Holidays!

Oh glorious holidays!!

The week after Christmas stretched out before me in all its luxuriousness...

Long empty days waiting to be filled with fun and adventures.

With wonderful opportunities to fill my house with lovely people!

Without work to fluff out my schedule I find I get bored so quickly...

And I didn't feel much like adventuring outdoors or shopping

So thankfully I had some very dear guests all the way from Newfoundland to brighten my week.

They came with their son Danny (who was my adopted son when he lived here) to fill my kitchen with laughter and warmth and a very noisy little new addition!

Danny is such a wonderful vision of answered prayers.

He was on a bit of a rebellious detour when he lived here a number of years ago and he married into a wonderful Godly family and is now a loving husband and father.

WOW. Never stop praying. Never stop believing.

Miracles are there for the asking!! '

I love how God brings people into my life.

And how He adds so much goodness and richness...

I get to be a part of their journey, praying and loving alongside and they get to be a part of mine.

Surprises that drop out of heaven.

I had another little party as well - an interesting combination of friends to sit around the table and snack and laugh and share.... I just get so happy to put food on the table, to light the candles and to create a space for communion.

We need each other so much.

Community.

Fellowship.

The Body.

Last week I had the "neighborhood" party to scout out the land and see how I could bless my neighbors. To see who is out there sharing this glorious piece of land.

The guys from across the street came again - so kind, so friendly.

They even brought a gift on Christmas Eve!

I will continue to lift them up before our kind Father.

The German couple came bringing me an advent wreath made from pine boughs.

Praying for open eyes and tender hearts to know the Love of God.

And the new neighbors whose house is seen from my bedroom window.

Unique family with four amazing children with names like Stormie and Winter, Jack and Frank!

How fun is that? I played cards with Frank.

So even though I don't know exactly what's next, I know who they are.

There are faces to the names and hearts created for relationship with their Creator.

I can pray. I will pray.

I will pray for opportunities to show kindness.

And tonight is New Year's.

Another chance to party!! Although sadly, so many of our kids don't come to our Saturday night gatherings anymore. So we continue to meet and make the place available.

Good food and warm fellowship.

Just in case.

And it keeps us together.

There's always someone who needs to be included and we need to have that anchor in our week.

Three families experiencing the joys and trials of life with our children.

A gift of incredible value.

So tonight we round a corner and head into the New Year.

I'm going to be asking the Father what special prayers He'd like me to proclaim over my loved ones in this coming year.

Because His Word changes Lives.

Living and Active. Powerful. Jesus.

Maranatha

Joyful Joyful

Snow in the orchard outside my window

The trees are bare

The nights are long, the days are short

BUT GOD. Oh glory. He came!

So that we can celebrate.

Even when it's dark and cold out.

Even when it is not yet as we are hoping and praying.

He loves our faith. It pleases HIM!!

So, as we wait for His second glorious return we have so much reason to celebrate.

What was, what is and what is to come!

We had a wonderful, wonderful family gathering.

EVERYONE CAME!!

From two to eighty-six, all the generations were together.

Laughing, eating, teasing, sharing.

And Jesus came. He was in our midst.

If that's not a reason to celebrate I don't know what is!!

Laughter is good medicine and it was dispensed freely and generously!

The "nose pose" was a true bonding experience.

I'm so thankful for a family that laughs and forgives easily...

What a rich heritage I have!

So, with a full and thankful heart I prepare for another smaller gathering.

The kids and I will have our little gift exchange this afternoon.

And there are more parties to come!

I am in planning mode...

So happy that there is still a full week of holidays ahead.

So much Grace

Lately I've been overwhelmed by the kindness of God.

His grace...

Extended to me in multitudes of ways, over and over and over.

Sometimes I'm more aware of it than others.

It is simply overwhelming - hard to put other words to it.

It's like this; I'm driving in the car, looking out at the trees and sky and the colors and I just can hardly bear it. So much love inside of me for Him.

I start crying. Cause His Love is pouring all over me.

I am so undeserving. Such an unfinished, imperfect, flawed piece of work.

So aware of my weaknesses, my selfishness.

So I just tell Him how much I love Him.

Cause what else is there for me to do?

This grace is an amazing thing. Really and truly.

So beautiful is this Jesus who came, wrapped in flesh and all the trouble that brings.

For me. For everyone.

It's been a beautiful season.

Celebrating Christ mas.

Birthdays

Suppers

Cards and Gifts.

All these little shadows of that great event when God's grace poured out of heaven.

The greatest gift.

The great dinner to come.

His Word. His endless kindnesses.

Causes me to weep with gratitude.

December Beauty December Fun

The Advent Season continues. With communion and candles and the sweet presence of Jesus.

I finally did Christmas baking on Saturday! I even ground some spices for the pfeffernusse with the mortar and pestal. Oh yeah. I am learning.

Below is the reindog that brings alot of joy and little treats to my students. You push the tail and "voila"... he produces.

Two amazing kids I get to work with. So Much Fun!! First time I've worked with two at one time and we have alot of good laughs as we struggle through the words and get VICTORY!

Across the street we have neighbors that sell Christmas trees! I went over there with my friend who chose THREE TREES! I enjoyed the fire and the hot chocolate and I caught a glimpse of a reindeer as we were hunting through the forest for just the right tree.

These are my actual neighbors. Who grow the trees. They are so authentically cool and very German.

I get to do dinner every second Tuesday with a group of amazing women. We celebrate life and each other regularly. The dinners are most wonderful as well.

This is Moose pretending to be a reindog. He actually enjoys the game. I know because he wags his tail and eagerly sticks his head into the hat.

And I was personally invited to a friend's book launch. A young man that is finding his way and leading others to the Source in the process. In a very relevant way. His talk was entitled "Live Like a Rockstar without the Cocaine' or something like that.

Angel Voices

Spent a magical evening surrounded by heavenly music.

Under a vaulted ceiling in a room lit with candles and Christmas lights.

It was glorious.

My mom loved it too.

She refers to this choir of girls as the "angel voices" and I was so happy to treat her to this evening of Christmas delight.

Isn't the venue amazing? And amazingly enough it's right in my neighborhood, surrounded by big pines and pastures with llamas!

Season of Advent

Waiting.

I feel like I spend most of my life waiting for something to happen.

Although, the older I get the waiting is becoming more refined, somehow.

Not so much waiting for monumental life changing events to occur, like graduation from school, or college, or getting married, or having children.

That pulled me along for many years and still does to some extent.

When the accident slammed into my life my waiting turned to a longing for heaven.

Which is probably completely natural considering how difficult and uncomfortable life became in an instant.

And as much as that longing never leaves, it has been tempered with maturity and a lessening in severity of some of the suffering.

I prefer not to live my life waiting for something more exciting to happen.

I want to know contentment. And gratefulness for small everyday things.

And I believe the LORD has been gently helping me in this.

But the Advent Season is a season of waiting as well.

A different kind of waiting, but with the ultimate working out being the heavenly kingdom which is that longing for heaven again.

So... to help myself focus on the waiting and on the CHRIST I spend last Saturday morning at a beautiful Advent Retreat.

Filled with beautiful readings and meditation and song and reflection and listening.

So very very beautiful and gentle.

And my kind Father showed me pictures and spoke through His word.

Isaiah 43

You are Mine.

I have called you by Name

I will be with you..

And I don't even have to wait for that. It is happening.

Every single day.

And the family gathered here on Sunday evening to celebrate the first Advent.

Darkness and cold without, but warmth and love within.

Tradition.

Stockings.

The first candle lit.

A delicious meal.

My heart is full as I head into this Season.

Wind & Sun

I'm very happy to announce that the snow is gone.

Almost completely!

Thanks to some sunshine and a very blustery wind that blew most of the remaining leaves all over the countryside, the big melt was on.

Now we're back to what feels like fall and normal for this time of year.

Whew.

I so wasn't ready for deep winter yet.

No. No. I wasn't.

The blustery day ended with a sunset that caused me to jump out of bed and go outside with my camera.

Wowsers.

Tonight is the annual auction at my school to raise money to send kids to Mexico.

I just feel like it's my job to be there, to drive the auction prices higher!!

It's a bit of a risky job, but someone has to do it, so I'm off.

Hopefully I won't be stuck with a whole lot of stuff that I don't really need.

Leg Warmers

A new fashion statement is being strutted around our home today. Perfect for frolicking in the snow!

And now it's snowing...

The little birds have been eagerly gathering around the feeders outside our windows.

So sweet, their eager little eyes are keeping watch while their little beaks are busy.

A dove sat outside my bedroom window this morning, all fluffy on the cold lawn...

I was wondering what he was doing down there, looking up at me but not moving.

Unfortunately the birds are safe around the house due to the disappearance of both Siegfried and Fritz.

They went "on holiday" without leaving a note and haven't been back.

Hmmm. Kinda sad.

I went to superstore today to get a prescription and do some shopping.

I also needed some sinus medication because I'm fighting a cold that doesn't want to go away.

So happy to have a fresh supply of migraine pills!! A new variety that is only half the price of the last ones. There is so much to be thankful for in life!! Seriously. I am so happy that there is a pill out there that takes away that horrible pain.

When I came out of superstore there was snow pouring out of the sky.

The whole day had changed from grey fall to winter dark.

I drove carefully but still managed to slide out of control on one of the roads.

Then I drove even more carefully and slowly even though there were cars behind me.

It feels so different inside when it's snowy outside. Cozy, wintery. Tucked in.

I need to get my winter tires on. As soon as possible.

So I can keep teaching and going on my little outings.

To an upcoming book club meeting that I'm terribly excited about.

To a lunch date tomorrow.

To mom's to visit and bring her goodies.

To vote on Saturday.

And I can't remember the rest, but I just need those tires.

Baby It's COLD Outside!

November has arrived. BRRRR!

Still, there is such vibrant color all around with many of the leaves still clinging to the trees.

Lots of sunshine making for stunning landscapes and a bedroom view that glows golden yellow and vivid blue.

It's been cozy inside and we've been watching the Doc Martin series, cuddled up on the bed, often with heat bags and popcorn.

My sister and I took a little trip to Peachland this week to give dear Oma and Tante Hilda a chance to see the fall leaves and the lake while sipping coffee and eating goodies at the cafe.

They're always so grateful for the outings and the times together are sweet.

This morning I hosted "house church" with two lovely families and some of their kids.

I was grateful for the fellowship and conversation and it was lovely to follow that with a shared meal of soup and bread and goodies. All of us gathered around the big table.

That's a good kind of church.

Yesterday the dear daughter and I picked up Daniel and Nicole to visit a craft fair and we ended up going to the mall afterwards for some shopping. I just felt so happy to be with ALL my kids! Such a sweet gift.

I'm grateful for friendship in our little family. That we can enjoy each other and I want to be mindful to create fun outings, to seize the moments...

My lovely sister is doing better. She's so much more involved in Oma's life as well which makes it all feel so much less burdensome and more joyful. I am sometimes overwhelmed with these precious lives that have been given to me as family - the ones I journey through life with on such an intimate and constant basis. They are so kind. So Godly. So real and good.

And I'm working at the school four mornings a week. Sweet kids. Wonderful challenges and the hope of easier reading coming for all of them.

And Moose got a haircut at a rather cool time of the year so we've been tucking him in at night to keep him cozy. He seems to like that.

So, onward through this cold season with a warm and joyful heart I go.

Party Hats

Ah, the fun of friends and wigs and party hats!

Once the lipstick was added we were ready to party...

(We decided lipstick was an essential...and of course dear Barb had just the right shade.)

My butterfly friends are such a blast! We celebrated the fabulous life of Lora who is the one who keeps drawing us all together...