Christmas Highlights

Christmas was nice this year. It was such a blessings to have a White Christmas, even though it did disrupt most of our plans in the days around Christmas. I was forced to slow down, which I think I really needed. We spent several days playing in the snow with neighbors who were also stuck at home. We played games, made Christmas cookies, read a great book.......I still felt busy enough, just less busy than I would have been had I made it to all the social events that were scheduled.

Some Christmas cookie decorating with Koen's buddy, Isaac

We stayed in Washington for Christmas this year. It's nice to be at home and not have to make the long drive to Oregon on Christmas Day like we've done many times in the past. Keith's family went to Boston to celebrate, so we spent the time with my family. Christmas Eve was spent at my Mom's like always. We had a little bit of trouble getting there. We have two identical white Subaru Outbacks that do great in the snow. I headed north to get my Grammi from her nursing home, and Keith and Koen headed south to pick up my dad who was stranded at his house. On Keith's way, he dropped Koen at my Mom's, and then only a few blocks from the house the car broke down. Most cars were stuck in the snow, but our car decided it was time for the clutch to give out. Some nice people helped Keith move it to a side street, and he waited for Tripple A to come, only to be told there were no available tow trucks. That was fine though, because I was able to get him after I dropped my Grammi off.

Everyone arrived safely, just a little later than planned, and we had a good dinner. After dinner we headed to church, but it was a little dissapointing as our church had cancelled it's service. We tried a new one near by and the music was so loud it hurt my ears (makes me sound old, doesn't it!!) Oh well, Keith liked it. After that we spent a couple hours opening gifts, and had a Happy Birthday Jesus cake.

Koen and Grampa on Christmas Eve

A family photo in front of Grammi's tree- tradition.

The Dinner-L to R is Great-Grammi (92), Grammi (Kelly's Mom), Laurie, Kelly, Aunt Carrie, Grampa, Koen and Keith is the photographer.

The Happy Birthday Jesus cake- Koen got to blow out the candles, of course.

Koen's loving the new Cars slippers!

Our desire was to have Christmas morning to ourselves, but we were up so late Christmas Eve that we slept in really late on Christmas Day, and only had time for breakfast and stockings, and a little bit of enjoying the gifts we got the night before. In the afternoon we headed for my aunt's house for a nice open house gathering she has yearly.

Christmas Day we had a few hours are home to ourselves - all Koen wanted to do was play with his new toys, not open more presents. He particularly loved the new play dough set.

The newer tradition - a photo in front of our mini tree-on-a-table.
I made hats for the three of us.

Opening stockings (Look at that snow!!)

That evening we did what we're trying to make our tradition and drove around (or should I say slid around!) to look at Christmas lights with my mom. We went back home and opened a few more presents, and did our last advent (which Koen loved this year!).

Our new Advent tradition - with candles, The Advent Book, and the tree that gets an ornament every night. Koen enjoyed this, especially blowing out the candles.

One of Koen's favorite gifts - the 2 dollar pair of child scissors, was a necessity when opening every gift- weather it had a ribbon or not!

Koen getting to enjoy one of his new toys.

Koen got to the point that he was tired of opening presents! I think it was mostly because we wouldn't let him get some of the new toys out of the box, as he had plenty more to open and he needed to get it done. It seems like the cheaper, simpler gifts are what thrilled him the most: a glowing bouncy ball, a pair of scissors, and a flash light. He seemed to understand that we were celebrating Jesus' birthday. We didn't talk at all about Santa, and he didn't ask about him. We were able to focus on Jesus, and he talked about it often in the days leading up to Christmas. I'm so thankful for that. As Koen would excitedly say "Jesus was born!"

One cute story: One of the last gifts Koen opened Christmas night was a little box of train tracks that Keith had labeled "To: Koen, From: Monkey (Koen's favorite stuffed animal)." After he opened it, he gave Monkey a hug, said thank you and then asked us "What should we give Monkey?" Keith and I were trying to think of something to give Monkey, and Koen ran excitedly into the kitchen saying "Monkey needs a banana!" So, monkey got a banana for Christmas, and all were happy.

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