this guy

 i love celebrating this guy.  it's so easy.  he loves me so well.  he is the epitome of steadfast love and care, and loyal character.  as a husband, a father, a son, a friend, and a physio...

Jeff turns 58 tomorrow.  

he often tells me how very early in his life he had a keen "God sense".  he knew God was pursuing him and his heart at a young age.  he has specific examples and memories of this...his faith journey, he says, was gradual.  but when he decided he was "all in" as a follower of Jesus, he never once has looked back.  for him, it's all crystal clear.  the evidence of God's love has been proven over and over again.  Jesus guides his life calling, his choices, his trajectory.  his faith informs his decisions and how he lives out each day, as he quietly and consistently chooses to show up with winsome love and compassion and joy.  to me, he is a rock of reliable and consistent care.  he's rolled with the large transitions of the past year, shifting to accommodate and support me.  he is always a listening ear, and a voice of reason and wisdom that i value immeasurably.  

it's a pure gift to celebrate you on your birthday, Jeffrey!  here's to many more ❤

the boy knows what he wants

 for the second Christmas in a row, Cree said he wanted a lamp.  the first year, Santa had a super cool motorized electric car picked for him instead, so the lamp never came.  and...while Cree adores his extra fun car to this day, he totally remembered that wish for a lamp when Christmas rolled around again.  thankfully, this year there was a lamp under the tree for this super intelligent dude.  and i dare say it was his favourite gift.  Layla added some twinkle lights and he now goes to bed with his star lamp and string lights lit each night as we tuck in and say prayers and sing.  pretty cute.  

some good advertising

 when your daughter is cool enough to bring your Venetian Hustle espresso blend to the mountains with her, you take the free advertising.  love that Bean on a Mission beans are now on the west coast!

  so fun, Joelle!  beautiful pics, as always.  you make it look so easy! ❤

2025 wrap up

 it was a blur, i'm not gonna lie.  the last two months of the year felt like two seconds long.  still, there were moments of real deep joy to be found, and for that i'm grateful to step back and note them here.  

a picture recap.  for a stroll down memory lane one day.

Cree met Buzz...that was a riot!

new wheels, and an unbelievable gift of reliability and comfort that i'm loving every single day.  can't wait to blast the A/C in the summer

lots of sibling hang outs as Layla was marking the days before her journey to California

Jack and Layla on another adventure

green beans arrived at the cafe, finally!  it is really happening!

somehow Cree had all his winter gear on but his coat.  unfortunately this wasn't discovered until we got all the way to the tree cutting farm!  we made it work!

a graceful moment pour moi.  caught in the zipline straps.  Layla enjoyed watching the struggle.  Cree was clearly thinking "mom, you're embarrassing me"...more of that to come buddy, more to come...

 

Cree could not believe that he got to meet Mrs. Claus as well. 

every year our fresh and twinkling tree brings me so many moments of joy.  

last sleepovers with his sister in her bed.  he misses them so much already.

Jeff's masterpiece.  he works so hard on this and Cree is a speedy little skater because of it...

i love setting a holiday table from things in and around our home.  it's simple and festive and symbolizes time connecting with dear ones.

lots of blessings that are so glaringly obvious when you start to pay closer attention.  they are countless and wonderful, and the end of 2025 was a gift.  there were challenges, difficulties, and hard pieces, of course, yet so many gifts of grace too, even in the whirlwind of it all.