Snow, Sun, and Fun

It couldn't have been a more beautiful day for some sled fun!

Love This Season

I really love Advent. I especially love the intentional spiritual focus. I suppose this purposefulness should be present all year long, but it is just so poignant during Advent...and I love that.

We have had some really great discussions around the Advent wreath, during family devotions, while gazing at the nativity, or near the Christmas tree. There is so much symbolism...so many reminders of why we believe what we believe, why we do what we do, why we hope.

And it inspires.

I mean, what other time of year would you peek into the bathroom and find this:

Or be sitting at the breakfast table and be treated to this:

I really love Advent!

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign;
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him —
Give my heart.
--"In the Bleak Midwinter" by Christina Rosetti

The Backyard Rink

It's here again. Planned for months, the backyard rink was finally able to take shape last weekend. There were some little bodies eager to help.

The maintenance crew had to put in some extra effort to keep everything smooth.

Today, all four kids had their first (backyard) skate of the season.

Many hours of fun still to come, I'm sure!

Finding Our Christmas Tree...and Who Are These Three?

We went a-tree-hunting on Friday.



Today, we did the decorating together. (I admit that I did a bit of re-arranging after the younger helpers moved on to other activities!)

Later, in the afternoon while Jadon napped, I invited Andrew, Ethan, and Abby to help me at the grocery store. Look who I brought home!

(Who knew that a grocery store would have complimentary Saturday face painting???)

You might take for granted...

You might take for granted a hug from your eight-year-old. Not me.

One year ago, Andrew was uncomfortable with most forms of physical affection (except hand-holding or kind of leaning into a person). He has come a long way in the last 14 months, but he still usually comes backwards or sideways into hugs and regularly shies away from kisses. When he receives a gift or is excited about something, he will sometimes give a very agressive squeeze around one's middle, but his head is usually ducked, and it's more like a tackle than a "normal" hug.

This morning I got a hug.

Completely spontaneous.

Not overly agressive.

Upright.

Forward facing.

A wonderfully affectionate, natural, just-because-we're-family, kind of hug.

What a great way to start a day!