Christmas 2024

 Christmas season 2024 already feels like a bit of a distant memory, even though it's only been a month.  so i'm throwing down the pictures today, because once i'm out of January there's really no going back.  i want to remember~ the sweet and fun parts, the memorable "together" parts, the traditional and the sacred parts.  

(we missed Layla, that was hard.  but we made the best of it and connected with her during quiet moments too.  those are times when technology is amazing!  her journey to Africa over Christmas proved to be another gift! more on that soon!)

as for photos~ here goes...

Joelle came home!  a huge gift of Christmas!  then Jeff pointed out the strong resemblance between Joelle and the dog...we all laughed.  he isn't wrong.

she was showing off her craftiness all week.  i remain in awe. Cree clearly was mesmerized as well.  how did that even happen?!

cousin dinner conversations.  

when my nativity scene people appear in Cree's truck cab, then you know it's Christmas.

Joelle~ the winner of Mom's amazing Christmas quilt!

Cree helped keep our "gift game" running smoothly.

Joelle and Jessie...picked up right where they left off.

Cree managed to hold his own lit candle during the Christmas Eve service.  this made him really happy.  no larger fires were set, which made me really happy.

spoons with water chugging for the loser.  

the baby in the manger...He came!

Terrell admiring Cree's new wheels.

Joelle gifted Cree the coolest and comfiest sweats.

Jeff's mom always nails Christmas dinner.

Cree prefers having a passenger...

Jessie~ maybe not so impressed to model Joelle's beautiful balaclava creation... 

somehow Jessie made it in more photos than Hudson and myself this year.  that was purely an accident.  hopefully that gets fixed next year.  both Hudson and I were present for all these gatherings and i know he'd agree that a great time was had! actually, if it wasn't for Jeff and the girls, i'd have less than three Christmas pictures total...so i'm obviously living in the moment, it could be worse i guess...

thanks family, you keep snapping pics and i'll be sure to deliver them here.  that much i can do! :)  

Layla update

 catching up on a few photos for those that might be wondering about Layla.  she is in the heart of Tanzania currently, and all is well.  rewinding a bit, here are a few photos of her and her friends and team members prior to leaving Hawaii.  

the Tanzania team, minus one valuable member.

dear friends to her, hopefully for life.

all packed up and ready to head out...

she is brave, compassionate, and freely living in the peace and joy and presence of Christ.  exactly how she was made to live.  so grateful to see her content and excited about all that is ahead.

keep shining Layla! you are loved and missed. ❤

Africa pictures to follow!

Sloan's

 another beauty tree...and a really nice time choosing it too.  Sloan's Village isn't cheap, but wow, it's still really special.  the sounds, the smells, the spirit of the company.  it's a nice tradition.  

here are a few pictures to remember the tree cutting of 2024...

grateful it happened!

Christmas

 just a few things worth noting that i love about this Christmas.  right before i take a wee blogging break to soak up this season...

my firstborn is getting on a plane (can't wait to catch up with her), and then there are gifts to be given, delicious meals to make and savour, songs to sing and cycle through my playlist, and cookies to be consumed.  there is extended family catch up, and laughter, and a bit of exhaustion too.  not gonna lie.  hopefully there is also rest, there will be games, candles, and a long awaited baby in a manger...there is beauty and blessings and wonder all over the place, especially if you train your eyes to see it.

Cloverton Hallelujah is still an absolute favourite.  the lyrics...

my chalkboard, an extra special reminder from Layla.  missing her this year sooo much, but grateful to see her talent all over the house in her artwork.  

Layla lands in Tanzania on Christmas day...so fitting, as she brings the gift of Jesus, literally, to the many boys and girls and men and women there who maybe have never heard the very best Christmas news.

these words kinda jumped off the page during our devotional after supper this week.  have i mentioned how much i love "the Jesus Storybook Bible" here?  "where every story whispers his name" 

it's so beautifully written...this is it:

"Mary, you're going to have a baby.  A little boy.  You will call him Jesus.  He is God's own Son.  He's the One!  He's the Rescuer!"

The God who flung planets into space and kept them whirling around and around, the God who made the universe with just a word, the one who could do anything at all- was making himself small.  And coming down...as a baby.  

Wait.  God was sending a baby to rescue the world?  

"But it's too wonderful!"  Mary said and felt her heart beating hard.  "How can it be true?"

"Is anything too wonderful for God?"  (the angel) Gabriel asked.

So Mary trusted God more than what her eyes could see.  And she believed.  "I am God's servant," she said.  "Whatever God says, I will do."

a Sloan's post will follow, but for today, i have to say the tree we chose brings me loads of joy, every single day.  it's a real beauty this year.

take in the new ornament additions to the tree...seriously, how blessed am i that i can revisit this glorious stage of annual handmade photo ornaments? :)  thank-you Cree!

they have always been my favourite...

I can't even believe the cuteness of this red truck with Cree's face inside...Hannah noted that the ornaments have come a long way :)

still have this one of Adam on the tree, but the bigger kids have protested- suggesting these keepsakes make the tree look less, shall i say, put together, so all of their originals are still there but hung more towards the back.  i still soak up their sweet faces often with a glance...

also, every year i wait for the WestJet Christmas video that always melts me.  it's a good reminder that all the joy is really to be found in the giving.  that's where it's at.  

i don't fly often, or know much about WestJet as a company in general.  but i've come to really love and enjoy their Christmas spirit!  

find it here!

Merry Christmas family and friends...