Feliz Ano Nuevo

The new year brought about the most unexpected surprise for me.

Last Friday my H came home for lunch and casually mentioned

that he'd been thinking about going somewhere warm
and the sooner, the better.

Would I want to check about the details? 

In short, two days later we were here at this all inclusive resort in Cancun.

We got up on Monday morning, like in a dream.

After breakfast we found chairs facing this view ...

sun, breezes, a good book, good company ...



New Year's Eve Dinner tables were set up right beside the pool.

The resort reminds me of various other places we have seen,

sometimes I think of Bali and other times Hawaii

or an ocean cruise.

This has been one of my favorite views.

We walk the beach every day ...

listening to the ocean and taking in its beauty.

The Gulf of Mexico has seen a lot of seaweed wash up on its shores for a few years now ...

Something we did not know ...

It intrigues us as much as it must frustrate the people here

who have the non stop job of cleaning it up.

There are crews who come along with pitch forks and wheel barrows and

cart it off.

It could turn away some tourists, but the sand is still so nice!

Children have no problem playing or building their castles around it. 

We are enjoying great food at buffets for breakfast and lunch

and beautiful dinners at the restaurants on the premise.

Totally spoiled!

Two more buenas dias before we say adios amigos.

Short and sweet.

For one who tends to get a bit over sentimental

every time a new year rolls around,

this has been a good distraction ...

and

2019 has been welcomed!

At the End of 2018

Praise the Lord, O my soul ...

Who satisfies your desires with good things,

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:5

It's been a full year of learning, leaning, listening
and longings fulfilled.
My heart overflows with satisfied desires!

Thankful for 2018

Christmas Joy

The Friesens came ...

and then the Sawyers.

There was excitement in the air as we started with appies.

The kids still like to see something fun to color 

and they also tore and decorated paper Christmas trees while blindfolded,

which brought some laughter about the funny creations.

Papa opened a new storybook about the meaning of Christmas

and Saint Nicholas. 

Then the kids shared in verses and song.

Tradition here is to do separate gift openings, first all the kids

taking turns on the gift opening chair

and later the parents have time alone

while the kids play or watch a movie.

The boys had to go for a quick spin to try their new wheels,

even in the dark.

Teddy got her wish for a kick scooter with wheels that light up.

The older girls had fun trying on their twin outfits.

and the littlest ones didn't take long to try their new pajamas.

After dinner it was the adults' turn.

There was joy in giving and receiving,

but the greatest joy in my heart

was the fact that we love getting together.

Yes, we miss our Indonesia family,

but there is the comfort of knowing if they could,

they would be here.

Pictures and words cannot capture the contentment

and joy in our hearts,

as we realize what a blessing it is to celebrate

this most special day of the year.

After everyone had packed up their loot and tired kids.

I sat down, scrolling through the photos,
and had to think of the second verse of one of my favorite German Christmas songs.

Translation does not do it poetic justice, but I will try,
because it sums up my feelings at such a time as this.

"Yet such joys are all too short,

soon the candle light goes out.

Only Jesus can give joy that never, never ends."

All glory to God.

The Angel Story

My eyes were drawn to the beautiful painting

that gets rolled out every year at the MEI Christmas concert.

I found out that it was painted 30 years ago by an MEI teacher,

who may have had no idea how many students

would be singing the song of the angels under that banner.

How fitting that the joy the kids proclaim every year in song,

matches that of the angels' joyfull announcement!

My heart fills with joy just at the sight.

I could not help but be reminded of a reading in 25 Days of Advent,

where the writer points out how the angels were present

when God laid out the earth's foundations,

shouting with joy ...

and

how sad they must have been when 

they saw sin enter the world and the gate to the garden closed.

For a long time they waited,

for the redemption that was promised.

They knew not when.

Until one day a tiny baby was born

and God sent an angel to proclaim the message of salvation

to a group of shepherds ... ultimately to all people.

And then the angels could wait no more!

We all know how it says, that 

suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,

praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2: 9-14

Only angels know how precious this news! 

Wishing you joy that lasts long after this day.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Mom

Last Sunday, a couple of days before her birthday, 

Monika and I, with our hubbies, went to see mom at her home

to celebrate her 84th Birthday.

In years gone by, she felt bad that her birthday was so close to Christmas.

It was not that she felt sorry for herself, 

but for those of us who wanted to make it special ...

"when it's such a busy time."

Since she gets her food pureed now,

we decided to bring cookies to dunk in coffee.

A peppermint cookie may or may not have brought back some familiarity,

but we know she enjoyed the time around the table 

in the company of son-in-laws who still make her laugh. 

On her actual birthday, 

Monika and I had not planned to meet there, but we did.

Sometimes we try hard to make her smile for a picture.

The truth is, 

I want to guard others from seeing her with her strange expression.

And yet, this is what I've come to understand ...
she wants to smile

but most of the time, no matter how hard she tries,

something is off.

I believe she knows it has something to do with her mouth,

but her brain is forgetting how to send the smile signal to those muscles.

Strange, how simple things we do so naturally

still need a clear command and follow through.

On the other hand, 

it shows the complexity of how we are made.

So marvelously created. 

We have made new memories with mom this year

and I'm thankful for the peace and contentment she expresses. 

Happy Birthday to my smiling mom!

♡♡♡

Pinterest and Peppernut Inspired

A week ago Friday after school, 

the oldest three girls came over after school to craft.

It was a joy to see how excited they were!

I would love to show what they made, but they were so proud of their

accomplishments that they decided to use them as Christmas gifts.

So, no posting ... Mimi!

We also did some baking, rolling out a peppernut recipe
to make shaped gingerbread men etc. and these snowmen cookies.

After dinner we watched The Princess Switch ...

a perfect girl movie.

How I love this age!

As I do this one! So fun to see them experience their "firsts".

As they were cutting peppernuts,

they were humming a tune from Annie.

When I asked if they had seen the movie,

Evy said, "I'm not allowed to watch the end ... there's a scary part.

That's where a man chases Annie. His name is Chicken."

And if that does not make you laugh,

you have not seen the movie.

When Daddy picked up Jade, she told him,

"Mimi let us use a very safe knife!" 

I kept aside some of the Peppernut dough to do my own playing.

Our Community Group (Church Care Group) got together

for appies and dessert this week.

One game we played, we were blindfolded and 

given construction paper and stickers to shape and decorate trees.

And last night ... ending the second week of December,

we attended An Irish Christmas 
performed by the 

Abbotsford Youth Orchestra with Dr. Calvin Dyck,

the Steel School of Irish Dance and the Alumni Project

which is a choral group of graduates from MEI.

The readings were done with a beautiful Irish accent.

It was another wonderful evening with friends!