Merry Christmas 2025

 In ’25 we took the drive

And found new digs, to dance and jive,

From Northern Ill’ to Collinsville,

We journeyed southward just until

We saw new parts: St. Louie’s arch,

A bit removed from winter’s march.

We left behind Kewanee’s line,

’Twas thirty years we lived on Vine.

We pulled up stakes, released the brakes,

Went farther from the Greater Lakes.

Though bless’d we’ve been, to make new friends,

And find new vistas’ dividends,

We miss those folks, the gals and blokes,

And won’t forget their dreams and hopes.

But now we face by God’s good grace

An open book in this new place,

More oft to see our family;

Six men, six wives, and seventeen

Grandkids around (they all abound);

Betimes this turns to their playground:

They’ll take the road to our abode

And its four walls almost explode

As at this time, for auld lang’s syne,

Rejoicing e’er with joy sublime,

Especially when it’s Yule again,

For Christ is born, yea and amen,

To save us all, so deck the hall!

Rejoice, I say, yes, one and all!

Both young and gray, we’ll sing and say

That we are on the heav’nward way.

 

God rest ye merry, this Christmas 2025 and always – the Eckardts

 

Key to photo:

Burnie (back row, behind me), wife Amanda, to his left, Bevy  their 1^st at her left, Millie #2 below her, Mikey #3 between those two; Andy (back row, farthest left), wife Kristy, back row blue dress, Sarah their 1^st at Andy’s right, David #2 at Kristy’s right; Peter’s the groom, with his new bride Susie and his son Ezra; John (farthest left), wife Alissa directly to his left, Hazel #1 to her left, Ada #2 in front of John, Megan #3 in front of Alissa, Luke #4 to Megan’s left, Paul #5 in John’s arm; Joey (below pulpit), wife Emily to his left, Jane their 1^st below Joey, Elizabeth #2 in Emily’s arms, Mary #3 below Emily, Ben #4 in Joey’s arm; Michael below Jesus statue, Brittany his wife to his left, Bella their 1^st between them, Lucia #2 in Brittany’s arms.