Creedence

 huge exhale. deep sigh of the most beautiful kind of relief.  

Creedence Jeffrey Paul is one crucial step closer to officially being a "VanderSlagt".  and so now we can show his sweet face in its entirety.  and we can say his name here.  because all is in order and moving toward a state of permanency.

to "forever". 

even though it's soooo slow, and still many months away, we are celebrating this next step and are excited that Cree is that much closer to officially matching what our hearts have already known for a good long while.  that somewhere along the line he shifted from being a sweet baby boy to being our sweet son.  

in time i will dive deeper into all that went into this huge and weighty decision.  into the many ways God moved.  it's just so like God~ which is exactly where our trust rests for our family's future.  and for Cree.  determined to trust only in Him. 

for Cree, love will have the last word in this story of his.  we are so happy to be characters in it.  there will be huge plot twists as in any life story, no doubt, but hopefully we are a constant of safety, warmth and love as he walks the journey set before him.  the privilege is ours, no matter what.

for today, just let me leave one more sweet photo...

❤❤❤

wheels

 Hannah has wheels.  really nice wheels.

this happened just before Christmas, and it was the most exciting day!  a surreal moment as i watched her be handed the key and drive out of the dealership in a shiny, fresh, adorable SUV~ with her name on the ownership.  my word.  wasn't it just yesterday she learned to ride that pink bike without training wheels...like what is going on?!

adulting is hard, but that moment for her had to have been super exciting after four and a half years of walking, biking, and using city transit to go anywhere.  no more balancing grocery bags or battling the elements with her bike on those early morning shifts.

enjoy the newness and the independence!  so happy for you, Hannah! 

love

 on this day of "all things love", i have a few random "loves" of my own...in no particular order...

a newish to me song, How You Love Me, by Patrick Mayberry.  beautiful lyrics reminding me that in all my faults, my less than stellar moments, the times i falter and am quite simply failing at being an "image bearer", God's love covers me, even then.

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a throwback picture i came across this week.  my dear Adam in his Newsboys hat, which he so loved at the time after seeing them in concert.  his sweet, toothless smile nearly melted my heart.  

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chocolate covered strawberries, no explanation required! i made them for the crew, but i also have my fair share and savour every bite, not gonna lie...

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a quote i came across, and was not at all surprised to find out it was said by one of my favourites, Ann Voskamp...food for thought, and it left me thinking about it well past the moment i read it. 

"The world has enough women who know how to do their hair.  It needs women who know how to do hard and holy things.  We need women who would rather be beautifully sacrificial than perfectly artificial." 

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cookies that are not safe to have in my freezer.  Daisy Fox Bakery is pretty good at their sugar cookies.  i am most definitely a fan...

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a verse i've clung to and love soooo much:  

 Chronicles 28:20 "Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you.  He will see to it that all work is finished correctly."

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i don't really crave a large group of people in my circle.  i'm really more introverted than that.  more emphasis on quality than quantity for me.  and here, on this day, two of my very favourite people were in the same place, without me!  these two ladies are an absolute gift to me.  the best of the best.  they are real, fully authentic, Christ-like examples of moms and wives and people who inspire me.  they are supportive beyond words as we journey through life together...i was so happy they introduced themselves to each other and sent me this picture.  made my day.  

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and these guys, plus one (sweet baby C., not seen or even born yet in this throwback picture)...our bunch...in and through all the hiccups along the way,  i adore them.  always will.  they made me a mom and that will always be my highest calling.  i truly hope they know how much i've (we've) tried to raise them intentionally, carefully and lovingly.

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but first came this dear man.  my valentine always.  he is strength, he is light, he is gracious, and he is a champion of love and loyalty in all areas of his life.  my person.  God knew what He was doing when He orchestrated "us".

Happy Valentine's Day, friends and family!  if you're reading, i'm fairly certain you too are on my "short list" of favourite loves.  blessings to you today as you take stock of all and whom you love! ❤

Christmas 2022

 Christmas 2022, it feels like just yesterday....except no, it doesn't, that's a complete lie.  it feels like forever ago, and it's only the beginning of February...still, there were highlights that are worth representing here.  lowlights too~ like a crazy cross-country winter weather event that kept Joelle in BC for the whole holiday.  she made the best of it, as she typically does, but we felt it for sure as all our plans of togetherness vanished hours before the flight was set to depart.  Hannah made it home later than planned too, but again, she rolled with it and we all stayed thankful that we were safe and cozy and well-fed.

a couple pictures to preserve the memories!

sweet baby C. was right in on the food prep that begins a couple days before Christmas.

Christmas Eve cookie decorating.  we all knew Layla would excel at this, but Jeff and the boys weren't too shabby at it themselves!

croquettes!

this was a new game i tried this year, thanks to my amazing friend Leisha who oozes creativity.  might have to be an annual thing.  it was really fun.  Layla proved to be the big winner here as well, this time by pure luck...

little brother loved having his big brother home again.  we all did.  Hudson is so good with him, and sweet baby C. was delighted by his attention.

new tools with lights and sounds.  perfect fit for this tool-loving kid.

sweet baby Jesus arrived in the manger right on schedule.  the best gift ever.  the reason for all of this.  

and a beautiful new painting from Layla this year.  my word, do i ever love it.  her best work yet i think.  so much detail and time put onto that canvas.❤

all things considered, even though plans changed and dear ones were missed, there was much to be thankful for.  

grateful and blessed.

December cuteness

 this sweet boy just brings such joy in the day to day. i hope this post conveys just the simple bliss, the everyday moments that make us and him happy. 

one of his favourite things to do is play with tools. especially when his daddy is doing the same.

 another is to drive to a local car lot on Sundays after church, where if you search at the back you can usually find a few "smashed up cars".  sweet baby C. routinely asks to go and see them, and he loves the potential stories behind the dents and damage.  one car in particular obviously hit a deer as the animal hair was stuck right there in the front, plain as day.  this fascinated him!!

he also loves loves loves these new Giant Seek and Find books our friends gave him.  he'll spend so long, looking and searching and finding.  we love to do this together.  it's so good for him and he's really good at it.  such a smart boy! 

 he still finds the most hilarious places for his toys. on this day, before baby Jesus arrived in the manger, Iron Man had a nap there.  made my mind drift to all sorts of spiritual analogies and parallels actually...i'll spare you all.

and that's where his Cocomelon action figures went! :)

keep the cuteness coming, dear boy!

Sloan's 2022

 Sloan's 2022

check out the ornament placement in the photo above.  so priceless.  sweet baby C. loved every minute of hanging, and later moving the gold balls.  and then moving again, and again, and again...so cute.  he knew the bottom two feet of the tree was his area and he made the most of his decorating decisions there! :)

 
feels like so long ago already, but it was a beautiful day!

this happened!

 Hannah is officially done her nursing degree!  she completed her final placement at a London hospice this past December.  she's now in that wonderful place of wide open doors and opportunities galore, with just her professional licensing exam to go! 

proud of you, kid!  you'll be fantastic in any role you choose, because you have an amazing ability to bring lighthearted joy to a room, paired with deep and genuine empathy.  a winning combination.  praying God guides you to the perfect place to best use your gifts and live your purpose.  i have no doubt you'll shine! ❤