Christmas Happenings

Koen is having fun playing in the sink right now. He loves his step-stools and carries them all over the house. I’m kind of regretting offering him this freedom.

Once again we have gotten caught up in the busyness of the season. I really want to slow down and spend a good amount of time pondering the amazing Gift that God sent to earth about 2000 years ago. This is the time of year that I battle materialism more than any other time. Money has been super tight, but I love to give. We’ve had to cut back in gifts, and get a little creative, which isn’t my forte. And, creativity takes time. I feel like Koen needs more and more of my time. By the time he goes to bed I am exhausted, but can actually get a few things done. Then I’m up late being productive and don’t get enough sleep! I’ve got some kind of nasty cold – the kind that makes you light-headed and so weary. Koen’s a little stuffed up, but nothing major. Keith is still sleeping a little weird from his trip.

Our Christmas plans include a candle light service at my Mom’s church Sunday evening, then celebrating with my family at my Mom’s on Christmas Eve. That evening we will attend Keith and I’s church for another candlelight service. We usually open gifts late into the night, so we will likely sleep in on the 25th. We’ll have a few quiet hours to ourselves Christmas morning. In the afternoon we will go to my aunt’s house to see my dad’s side of the family for an hour or so, and then head south to be with Keith’s family in the evening. I hope that by this time next year we will have more family traditions of our own – to really take the focus off of receiving, and onto Jesus as Koen becomes more aware.

On the 27th, we have our annual Campus Crusade winter conference in Portland where about 700 students from around the northwest will come to learn and fellowship. Keith has a big role in the conference, being in charge of housing for all the students and staff. He will be busy. The 29th is our 6th wedding anniversary. We don’t usually get to do anything real big because of the conference, but we’ll see. We’ll leave Koen with my mother-in-law 2-3 nights, and then have him join us at the conference through the 1st, when we will finally head home and hope to regain some normality.

I do love Christmas, and am so thankful for God sending His only Son to live as a human, be our perfect example, and then go to the cross to save us from our sins. Thank you Lord for salvation, a personal and loving relationship with you, and for so many blessings in our lives. I pray you focus on His many blessings to you this Christmas.Koen in his outfit Papa brought back from Asia