gone

What's gone?

Christmas.

And all the Christmas paper & treats that hid in the bottom of the freezer. We enjoyed our Advent calendar so much this year. Taking time each evening to teach the kids Christmas songs, accompanied by Jon on the guitar, made some great memories. They are still singing "I, Said the Monkey from the Rafters High" & "Go Tell it on the Mountain." It is humbling that basically what they learn about the Christmas season comes from us. That thought made us more intentional about the holidays. And that's a tradition we plan on keeping.

 

 

Crackers for a snack at the pool on Christmas Eve.

 A tradition I recommend.

 

What's gone?

2012.

And all the hopes & question marks we had about our 'middle' year here.

 

We had a party-cancelled, power-out, move the mattresses to the living room, cheese & cracker snack & America's Funniest Home Videos kind of New Year's Eve party. The children? Disappointed in changed plans but quite happy with alternate plan. Jon & I didn't complain either. They bounced. We relaxed.

Though we weren't posting here, we were experiencing the holidays. Our second year away from the many delights & obligations of a Pennsylvania Christmas was a quiet one. The good times were spread out over a few weeks. They included our Christmas Eve tradition of going to the pool, a quiet start to Christmas Day & a noisy ending at a church Christmas party, a table full of friends for a holiday dinner that began with (gasp) appetizers, a missionary retreat early in January ...relaxing & fun.

 Juanita & I doing food prep. She & Jonathan made some amazing onion rings for the appetizer table. We ate, talked for a few hours & ended up eating our meal around 5pm. It was the Bontrager, Groff, Sauder extended family Christmas dinner. Now that feels like the holidays I'm used to. :)

We blessed Marilyn & Ray Weaver many times over for the amazing ham. We thanked God also. It got 'lost' coming here in a tote in November. He saved it for us & we enjoyed it with no worry of it having spoiled. Thanks again!

 

 

Rory & Elliot are enjoying breakfast by the beach at the missionary retreat in early January.

I couldn't resist posting this picture. Funny faces over hot dogs for breakfast. And Milo to drink (hot chocolate-ish drink people enjoy for breakfast). These two are about 6 months apart in age & have developed quite a friendship. They disappear before we know it & are off looking for trouble. :) The best kind of 4 year old trouble, of course. Hope this partnership lasts a very long time!