Ending with Old Acquaintances...

The Old Year ended well.  

With good food, great friends, fun games, beloved family, laughter and lots of love.

Sue hosted this year since everyone was hanging out at her place anyways and that was just fine with me! 

And because we're getting a little older, and hopefully a lot wiser, we decided that we did NOT have to stay up till midnight to celebrate the coming New Year.  

It would arrive without us causing ourselves to become unduly exhausted, so at 9pm we celebrated, knowing that somewhere in the world it was already the New Year.  

One small bottle of Champagne went a LONG ways with this crowd and as you can see there are members of our tribe that are already standing on tables without having partaken of ANY alcohol...

Look at these happy people!  

And then:  BINGO!! 

It is tradition, after all.

Prizes were obtained, exchanged and then exchanged again.

I also got to spend a bit of time with these two precious kids of mine.  

Nicole had to go to work early the next morning so the early celebration was mostly on her behalf, but also for those of us who long for our beds far before the clock strikes twelve...

Christmas with the Kids

Christmas Day dawned cold, bright and glorious.

Good day for the King's Birthday Party! 

Patrice & I started our day at Gagnon's where we enjoyed the amazing Christmas brunch that is Sue's masterpiece. 

Tradition looks like homemade poppyseed bread, cinnamon buns, sausage, quiche and mincemeat...

It was a blessing to see these friends that are like family for a brief visit before we ventured over to Daniel & Nicole's.

They had invited Patrice & I for dinner on Christmas day to their cozy little place.

Nicole's family was there and we've been friends since forever so that was fun.

The girls made the turkey with all the trimmings and we ate in the living room. 

Here are the two chefs!

And their dear Momma...

A lovely relaxed dinner and sweet fellowship. 

Brother and Sister Love

Just like that!  

Precious family, precious friends.

Precious Jesus tying us all together as we celebrate Him.

And It's Christmas Eve!

We had a wonderful Christmas celebration.

As much as I was sad that Daniel and Nicole were busy with other family and couldn't join us, whenever Jesus shows up in our midst, all is well. 

You just have to be flexible as the family changes and since Patrice was working on Christmas Eve we had our party early. 

This picture of Mom and Dad is super sweet to me.  They were sitting on the couch together with a book I had been given by a dear friend and Dad was reading the little stories about dogs to Mom.

 

Dad left shortly after we ate but it was special to have him with us.  I am sad that his deafness leaves him feeling isolated.  It is a difficult thing indeed to see Mom and Dad and Tante Hilda losing their sight and hearing and grappling with bodies that don't cooperate so well, but look at us - partying with the best of them!! 

Vic and Ollie had a rousing round of Krokinole, cheese cake was enjoyed, Marcia, Elsie and I played some Boggle and the afternoon was spent in a wonderful way.

Together.

We had a gift exchange where everyone brings one and takes one home to keep things super simple and we had fun with some silly glasses and noses that were found in one of the gift bags.

It appears my sister in law has embraced our family's penchant for "silliness" and she is now helping us to step out in new avenues that we have not yet investigated!

I love that Tante Hilda and Mom are game for pretty much anything.

Look at these two cutie pies!

God has made this home a sanctuary.

I love that He has given me family to celebrate with.

The greatest gift, Jesus, has become Emmanual to us.

God is truly with us. 

December Days...

These December days have been full and fun.

Whenever Vic is in town there is a need to work on apartment related details so a downtown banking rendezvous was arranged on a rather frosty day which led to a bonus visit with Daniel.

He had just finished the last exam of his most gruelling semester so far and was able to meet us for a quick lunch celebration.

Every moment I get to spend with him feels like a bonus so I was so grateful to have this time to catch up with him and family. 

We also found the sweetest little used - bookstore downtown which provided the perfect photo op for my dear sister-in-law and I. 

We both LOVE books, even though I seem to be in a season where there is not a lot of actual "book" reading going on.  The ease of reading on my lap top (on which I can make the words as BIG and BRIGHT as I want) and listening to messages or stories has taken over my actual book reading obsession. 

I love that Marcia is game for pretty much anything; pictures, outings, games, parties etc. 

It makes me long for a body that could fully take advantage of the possibilities that present themselves with such an eager adventurer, but most of these adventures will have to wait for heaven by the looks of it.  For now I will content myself with what I am able to do, which is quite a lot when I think of it.

My extroverted self just has an inflated idea of what all could and should happen, but my body balks and I submit.

With gratitude. 

Because even the resting and home time is precious.  

And necessary.

Because, for instance, my ankle.  

I attended the birthday of a dear friend this month and after successfully navigating the stairs out of his home with help, I thought I was home free to get to my car. Someone was helping to push me and we failed to see the last step at the end of the sidewalk under the black winter night's sky and kaboom - I fell out of my chair and crumpled forward onto the cement somehow injuring my ankles, or foot or legs.  It's all so mysterious when one's sensation is missing.

Convenient at times.  But mostly not.  

I did enjoy the brief opportunity to kneel on the ground as I never get into that position anymore. 

It was sort of exciting to be under the stars, breathing in the frosty air and kneeling before my Maker, so I took the time to say a quick prayer before my friend returned with another strong man to get me back into my wheelchair.  

However, my body obviously didn't enjoy that position and my ankles both swelled to a great size by the next evening.  Eventually I finally got myself to the hospital to get an X-ray.  Praise God the ankle was intact so I am hoping that the knee and other body parts are also ok as I wait for things to return to their normal size.  

Thankfully my injury didn't prevent me from doing some special Christmas baking. I found a great recipe for Pfeffernusse that made about 14 pans worth of the crunchy little delights! 

Moose and Ladybug were eager to eat any of the raw ones that fell on the floor or the over baked ones. They are big fans of Pfeffernusse now.

I also had the opportunity to meet my sweet friend Gayle for a short visit at Patrice's coffee shop where we exchanged a gift and a few stories before rushing off to complete our pre-Christmas lists. 

There's also been a lot of feasting going on with Vic and Marcia in town.  Here is a meal of ribs she made for all of us to enjoy. What a gift to have family.

Family that loves to be together and is at peace.

I am so very thankful for this tremendous gift and am grateful for a mom that encouraged and exemplified peace.

Advent Event

As you can see the four candles are lit on the Advent Wreath!  Christmas is almost here. I am not the best at moving through this Glorious season with enough intention to meditate daily during this season of waiting and longing, but there is an awareness and a gratitude for the light that we can focus on and celebrate during this dark cold month. 

We are all waiting and longing for something.

For SomeOne to show up and bring the promised emancipation we are longing for.

I am always happy to set aside at least one Advent Evening to specifically calling together family to feast together, sing and light the candles that mark the Advent of our King's Birth.

And God has seen fit to allow these precious elders of our tribe to still be sitting in our midst. Through trial and pain and faith and courage they remain, calling on the name of Jesus and being strengthened daily through His power.

So precious are their lives and we are grateful to be able to celebrate together.

We are so fortunate to have the freedom to gather and worship together.

To have family that loves to be together.

To have a King who is coming again to answer the groaning and longing of our spirits and bodies. 

Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel...

A Night on the Town

Having Marcia in the family mix has been such a joy and has provided impetus for me to try to do some "newish" things with the family.

I know she LOVES music and outings so when I heard that there was some live theatre in town with a family themed show I jumped on it and soon there were 7 of us in a row waiting for the curtains to open.

The show did not disappoint and we thoroughly enjoyed the acting and the music.

I'm so grateful for family and for the ability to get out and celebrate life together.

We don't do a lot together - the whole bunch of us, so I'm praying for more opportunities.

Very special evening indeed. 

Already Ninety

Much to my father's chagrin, he turned ninety today.

It's truly an impressive number and despite his best intentions to be gone by 65 or so, he has outlived all of his hopes and expectations. 

But, as he well knows, we still have great hopes and expectations for his one very precious and rather lengthy life. 

God is merciful and has given him an incredibly wonderful wife, three kids who really love him, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

His story is incredible and as much as his life could have been taken several times over when he was younger, he is still here and is very well loved. 

His legacy lives on through us...

Just look at this crazy bunch!

He is such a trooper and he played along with anything and everything we had planned for this evening of celebration.

He's the little monkey in the middle...

trying to hide from the party that he never wanted to have to live long enough to celebrate! 

He even joined in with playing the "pie face game" and was the first to get smacked in the face with whipped cream! 

It's a sobering business to put your face in the hole, in the direct line of fire of a little hand holding a pile of whipped cream. 

He took his turn without complaint...

The general craziness and laughter increased with each succeeding victim and the smile on my dear daddy's face was priceless.  

Tension builds with each click...

some are spared - and others are not!!

All of us direct descendants took one for the team. 

I had an oil slick on my eye for the next 24 hours or so, but it was worth it!

The party was over the top fun and my Dad was happier than I have seen him in a very long time.

With her limited energy and sore back, Mom still managed to make her famous Napolean Torte, a family favourite.

These dear, aging hands have prepared so many meals and birthday cakes over the years with so very much love. 

We enjoyed it after polishing off a table full of delicious Chinese Food.

This day of partying was preceded by a week of prayer and fasting by some of us in the immediate family circle . We long to see Dad live out his remaining days and even more importantly, eternity, knowing the Savior and Lover of His soul.

The only One who can give him peace and hope.

Beyond his wildest dreams and expectations...

We're still waiting with hope and expectancy!