Lakehouse Family Christmas

Here we are again, on our way to the Lakehouse family cabin about twenty minutes from home.

Our car is loaded with chicken casseroles ready to go in the oven, potatoes to peel and cook,

tablecloths, disposable dishes and napkins, some extra Christmas decor etc.etc.

Others will bring appetizers, punch, salads, ham and dessert. 

They say it takes a village to raise a child.

On the property we pass this apple tree that everyone is getting used to by now.

By now we expect it to bloom again in spring and produce apples in summer.

Looking at it, I'm sure there is some life lesson there.

We got there in time to warm up the cabin and enjoy the quiet before the storm . . .

if you know what I mean.

Everyone gathered in the games room to watch the great-grands open gifts from

Oma and Opa Abe. They still give money to the parents to buy gifts and 

then the kids get to open them there. 

You can see here how it's best to bring food ready made rather than try to cook.

Every picture tells a story . . .

and this is one that made me laugh as I looked through the lens . . .

clockwise from bottom center:

Natalie, Everly, Lacey, Adalia, Victor, Mikyela, Calvin, Teddy, Koen, Landon and Jade.

Hanging out nearby in the other room were Patrick, Anna and Isabelle.

Away were Isaac, Makenzie, Tehya, Paeton and Makenna.

Nineteen great-grandchildren for my mom and dad.

I can't help but think of how special this place was for dad and

the dream he had for his grandchildren

when he bought it in 1978, the year his first grandchild was born.

Did he even imagine beyond that? 

He'd be loving the continuation of his story.

And this was Christmas!

I think all moms who have had kids leave home, 

understand the joy of having them come home on these special days.

We take more time to prepare the table . . .

and light a few candles.

I love the anticipation of excited families coming home!

Family gathering began with appetizers and 

soon we found ourselves in the family room 

ready to read the Christmas story and

listen to songs the kids had prepared.

This was the babies' introduction to the gift opening chair.

They weren't sure what to do . . .

maybe these boxes could be drums?

It was also Evy's introduction to being a little mama.

She took a turn and then baby took a turn sipping.

Lacey and Teddy were thrilled with blankets auntie Kristal made for them.

One of the reasons I'm sharing so many photos is because it 

has been so much fun to look at them today and

it's just too hard to pick.

You can tell I enjoyed the priceless expressions on their faces.

Soon the dads were busy assembling 

the gifts that came in big boxes.

Assembling and playing . . . 

as one big boy remembered a similar gift he received many Christmases ago.

With some careful seating, we just made it around the table and

had everyone been here, we would have seated two tables.

After dinner we skyped with our missing family

and were so happy to get a reasonable video feed.

It warmed my heart to see the sharing that happened in this way.

One gift for me was Chris' videoing of their family opening the Christmas suitcase

(a suitcase filled with gifts that we gave them in Hawaii)

I was finally able to be that fly on the wall I so often wish to be.

Another special gift was a throw Kristal crocheted for me

. .  . how she found time is beyond me, but I love it!

Kari also came up with such a beautiful creative gift -

it will get it's own post one day.

And that quite fills up my cup - to enjoy for a long time!

Christmas Eve

The stockings are hung . . . not to be filled . . .

 they already are. 

It reminds me of how many times we get asked the question . . .

you know the one,

Are you ready for Christmas?

And it always sort of stumps me

 because we put so much emphasis on being ready

when Christmas is something we can't really add to.

The gift of Christmas was given long ago  . . .

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2)

And that's what Christmas is all about!

Now to be sure, 

presents are wrapped, my table is set,

dinner is planned and started,

We celebrate something worthy of  celebrating,

but in the end, 

when the gift wrap is tossed

the turkey dinner cleaned up and 

the candles burned down,

Jesus is the only gift

that brings peace and joy that will last.

I'm ready for that!

Wishing you a truly wonderful Christmas!

Pre Christmas Joys

To be honest, when things get super busy, 

it does not feel like the most wonderful time of the year

 but I want to take a moment here to count my blessings of this season.

 The blessing of a home to decorate 

Family who loves to come over .

Grands who love to play, bake Christmas cookies and enjoy a tea party.

Beautiful concerts

and the joy of looking at the big picture -

but focusing on certain precious little ones.

This past week we attended a choir and orchestra concert, 

two Sunday School concerts and two school productions!
This beautiful story just never gets old!

And tonight we get to celebrate my mom's 81st Birthday!

I made a jelly roll filled with chocolate pudding.
That's how she used to make it.

How Could it be so Difficult?

My mother-in-law used to say, 

"Wer die Wahl hat, hat die Qual."

As idioms go, they never translate well, 

but the essence of this once speaks to the agony of choice.

In a round about saying that it's easier if you do not have a choice.

In recent years I've succumbed to the fashion industry's obsession with boots. It used to be that we wore boots when it snowed. That was it. Now we may not get snow all winter and I'm wearing boots more times than not. This winter I was set to add another color to my black boots . . . and it looks like I've collected a few to choose from . . . not to keep, just to prolong the agony of knowing I need to make a choice.

Besides the ones that got away at the store,

there were three contenders by the end of last week.

These rich dark brown boots with a bit of height added at the front

and a zipper on the inside . . .

these taupe colored boots with adjustable buckles on the outside

and a zipper on the inside . . .

 and these gray boots - taller on the outside 

with a zipper and snap down the back.

I did not know it would be so hard to choose.

But I've made my choice and two pairs have returned to the store.

All of them are leather and about the same price.

I wonder, which pair would you have chosen?

Tiny Christmas Boxes

Last week when the one family of grands stayed with us for a few days, I saw again how they love to work with paper. They can keep busy for a long time drawing and coloring. Natalie also loves it when I let her get into my boxed cards, so she can write cards to people.
Something reminded me of how, years ago, our kids made tiny boxes, using recycled Christmas cards, and somehow I knew this could still go over well today.

To begin, I showed them a video I found on line and then, with some 

reminders, they went to it.

First they cut the card at the fold. 

Then they marked an X across the inside page, drawing  diagonal lines from one corner to the next.

For the top of the box (the picture part) they

folded the edges of all four sides to the center of the X

(these lines should be as crisp as possible)

When all four sides were folded,

they cut into the short end along the vertical fold just  toward the horizontal fold.

Next, they folded in the ends, overlapping the center and folding it over the top of the box,

then taping it in place.

This was repeated with the inside page of the card to make the bottom,

this time folding the edges a bit past the center of the X, to make it a wee bit smaller.

To cover any written words, you can line the box with tissue.

They were very proud of their boxes

and in no time each box had something small tucked in and was assigned to a lucky receiver. 

From precious memories of friends and family sending wishes
to this present day of cutting and folding -
I'm reminded again of how the past and the present meet in a wonderful cycle of life.
There were cards in the mix that may have been 20 or 30 years old
and I never would have guessed that my grandchildren would be the ones to use them.
It was definitely time.