Home For Christmas

Christmas Day turned out to be a very windy day, so windy that our lights flickered on several occasions and I was thinking of back-up plans for the turkey to get done.  Chris and Julene with three super excited kids had their rocking session on the ferry coming from the island. They were the first to ring the doorbell. Of course I had to take a photo of this momentous occasion. The doorbell rang again and . . .words don't need explaining for the beautiful sight . . . Ben and Kari and Co. . .  followed by our photogenic Shaun and Kristal with their three new Canadians.

Papa has a routine with the smallest ones and they remember every time they come in. They get a review of who everyone is.

All day long, I really felt like this could not be happening.  I actually wondered how one does a family gathering .  .. one in which I suddenly felt like I was my mom. When I first saw this photo, I had this feeling of everything being surreal, like I was in heaven, looking down at the future. How can one suddenly have a table-full of grandchildren eating turkey dinner?



Meanwhile, in the dining room, the table was set only for the adults to enjoy after the kids were done.

I probably enjoyed this time most of all! Eating together and anticipating the rest of the evening.

I realize we are starting traditions with this day and, in years to come, we will have to do the same. I think this is one . . . the grandchildren by the tree. (Landon, Paeton, Tehya holding Koen, Natalie, Makenna and Lacey. This is Makenna's first Christmas in Canada.




Gifts from uncles and aunts were opened before our early dinner. The rest were opened after the adults finished dinner.

Can I say again? It was soooo good to be together!

It will be the Christmas long remembered for the first time we had all three married kids home for Christmas together.

A Few Days Before Christmas

Yesterday afternoon I read the accounts of the birth of Jesus in the different gospels. While reading Matthew Chapter 2, I was struck by the number of times the author refers to the fulfillment of prophecy, emphasizing four different details about the place of birth and why Jesus would have lived in a number of different places. I get the idea that Matthew did his homework about the legitimacy of Jesus being the true awaited Messiah because of the clear fulfillment of what was told about long ago. In the gospel of Luke Chapter 2, I read the birth account that is most often read at Christmas. I never tire of the angles’ message proclaiming news of great joy! The things that stand out in this account are the gifts of joy, peace and hope for all people.

The days of celebrating what our faith is based on are almost here. I’ve planned the menu for our Christmas dinner with our kids and grandkids, as well as the dinner we will be having with my extended family at the Lakehouse. The birds, potatoes, yams, beans and staples needed are stuffed into the cupboards and fridges. At times like this I am thankful for an old spare fridge.

Yesterday we also picked up a final gift, but most of them are tucked under the tree by now. Mind you, there are a few rather conspicuously large and bulky gifts for the grandchildren still not under the tree for this reason. I think everyone in this family is happy not to be bound by size and weight limits for once.

Then, after dinner, we went to the Lakehouse to put up a tree and some garland in anticipation of the family time there next week. It’s the first time we are celebrating Christmas in our old, re-done family cabin, the first time in years, that my mom is not coming alone and that all of the birdies from my branch will be there. Yes, I am looking forward to starting some new traditions.

Thinking about one of the things we want to focus on during our times together, I purchased a new book called the Jesus Storybook Bible. I opened the page to Luke Chapter 1 - 2 and it begins with, “Everything was ready. The moment God had been waiting for was here at last! God was coming to help his people, just as he promised in the beginning.” Does that not make you want to read on?

Wishing you, dear visitors, joy, peace and hope this Christmas. Joy that is not bound by outward circumstances, peace that passes understanding and hope that will not disappoint.

Sincerely, Anneliese

Outdoor Adventures

It is hard to keep kids, who are used to having summer all year round, inside. So they went outside to explore. When I came out, Paeton had made friends with a spider. Should  I be surprised?



When we were in Indonesia, back in April, he was the one who pointed out something about the banana trees outside of our window.

Having undone one of the curled up leaves and found a caterpillar inside, he was convinced that caterpillars cut a strip of leaf, wrap themselves inside and turn into a cocoon, eventually coming out as butterflies. I don't  know if this is true, but that is his theory.
I realize that there may not be as many exciting things to find in our back yard, but I am happy he found a spider.
On a cold, wet winter day, we also went to the park and they enjoyed the playground. In the end, we had to hurry back to make it home before dark around four in the afternoon.
Today, being the shortest day of the year, I am glad that the days will only get longer now. And maybe, before long, we will see butterflies once again.

Ten Special Moments

My eyes teared up as we followed our kids, in caravan fashion to the airport on Saturday evening. Three vehicles . . . everyone there .  . . even little ones had somehow earned the right to stay up past their bedtime on this special night. For some reason this made me very happy. It's a picture left for the imagination.

The moment finally came . . . and when it did, it happened so quickly, I wish it could have been slowed down to capture every face . . .

and every "welcome home" embrace!

 The look that lingers in my mind is one of Natalie's shining eyes telling all that nothing could be better . . . her cousins have come home!

The midnight snack around the kitchen counter after baths.

The fireside to warm some shivering bodies first thing in the morning

and setting a late breakfast table with anticipation for the day after a good night's sleep.

Everyone getting settled around the Faspa table in the afternoon

and actually stopping for a pose!

Cousins enjoying a special moment with their ice cream before bedtime.

My mom and Abe dropping in . .  . on her 77th Birthday.

 It's been a perfect twenty four hours!

 And it's time to go to sleep.

Last Things

 

My sentimental nature has taken me down a path that not everyone will appreciate, but lately I’ve been musing about “last things.” When this letter came in the mailbox I knew it was one of these little lasts.  I waited to open it, savoring the joy of sitting down later with a cup of tea. In the meantime I admired the envelope, home-made, fashioned out of a magazine page with a fall scene . . .  so beautiful!

Last things happen all the time.  There’s the last time I wrote a silly note to my girlfriend in high school, the last time I slept at home with Mom and Dad, the last time I changed my child’s diaper. Sometimes we are happy about them, sometimes we are unaware of the fact and sometimes we are very aware of them.

It’s the unaware times that have me pondering a bit. There was a last time I held my child’s hand while walking across the street, the last time I kissed him goodnight, the last time I tied her shoes or cut her bangs. When was it? These are good and normal, but I get caught up with the mystery, being fooled into thinking certain things will go on forever and not realizing when the change happened. It leaves me wishing for another chance, but realizing it's better not to know.

In the meantime, these weeks have been filled with lasts that I am very aware of. It’s the part of our life that has been affected by a young pilot joining our family, one with a dream to serve the poor, and a daughter who happily agreed to be by his side, no matter where, to love on those she could. As grateful as I am to have this beloved family come home . . . I get choked up, imagining that last landing . . . his last words on the radio ... “Mike Alpha Echo ... Is grounded.”

The reality I’m facing now is that the life of being missionary parents has come to an end. Walking the grocery store aisle, imagining the bare shelves where they live, and putting something special in the cart. Sending Birthday parcels, planned out months in advance to get there. The “heart skipping” sight of that fifteen digit phone number on my call display. The restricted feeling of not being able to call because of the time difference and the getting up to see if any news arrived while it was our turn to sleep. We have rejoiced with our kids over their dreams come true while living there and we have prayed them through their tears when lonely and frustrated.

Life will take on a different normal now, but I never want to take for granted the things I desired when apart. Last moments can happen anytime. We do not always have the  privilege of knowing . . . our last chance to tell someone that we love them . . . so let’s take our chances while we have them. It may just be the best gift we can give, without regrets.

Clayburn Village Store

One of the best things about having our Colorado grands here now is being able to experience the everyday things. I love picking up Natalie from Kindergarten once a week. When it was still nice we could go to the park or play in our backyard for a bit. Sometimes we stop at Tim Hortons for a donut and sometimes she comes over and we play rings on your fingers or snakes and ladders.




One day we went to the Clayburn Village Store . . . an old candy store and tea house combination . . . that we conveniently pass on our way home to our place.

 

It is a candy lover's heaven, I would say.

 

She made choices for herself and we also made up a little treat bag for her brother.

every flavor of jelly beans . . .

and every fun candy you can imagine.

Yesterday, when I picked her up, she was carrying a madarin orange box like it was made of crystal. She carefully set it down to show me what she had made. She opened the lid and in the box stood a little gingerbread house! A candy had fallen off and she said, "I think I should eat that one."