Blessed

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Christmas Eve

The Christmas Eve candlelight service is one of my favorite events of the year. It is a time of exhale and adoration. Christmas preparation is laid aside and family gathers.

The band this year was off the hook!

After church we go to Amy's house to feast and make merry.

Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus

And then the Bow Team heads to my house to stuff stockings, which isn't a Winter Olympics event, but it should be.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

I'm about to share several days of Christmas photos. We've had an incredible time celebrating and spending time with family however I'm aware more each year that Christmas is a season of pain for many. Christmas can be a reminder of great loss...a close friend or family member. It can be a reminder of all that we don't have...the seemingly perfect, in tact families of the social media world can taunt us. The kids who come through our house experience Christmas in different ways and I've seen that its not "the most wonderful time of the year" for everyone.

That being said, it really was a very special time and I'm so grateful for the gift of family.

We kicked off Friday at Sarah's house. She did a lovely job getting everything ready and the pace of the day was relaxed, vacillating between sweet moments of reading together on the couch and crazy boys wrestling on the floor. :) Good stuff!

We skyped with Grandpa as the kids opened presents from him.

Baby Gavin's first Christmas.

Gifts from Nana!

Monday, December 26, 2016

Project 365, Week 52

Its Week 52 and this is the final Project 365 post of the year. Kinda crazy that time goes so fast, which is what people say, but its true!

Our week was probably like many others...lots of work and prep and obligations in the beginning of the week and lots of fun and festiveness towards the end. Good times!!

December 19

Shaun is a remarkable, on-purpose dad day in and day out as he patiently leads and instructs. I listened in with admiration as he very rationally answered questions from the kids about why they are not allowed wifi access in our home.