I am typing while eating mini Licorice Allsorts and drinking vanilla rooibus tea, listening to the crazy wind outside. Thankful for warmth and new sock slippers. My first 1000-piece puzzle beckons from my right. I started it yesterday and I've decided that I think it's doable. It's a Christmas gift from the kids of a piece of art that used to hang in our kitchen by Wassily Kandinsky (Colour Study of Squares). I think it deserves a better name.
Graham and the kids made a snowman this morning before the rain came. Kids' safety glasses arrived today so there was a Nerf Gun battle in the house. Lots of fun.
I had my first Covid test on Sunday. Thankfully it came back negative. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but I'm sure it was more than five seconds. I had chocolate ready to pop in my mouth as soon as it was over. My one symptom has been a cough. For this reason I've missed church and our Christmas Eve service in person but I'm thankful for technology that lets me join from home.
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| I was so excited to find these transfers! |
It's been a good and full month and I am appreciating having down time these last few days as we are in Lockdown until the end of January. I enjoyed watching The Chosen Christmas special. I watched it twice in a row. It's free to watch with the App. It was also fun introducing the kids to Anne of Green Gables. We finished the first dvd. I've put the Sequel on hold at the library. I'm hoping to introduce them to Road to Avonlea whenever my name comes up at the library.
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| Thrilled with her earmuffs! |
Our fridge saga is finally over. Our fridge died in September and then we found out that the fridge we ordered would not come in until July. Our second and third choices would also not come in until July. Our fourth choice was due sometime in January but instead it arrived on December 23, just in time to hold our Christmas turkey and all the leftovers. Grateful! It was so kind of family and friends to lend us two bar fridges. It was also very nice to return them and enjoy the extra space. I still have a feeling of thanks each time I go to the fridge. It's our first time having a fridge on top and a freezer on the bottom. I am enjoying the new layout.
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| Goodbye old fridge! |
The month began with a trip to the Coping Centre for their annual Christmas memorial. It was different this year but we were still able to place an ornament with Josiah's name on a lit tree on their beautiful property. The theme this year was tears and we were also given an ornament to put on our own tree (and we enjoyed some yummy treats as always).
Next up was Isaac's 10th birthday! My first-born has double digits! It was more low-key than usual but he had a very good day. Actually we started the evening before with a trip to see the lights at Bingemans and he watched The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe the night of his birthday.
Kohen had his piano recital the next afternoon via Zoom. He played Away in a Manger and did an excellent job.
This was our first Christmas with only our immediate family. We did have a couple of Zoom calls with the extended family. My first turkey last year was a disaster but this year's was a success. We have lots of turkey and stock in our freezer and we've enjoyed turkey soup and turkey a la king this week.
This is my first Christmas on FaceBook. Had I joined years ago, I may have bought my kids matching Christmas pajamas and posted the results each year. I think it's a fun tradition but I also suspect I'm too frugal to buy three pairs of pajamas every December, given that my boys usually opt to wear shorts and a t-shirt to bed.
Lily-Anna no longer has to content herself with chewing fake gum. Kohen received a gumball machine for Christmas so Lily-Anna's first gum was from there and she paid for it herself (you need to add a coin to get a piece). I think Kohen is excited to make some money from his sister.
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| Lily-Anna's first real gum! |
Speaking of traditions, we have a few. Starting on December 1st, we light a candle each night on a spiral wreath, each day moving Mary and her donkey closer to the middle. We also try to read Scripture and a reading from a beautiful Advent book by Ann Voskamp. Each day I also try to hide a card for the kids to find. The cards tells us something we need to do such as 'Go for a walk and look at Christmas lights.' A friend gave me these cards years ago and the kids ask for them each day. This year I also added a small treat with the card.
Growing up, we would open all of our presents, one person at a time, and then later my dad would let us know that there was one more present for each of us hiding somewhere. We would run off to find it. I usually do that too but this year there seemed to be so many gifts that I still have three wrapped gifts that the kids don't know about yet. We actually decided to take a break from opening gifts. It worked out well as I worked on the turkey and Graham shovelled snow and the kids built Lego and played happily. We often have more than one Christmas so this year there were more gifts to open on one day. The kids will be at home at least until January 11th so I'm sure I'll need to pull out something new before then to grab their attention.
One gift to me was a book that I could read to the kids. It's called Little Pilgrim's Big Journey and it's a full colour picture book of the story of The Pilgrim's Progress geared for kids. I was quite happy when the two youngest kept asking me to read more. I love reading to the kids but I tend to get quite sleepy as well. Finally, I told them I needed to stop. Isaac said that he could keep reading but only one chapter. He ended up reading the remaining six or so chapters and asking the questions at the end of each chapter.
We are soon to be pet owners. We prepared the fish tank today so we'll pick up the fish in a few days.
I am very impressed with the creativity of some churches. My inlaws' church bought a large number of gift cards from a local bakery and then church members gave them away to neighbours and friends. A friends' church made up beautiful boxes for Christmas Eve. Church families took one for themselves and another to give away. It contained hot chocolate and popcorn, Christmas cookies, chocolates, coffee, candles, candy canes, a book about Christmas as well as an invitation to their online Christmas Eve service. How thoughtful and generous! Thanks Morbys!
The kids enjoyed decorating a gingerbread house which we've been eating since Christmas.
Another fun adventure has been the stair slide. I've always wanted to have a slide on our stairs. It was actually Graham who realized that the three big identical boxes could be taped together for a tube slide. The kids had fun on that. I have since made it a flat slide so that it could be longer and so I could try it out. I just gathered the couch cushions and all the pillows in our home and placed them at the bottom of the stairs. Fun times. It will have to come down soon.
I've seen lots of beautiful Christmas trees on FaceBook but I've realized that my perfect tree has all of the homemade ornaments and school gifts and Sunday school crafts and all the memories of Christmas's past. The fact that our tree was a Value Village find from our first year of marriage 16 years ago, still brings me joy.
Yes, I like traditions. Each year since our first Christmas we have ordered two ornaments from Amos Pewter in Nova Scotia where we spent a night of our honeymoon. We order the annual ornament and then Graham surprises me with another one he chooses (we refer to a list so we don't repeat). This year's was a Wild Rose. The description says, "Even under the most challenging conditions, the Wild Rose can grow and flourish." He surprised me with an Anchor, "a symbol of strength and stability." I'm so thankful that "We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll; fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love!"
This family has certainly needed that anchor and relied on that anchor during 2020. I can think of so many needs we are praying about for others and ourselves. One that comes to mind and isn't private is that my Mother-in-law broke her collar bone and is recuperating with the care of her wonderful husband. Please keep them in prayer.
"Lord, we welcome 2021 with open arms. We are so thankful that You are Sovereign and You love us. We trust You. Please turn people's eyes to You and reveal Yourself anew."
May you be blessed with God's gracious gifts in 2021. Happy New Year! Rejoice!
Blessings,
Elizabeth
Luke 2:10-12,17
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! ... After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him."
I've enjoyed this Christmas song, O Come O Come Emmanuel by Matt Maher.
