Happy New Year!

January, how I love thee. So cozy and uncomplicated.

I mean December was oh-so-fun, but I need to catch my breath a bit... and a big inhale of chimney-smoke scented, crisp, mid-winter air. 

But before we set sail into this new year, a few moments to share from the end of our 2013....

cutting down the tree... timber!






my cute husband serving at the women's Christmas luncheon at church


and some catch-up time with Susan (our speaker)


this sweet boy turned TEN!


first snow of the season... oh, how I hope we have more this year!


Christmas dress-up day at Classical Conversations. And the last day of tin whistle! ; )

my CRAZY class of eight 8/9 year-old boys. oh. my. 

an afternoon of gingerbread house decorating with good friends

a day at the holiday market and the National Portrait Gallery

my wonderful parents were here for a week and this is the ONLY photo I have of one of them... 

after-Christmas ice skating

New Year

Again this morning our phone rang with tragic news. Inexpressible heartache, tears, whys. The calls have been hard these past weeks... months. My heart, heavy and weary, was encouraged by these words this morning...

And in a fallen world, I fall forward into a New Year,
and I fall forward into Christ’s safe arms and it is safe to trust.
He is safe to trust.

January 1st and clinging to Christmas.

A thrill of Hope, the weary world rejoices...

Wishing you all a Hope-filled New Year, friends. Full of Jesus.

finally posting glimpses of our rejoicing from these past weeks...

The fifth grade class at church performed the York Nativity Play. Hannah loved being a part of it. 

The kids made hot cocoa mix and homemade marshmallows for their friends this Christmas. 

I love the messes they make.

One of Hannah's sweet gifts for family. 

We all loved having my mom and dad here for a week. 

A night of celebrating with a living nativity at the farm. 

Peter was a adoring shepherd at our Family Christmas Eve Service. 

 

Christmas Day Legos. Is there anything better?

Peter's favorite gifts. Love that kid.

Family.

Christmas

Christmas day was lovely, quiet, easy. Up before dawn, just the five of us, we easily opened gifts, had a big Christmas breakfast, and walked to church before the 11:00 service. Afternoon was laid back and lego-filled. Early evening, we headed over to be with friends for Christmas dinner.

I took no pictures. Well, just this one.

I love to capture everyday moments with my camera. I'm not-so-good at getting the big events.

The calendar is beautifully clear this week for us to enjoy these slow and quiet days, write a few thank you notes, and play.

I'll be back in the New Year.

24 : 25 {christmas eve}

On our way to the family Christmas Eve service.

Where Peter became a sheep.


And Hannah an angel.


For the live nativity scene.
(Will is not keen on being up front.)


Home for a cozy dinner.


The children were nestled all snug in their beds.

We sat and enjoyed the fire before my pastor-husband headed back to church.

And then I prepared for the morning. Mary and Joseph's long journey came to an end. The kids will find the stable full in the morning. Baby Jesus lying in the manger.

"If Christ had arrived with trumpets and lain in a cradle of gold,
his birth would have been a splendid affair.

But it would not be a comfort to me.

He was rather to lie in the lap of a poor maiden
and be thought of little significance in the eyes of the world.

Now I can come to him."

- Martin Luther, 1530, Sermon on Luke 2


{merry christmas, everyone}

22+23 : 25 {it's the most wonderful...}

Waiting, playing, wrapping, creating, baking, delivering, eating, dancing, singing... so enjoying this most wonderful time of the year.

We have spent these past few days soaking up some mild December weather, dancing around the house with Christmas Pandora stations blaring, all while constantly munching on piles of homemade goodies delivered to our door.

A few snapshots...


Parking lot fun. Peter let me ride his new toy, too (a benefit of being 5' 2'').

Evidence.


Downtown Bethesda lunch and shopping.

Evening games.


Making cinnamon rolls with my girl.

21 : 25 {rainy day}

It's a rainy day here, and we so wish this was snow!

I'm busily cleaning and organizing and encouraging my kids to get rid of a few things. Oh, the stuff. Party favors, crafts that need to be saved forever, little plastic this and that... Bleh. I'm really not a huge fan of stuff.

But a box. Now that never gets old...


Hannah has been spending a lot time behind closed doors making her gifts, and I suspect trying to find a little quiet. The boys are not so quiet.

They're all watching Rudolph now. Rain is falling. House is just about clean. Then maybe a game or puzzle. Dinner out with friends tonight.

I'm loving Christmas vacation.

19 : 25 {gifting}

Busy here today preparing our gifts for the wonderful people who work at our church. We all love this day.

From our kids to the other pastors' kids - a tabletop s'more kit.

I found the fun red and white striped parchment paper at World Market.

Baker's twine to hold it all together.

I use these labels for everything. Cut the rounded corners off for a sharper/less Avery-label look.

The clear bags I had were too small. Oh well. It still works... kind of.

The kids loved assembling these. A can of Sterno fuel, a cellophane bag of marshmallows, a giant chocolate bar, a pack of graham crackers, and some long skewers.

While they did that, I made cranberry-orange granola.

These wooden snowflakes are from Crate and Barrel - came in a pack of 24. So pretty... I wish I bought more.

And we baked piles and piles of our favorite ginger cookies. I'll be packaging those today.

All the "Can I help?" kitchen questions, led me to pull out the oranges and cloves. Pomanders are a favorite, slow-down Christmas activity here. This way we could all be together. It's nearly impossible for all four of us to bake together in our kitchen.

I had to include this photo of Will - so proud of the car he built with his new birthday Lego set. This is a fabulous Creator set, if you need a last minute gift.