It'd then be OUR turn to show them some beary good times. Hopefully we could half match their generosity and hospitable ways because it'd be impossible to show them as exciting cities or historic places as we saw with them! For instance: these pictures of this seemingly simple river scene (taken with Wilifried's camera because mine stopped working at the last hour). It's what we saw from our farewell dinner table at the Halifax Restaurant; no wonder Emile Claus and other artists enjoyed painting along the banks of this river. The lighting was phenomenal.

And now my posting is almost completely over until the next trip. As in all cases, though, it was fun to go away but it's fun to come home, too. You'll be able to tell by the pictures of the happy reunion with some of the babes (next blog).

With love, Teddy

P.S. I hope I don't have to carry around my big, beautiful Canon camera with me next time - that'd be kind of cumbersome (and scary, too). Mmmm - it does take good pictures, though. We'll keep you posted. (Ha Ha - get it? POSTED!)


Here's me with the old faithful Olympus, too - what a shame that it costs so much to get that little plastic piece repaired! However, when I think of how many pictures that've been taken over the past six years!! It's incredible that it lasted this long really and I feel very blessed.