A Weekend in January

I could post just this photo alone, for the story it tells and the joy it gives me!

When we planned this new house, I envisioned a scene like this,

a place for the kids to leave their backpacks and coats. 

Now, if you look closely at this photo, 

you will see a boy who is very organized but who also 

loves to play soccer at recess. 

I love it. 

They came after school on Thursday.

There was no school on Friday, so we drove into Vancouver.

We had tickets to Fly over Canada.

They were curious what this was all about.

I love the city views, the highrises, the coffee shops and the bustle.

Our show was at the Port of Vancouver in Canada Place.

Since we were a bit early, we had a snack at a coffee shop in the same building.

For the main show,

 everyone gets seated and buckled into front row seats, 

the lights go off and the floor moves away,

leaving us as passengers feeling like we are hanging over the landscape

inside, a silent open helicopter door.

With no photography allowed,

I have to resort to the photos in my mind's eye,

 coming up right next to the snow capped Rocky Mountain peaks,

swooping down on wheat fields or hockey players on a frozen pond,

coming up right over the CN Tower and then

feeling the spray of Niagara Falls.

We took a trip to the Maritimes in Fall, the Northern Lights

and coming home, soared over the vineyards in the Okanagan. 

It was a lot of fun to see the kids' expressions, taken totally by surprise,

The funny thing is that even though we never move, 

the feeling of movement is so real, that one tends to lean 

to avoid hitting what is coming up. 

We stopped off for a walk in Stanley Park near by,

then some fast food and home, trying to avoid the traffic rush. 

On Saturday Evy joined the threesome. 

They made slime.

Not much to say about that.

We had to have German pancakes for lunch. 

We played a lot of scrabble, and the boys played hockey.

We watched some fun animated movies, 

which seem to have gotten better. =) 

A lot of sweet/salty popcorn and strawberries got eaten. 

But we also had some real meals. 

Sunday morning the kids got up and dressed for church before I was out of bed. 

Since their family usually attends the earlier service, 

Jade kept telling us we are going to be late. 

Meanwhile we were quite relaxed.

Teddy had fun showing us the moving reptile she made. 

In the afternoon Jade wanted to bake cupcakes. So we did.

This fun and bubbly girl is eight today.

She has a lot of personality and brings us much joy and laughter! 

While waiting for Mom and Dad and Lacey to come home,

Papa showed those who were interested how to play pool. 

This old pool table that their dad used to play is making a comeback.

There was a joyful reunion and Faspa and stories.

And talk about stories, there were lots.

The kids are at an age where they love to hear about their dad.

Jade went as far as to exclaim,

"I don't know what would I do without you!

My dad never tells us stories about when he was a kid!" 

And there you have it! 

Being grandparents is the best. 

 

Celebrating the Friesen Girls

January is not a down time in this family, with the number of birthdays we have.

Sometimes we take each one out for a treat,

sometimes we host a family gathering.

Lacey turned 13 on January 14th.

What a beautiful, sensitive and talented girl she is!

When you spend time with her, she does not fixate on herself,

but will always ask "how was your day?" or "what did you do today?"

This is in spite of her days being full, 

because she wants to do it all! 

I thought I'd focus on her for the cake

since becoming a teenager is rather significant,

but I didn't even get a photo of her.

She blew out those candles so quick! 

Kari's birthday is today.

She is beautiful and wonderful, always making those around her feel special.

Jade and Teddy's birthdays are coming up!

Jade is best at making us laugh and also very caring.

Last week we got to put the younger ones to bed one night 

and she got out a jar of names that she had collected.

She pulled out a name and prayed out loud for that person. 

So very special!

Teddy enjoys one on one time, baking, crafting or coloring. 

She is never in a hurry and does whatever she does very well.

We had a lot of fun getting ready for this party,

and so quickly it was over!

As I get older, I feel that brevity more and more.

My wish and prayer for these beautiful girls 

is that their hope will always be in the One 

who created them, each unique and wonderful.

May they wait on Him and soar!

🤍🤍🤍

 

Waffle Date

 

Teddy came over one day with her waffle cookbook and

 mini waffle maker she got for Christmas.

I didn't know there were so many varieties of waffles one could make! 

Seriously, a little gadget like this can cook, not only pancakes,

but chocolate chip cookies, churros, cinnamon buns 

as well as scrambled eggs. hash browns or omlettes 

We made banana bread waffles.

I have a second mini waffle iron, so it did not take long,

but I realized it would also be nice to make them ahead 

and freeze to put in the toaster.

Banana Bread Waffles

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup mashed bananas

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 eggs

3 Tbsp oil 

Mash bananas, add brown sugar, eggs, buttermilk, oil

Stir in  combined dry ingredients.

Serve with additional sliced bananas, peanut butter or nutella and whipped cream.

This really was so much fun!

After lunch I kept her busy with making school snacks to take home,

and she just kept smiling through each task ... stirring, rolling, scooping, sprinking! 

I love that she loves to bake! 

Happy New Year!

On the first day of this year we packed up our snow shoes and lunch

and headed to the Sasquatch Mountain Resort, about an hour's drive from our place.

Paeton has been staying with us for part of his break, and he is a good sport to try anything new,

so the fun part was to have him come along. 

It's always delightful to see the world through new eyes ...

eyes that have not seen a lot of snow. 

I felt like I had to work hard, but 

the breathtaking beauty made the trek rewarding.

What a privilege to spend this time together!

We ate our lunch on the trail, watching the skiiers.

But what I loved most, was to see his boyish grin

as we neared the hill where  the snowboarders were coming down,

quietly announcing, "This is what I was born for!"

To see life and the world with this in mind,

I think of the opportunities I may grasp in 2023!

Sometimes they may require a leap of faith,

or a love greater than my own,

but to be what I'm called for at this exact time

is what I don't want to miss. 

 ♥♥♥

Christmas Day Delights

Christmas day morning we woke to find out that the church service was canceled 

due to icy parking conditions.

Did you know that the next time we have Christmas on a Sunday is 11 years away? 

Meanwhile, it was warm and cozy inside and we were ready for the kids. 

Finally! 

There was excitement with each doorbell.

Tehya and Paeton arrived from visiting their grandparents on the island.

Then the Friesens and then the Sawyers, around two.

I set out appies, which they added to as well. 

It's become one of my favorite moments ...

the excitement, the anticipation, starting with little yummy bites around the island.

The kids found their own island. 

Shaun and Kristal had prepared some games,

and this was a lot of fun!

It's so good to have the kids at the age where they can all participate. 

We played a type of Charades game called, "Where are we going?"

and a family feud game ... boys against girls.

The GOATs (Greatest of all Times) against the GABs (Girls are Better) 

Yes, we made them work for it! 

We had a mini concert by the girls ...

they had disappeared into a bedroom earlier to "practice something" ...

and came up with a 12 days of Christmas song that had us all laughing ...

especially the chicken in Mimi's tree.

Lacey and Jade performed a Jingle Bell jingle on their ukuleles.

So fun! 

The kids each took a turn reading a part of the Christmas Story.

And then they got to open gifts. They still take turns on the gift opening chair ...

something we started when they were little.

For dinner I had prepared Beef Wellington ahead of time

(posted by Ellen in the Celebrations cookbook)

and put it in the oven when it was time to cook. 

It is a lot easier to do than it looks... 

which makes me smile.

The men were happy, the kids were wondering how Mimi did this. 

Along with that we had a medley of roasted potatoes, yams and carrots,

steamed broccoli and cauliflower with a mustard sauce

roasted green beans with lime zest and cranberries

a green salad with mandarin orange segments and caramelized nuts (Monika's salad) 

Everyone, but our three in Indonesia.

I love that we had a good representation from there. 

After dinner the kids went off to watch a movie,

most of them in jammies or sweats by that time,

while the adults exchanged gifts.

Another moment that one just wants to hang onto.

I did not take any more photos ...

sleepy kids were revived with dessert

and everyone lingered late.

It's hard to believe Christmas has come and gone again ...

a shared joy that's there all year,

but expressed more-so on this one day. 

Makes me want for more of it all year long.

🤍🤍🤍

 

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

It came upon a midnight clear

That glorious song of old

From angels bending near the earth

To touch their harps of gold

Peace on the earth, good will to men

From heaven's all gracious King

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing

And the hymn we think of is Isaac Watt's 

"Joy to the World" 

which was the first song on my mind this morning. 

We rejoice because God has, as Mary exclaimed

"been mindful of the humble state of his servant ...

He has done great things ...

His mercy extends to those who fear Him

from generation to generation."

God reached down to humanity,

He became Emmanuel, God with us.

"And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself

by becoming obedient to death -

even death on a cross!"

This is salvation by faith,

Good news for every generation past,

but especially so for us today in a world that so desperately needs saving.

So ... let every heart prepare Him room.

And heaven and nature sing! 

Merry Christmas!