So.... I'm recapping all of December and Christmas in this blog post. Lots to look at. Grab another cup of tea and a late night snack...my choice is a bowl of granola with almond milk.
This year honestly flew by. Like I said before, this was the fastest year of my life! I need a pause button people!! Wasn't I just pregnant at Christmas time?....my baby is 1...1! Seriously, life is so full and busy with my mom duties, homeschooling the kids, church, planning an "almost" move that did not come to pass, plus JM has been traveling a lot for work and many other things I can go on and on about. Without further ado....the blog. Cue Vince Guaraldi.
Wait...before I share about Christmas...here is some snippets of JM's travels these past two months. He traveled 4 times in 5 weeks...both internationally and within the US. He has had incredible opportunities working with his best friend John this past 6+ months. More on that another time. The two of them with Brian and Opa (storytellers extraordinaire) have been telling and filming stories about modern day Gospel Patrons. Maybe I will have JM write a post about what he has been up to this past year. It's his dream job, something he and John have prayed for for years and I've never seen him thrive this much in his work. Thank you Lord for your provision. Here we go.
1st Trip: London/Oxford England in November. JM went to England so he and John could meet with some business leaders in London to talk about Gospel Patrons...not just the book, but the ministry. (get your free Gospel Patrons e-book here or for a hard copy here, ).
Countryside of Oxford
With His best buddy John who was living in Oxford at the time
Church in London where John Newton preached
JM spent a free day touring Oxford, particularly Oxford University. This is Magdalen College where C.S. Lewis taught
The Eagle and the Child...C.S. Lewis', Tolkein's and the Inkling's favorite meeting place
More of Oxford University
It's too gorgeous. Who said England is dreary in the winter!!
Oxford in the Evening
2nd trip...Oklahoma City
It was so cold!!!
Frozen trees....did Elsa get a hold of this one?
Working on a Gospel Patron Story....that's not JM but a very special man and servant of God.
Working Hard with John
3rd trip...Oklahoma again...it was a little warmer this time.
Flying the drone
On the plane home
BP...or Brian Petersen...their other cohort
4th trip was in Atlanta Georgia
John talking with Todd Peterson and Louie Giglio of Passion City Church
The crew working on another Gospel Patron video project
Opa joined them for this trip. His knowledge and expertise was invaluable to the team. JM loves working with his pop.
Shooting at the Atlanta Falcons practice facility in the locker room.
Atlantic Falcons Practice Facility
Opa
John
My Man
Renée and John Rinehart
I held down the fort over here. We all survived and managed quite well, thank the Good Lord!
Ok, now cue the music....
This is the 4th year in a row that we've bought our trees from this local Fullerton lot. All the proceeds go to charity. That's a good thing....and their message above...another good thing.
I made a fun little advent calendar for the kids and taped it up on our chalkboard. They looked forward to it every day.
Probably the most fun part was that it was a "scratch off calendar". There was a fun message, Bible verse to memorize or a Christmas activity to do each day.
I am one of those people that can not listen to Christmas music until December 1st. Let me have my Fall people! I don't want to skip the Fall Season! It seems like every year our culture forces us to celebrate Christmas the day after Halloween....except for Costco, their Christmas wares are up in September!! Let me enjoy my fall, my pumpkin waffles, harvest soups, Thanksgiving, the colorful leaves (who am I kidding, we don't really have colorful leaves here in So Cal but you know what I mean)....before you bring out the Christmas decor!
The Kids were excited when they scratched off day #1. Finally Mom!
I love Advent and have a desire for our family to celebrate the coming King in a meaningful way. This year I had something new for them. My new advent wreath. I had been eyeing it for several month and then purchased it this past summer! I am so thrilled about it. The donkey and Mary are mobile and follow the path. The best part, I have extension holes that attach for the Lenten Season. This has 25 holes. The Lenten one has 40. Instead of the donkey figurine, included is Jesus carrying his cross.
Advent reading time before bed...and a run away baby
This year we let the kids decorate the tree all by themselves. Well, except for the lights. They did a great job.
I also like to purchase a new Christmas book every year. This one is the best one yet. Such a beautiful perspective. Looking forward to reading it every year. I highly recommend.
Gabriella was invited to play a duet with her friend Lily Mei at our Church's Christmas Eve Service . It was such a gift to our church body. February will mark 6 years that this kiddo has been playing the violin.
On Christmas morning Uncle Ronnie and a friend came for breakfast. I wish I had more photos. I made gluten free pancakes with fruit salad and eggs any style...and of course my fav Dandy Blend
Typical silly uncle Ronnie toys...basketball glasses! haaaa!
In the later afternoon we went to my folks house for a Christmas Raclette Dinner! It was their first time doing Raclette and it was a hit! This is after our bellies were full.
Horrid blurry picture! It's the only one I had of the group...and my brother and dad were missing from the photo. Didn't take a lot of photos....just enjoying the moments and didn't feel like pulling out the camera.
Horrid blurry picture! It's the only one I had of the group...and my brother and dad were missing from the photo. Didn't take a lot of photos....just enjoying the moments and didn't feel like pulling out the camera.
Auntie Lorie, my dad's baby sister and the kids
Gymnastics with Auntie Mo
Simeon took his first couple of steps on Christmas Night!
Yea for Sim! He's so proud of himself.
A couple days later we headed to Reedley to see JM's folks and the extended Warkentin Family.
Gabriella with lovely Beth and Michelle, JM's 1st cousins. Sillies!
These are some of the Warkentin "men" cousins.
Aaron (JM's brother), JM and the boys and Edward and Nathan (brothers)
The next morning we had Christmas time with JM's folks and uncle Aaron and Auntie Robin. The kids set up all of JM's and Aaron's old Playmobile sets. They played for hours!
Forts
Simeon John and Opa John
I think I need to frame this picture.
The Ham
The Ham and scary brother with a scary face!
Cutie girl
Singing Christmas Carols with Opa. A Wark tradition on Christmas Morn.
These booklets were Grandpa and Grandma Nickels. They've had many years of use.
This boy loves his Opa!
The kids adore these two. We think they're pretty special too.
Omi and Ansi
The kids bought Uncle Aaron a special German treat Kinder Chocolate Hippos.
Love the wings Sim-bo
Now they're working on the castle
Outside with Opa
I can hear them laughing, can't you?
Playing with Cousin Beth who came over for a visit
The kids love it here on the farm. So much space! It's so wonderful to see them enjoy it.
Jude said....I like Beth mom...she's so full of joy. :) Yup.
Helping Opa with firewood
How bout a ride on the Big Wheel Simi?
His eyes...dreeeamy!
My big boy
My little boy
I love this one of Simeon, Omi and the mandarins.
Again, SPACE!!
Here Jude looks like JM as a kid
Those are peach or nectarine tree in the background
Little family photo and a stuffed Roxy cat.
Look at Jude...representing his team proudly!
Love these shots.
Good Times! It was lovely to have a break for 2 whole weeks. Thankfully JM was off for 2 weeks as well. Lovely! Back to school now. Enjoying the new year so far and looking forward to what God will reveal and provide for us. It's sometimes hard to wait but so exciting to know He is good and will lead us where He wants us. Stay tuned......
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