Family Celebrations

Another wonderful year celebrating Christmas with our families.

 

Our first party of the year was with the Nash family.  We gathered at Great Grandpa and Grandma's house for our first ever ugly sweater party.

 

Henry and Nolan show off their new trucks to Grandpa Rosen.

Cousin Megan and me in our holiday hats. 

And, of course, little Emma on my lap in her red-headed wig.

Now those are some "lovely" sweaters!

But the winner was Grandpa, with his homemade ugly sweater.

 

On Christmas, we enjoyed a quiet morning at home. 

 

Our annual Christmas morning family photo.

One of the few family pictures I can guarantee both kids will be

smiling as they anticipate opening their gifts.

Opening presents in our pajamas.

Perhaps the highlight of opening gifts, was Joe's reaction to one of the gifts I gave him.  It's rather silly, actually, but he's mentioned a need for new pens at work.  And I remember how he liked the pens from a local funeral home.  So...I took it upon myself to call this funeral home and ask them for some pens.  They were happy to oblige and provided him with quite a stash.  We had a good laugh over it, and he even said it was his favorite gift.  He's pretty easy to please!

Claire's favorite gift was her wooden bird house that she's been busy painting.  Not a typical gift for a 4-year-old, but she's been asking for one for months.

 

Later in the morning we went to Africa's Child (more on this later).  We met my parents and sister there.  While Joe and my dad built some clothing racks, the girls started staining them. 

 

 

In the afternoon we headed over to Joe's Dad's house. 

We had a great time eating, visiting and reminiscing.

The kids opening their gifts, with a little help from Grandpa and Aunt Melissa.

Grandma's homemade baking mixes for Claire's easy bake oven.

The following night Claire made us a marble cake for dessert. It was delicious!

Grandpa helps Henry with his gift.

 

Our final family party was with my side of the family. 

 

Always a fun time.  The cousins play so well together and the adults enjoy hanging out and playing games.  Lots of laughter and great conversation.

Happy to have my sister and niece there as they were in a car accident on their way in from Wisconsin.  They were a bit sore, with a few scrapes and cuts, but we're so grateful they're okay.

I love hearing these duets.  Kelsey on the piano and Joe on the harmonica. 

As the cousins played dress up, I had to snap a picture of Claire in this dress, which has quite a history in our family.  It was first worn by my mom in her younger years, then by her daughters for dress up, and now by her granddaughters.

The kids (minus Ruby and Andrew) getting cozy on the couch with Grandpa.

 

It was a full week of parties, snacks, gifts, and all around excitement.

 

The kids were officially wiped out!

 And yes, that is a Christmas cookie in Henry's hand.

Immanuel

I read an article the other day about a growing number of churches that have taken up the practice of offering "Blue Services" for Christmas.  Blue services are intended for those in need, those who are struggling through the holidays for any number of reasons, including illness, divorce, the loss of a loved one.  At a time when everyone feels pressure to be joyful and jolly, they offer quiet and solemn comfort.  I love this.

 

Last night at our Christmas Eve service our pastor spoke about light in the darkness.  He spoke about how we live in dark days.  More people than ever suffer from depression; bad news abounds.  And where do we turn for comfort?  Netflix, shopping, social networking, food.  The list could go on and on.  And I'm as guilty as the rest. 

After the kids were in bed last night, Joe and I turned on the movie "The Nativity Story", something we try to do every year.  And though I fell asleep about halfway through it (my bedtime gets earlier and earlier these days), I am always amazed, and truthfully, so saddened, watching those opening scenes.  Talk about darkness.  Those men, those women, those children lived in despair.  But in those darkest of days, they survived on the hope of a coming Messiah. 

And then at just the right time, Jesus was born.  Called Immanuel which means "God with us".  That's what the people from Nazareth needed.  Not a political ruler; not just a wise teacher.  They needed "God with us".  And truthfully, that's what I need.  We live in a broken world as a broken people.  And while "God with us" won't simply whisk us away from trouble and pain, He does provide light, and He does offer hope of days ahead when the darkness will be dispelled.    

So today, I wish you all a "Merry Christmas".  Not because it's filled with bows and tinsel.  Not because it's a day we're supposed to smile and be happy.  I wish you a Merry Christmas in the name of Immanuel, "God with us", the hope we have as the Light of the world.

More Winter Fun

Day 15: Christmas Programs

Claire was an angel in our church Christmas program. 

She was a bit nervous beforehand, but when it came time

to sing her song on stage with the other kids, she was all smiles. 

Sunday evening we went to Grand Haven to see my

nieces and nephew in their Christmas program. 

 

Day 16: The Train Display at Breton Village Mall

Though the mall has had this train display for over 25 years, this was our

first time going to see it.  It was certainly one of our favorite activities this month

as the kids could have spent hours watching the trains.

 

Day 17: Gingerbread Houses at the Library 

Henry with a mouth full of candy.  Needless to say,

he had a fairly empty gingerbread house.

This year was the first year Claire ended up with more candy on her

house than in her mouth.  She worked very hard to make it just right.

 

Day 19: Build a Snowman 

A perfect snowman...with some help from Daddy, of course.

 

Day 21: Our 3rd Annual "Pre-Christmas" Brunch with the Hart family.

Good food with great friends.

Winter Fun

I enjoy this time of year as there are so many fun things to do and endless activities for the kids.  I don't want to miss a thing, so we use our advent calendar to spread out the fun.  The kids get to open a box each day to see what activity is planned.  A lot of times, it's something simple like make snowflakes or sip warm cocoa with marshmallows.  Other days, it's a family outing.  Whatever it is, the kids eagerly open the box each day. 

 

 

The following are a few of our favorite activities so far.

 

Day 5: Celebrate St. Nicolas Day

A Dutch tradition: the kids put wooden shoes out on the front steps at night, and in the morning they find treats left by "St. Nicolas".

The kids found treats like chocolate letters, oranges,

honey sticks, and a Christmas activity page.

 

Henry shows off his chocolate letter. 

(The Dutch have some great traditions!)

 

Day 6: The Shop Hop 

We braved the crowds in Eastown for our annual Shop Hop outing.

Plenty of good food, and the kids enjoyed singing songs for the shoppers.

 

Day 7: Buy and Decorate our Christmas Tree

It was a chilly night, but we walked to

Kingma's Market and found our happy tree. 

 

Claire was very "hands on" with the decorating this year.

 

Day 8: Christmas for the Animals

We helped the animals at the zoo celebrate Christmas by bringing them a couple treats from their Christmas list: noodles and molasses.

Sitting in "Santa's Sleigh" at the zoo.

 

Day 10: Family Christmas Movie Night 

The kids cozied up for Charlie Brown's Christmas Special.

 

Well, that's it for now; I'll try to be back with more as December rolls on. 

 

Grace and peace to each of you as you celebrate the birth

 of Jesus this Christmas season with family and friends.

November Recap

It's been awhile since I've last updated our blog,

so here's a brief recap for November. 

 

Saying good-bye to our friend Don was sad, but we were honored to have known and loved him these past few years.

The service was beautiful.  It was just what he would have wanted - a testimony of God's grace in his life.  The kids did great as they came up with Joe and me while we shared during the service. 

 

 

I wouldn't say Henry likes the cold weather, 

but he's getting used to it.

Our happy boy.

On Joe's day off of work, he was able to volunteer in

Claire's class for a bit.  He did an excellent job coloring.

The kids and I made a "Welcome" sign for Uncle Paul

and Aleta who were visiting from Colorado. 

Getting the old gang together:

John Youngs, Casey Koopmans, Paul Wagner and Joe

Starting to accept the cold weather.

Claire tries to make a snowball from snow that is far too fluffy.

Paul and Aleta reading books to the kids.

The kids took an immediate liking to Aleta.  She's a keeper! 

October 23, 1944 - November 4, 2013

 

  

63 days after Don's diagnosis, he passed away peacefully.

A good-bye that is sad, but not forever.

 

The day he was diagnosed, he claimed this verse:

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phil 1:20-21)

Halloween 2013

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween. 

It was a good, but a very full day, for us.

 

Halloween doesn't officially begin until the first spoonful

of Count Chocula cereal hits our taste buds.

 

We then went to our Thursday morning Bible Study Fellowship.

After BSF, the kids and I visited Joe at work. 

Everyone loved seeing the kids in their costumes.

The next thing on our agenda was to head over to the

Children's Hospital.  Henry had a follow-up appointment

 with the surgeon.  Another good report!

Our little fireman.

 

Proud of her poodle skirt.

 

Listening to the siren of a fire truck in

the distance, Henry says, "I hear it."

In the evening, Joe and I took the kids around

our neighborhood for a bit of trick-or-treating.

Both kids loved it and didn't even seem to mind a bit of wet weather.

 

Friday we visited my Grandma Sternberg.

 

Henry holds my Grandpa's fireman hat.

He would have loved to see Henry all dressed up.

 

The kids cuddled up with Great Grandma to read some books.