I am happy to report some growth in the Netherlands!

It was growth of another kind, you might say. Congratulations to Jan Pieter and Kristina Drijfhout from Den Haag on the birth of their daughter Ella Flor! Ella Flor made her debut on November 8th, weighing in at 3345 grams or 7 pounds, 5 ounces (US). At her parents’ request, we had the "blessing of little children" ceremony on the second Sabbath of December during church services in the Netherlands. Jan Pieter’s mom and dad were on hand for the ceremony as well. I usually don’t have crying babies to hold during the ceremony, but Ella Flor was unusually quiet – she was asleep! I guess she was used to my voice from having heard me on several occasions before her birth.