The Aftermath.....

Christmas has come and gone yet, in a blink of an eye. It was just the other morning that my children were in their Jammie's opening up their gifts on Christmas morn. It was a lovely day in which we spent together... just the four of us. It is so wonderful to hear that my daughter's favorite gift was surely the one that I made for her. She has been sleeping with it every night since. Her very first vintage style sock elephant filled with lavender and love was surely the hit of the morning.

My son sits here sporting his handsome hat. Yes, my boy asked for a nice hat to where when he goes to Church. He has always had such an old soul to him. He looks quite dashing in it too !!! Christmas was not big with presents this year... it was truly focused on Christ and family.

We have enjoyed the many Christmas season activities this Winter. My parents came for Christmas Eve, which I must confess my favorite part of the evening was singing Christmas Hymns with them. The children enjoyed going ice skating. A first for us..... and they want to go again. Now we look forward to the new coming year ahead, as well as look back on this years blessings.

Traditions....

Even though there's a lot to do at Christmas, families still need some quiet time together!

Time to build traditions in the home. We treasure these times when we make Christmas cookies, go ice skating, shop for presents, build gingerbread houses, bring cheer to the less fortunate as well as the elderly. These are just a few of the things we have done this season.

We look forward to hanging our stockings, decorating the tree, lighting up the house and drinking cocoa with lots of marshmallows.

With all those fun filled activities.... there are also the quiet moments spent together as a family reading the Gospel, doing Christmas advent and in praying. Yes, we are all busy people. Why not give time to Christ & your family in this way... building a strong Christian treasured tradition that will surely be passed down for generations to come.

The focus on Christ has disappeared in so many homes during the Christmas season. Do you realize that it is Christ, that we even celebrate Christmas ( holidays) ?

Don't let the focus on the true meaning of Christmas fade away in your home dear friends.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned....

For to us a child is born to us a son is given....

And

He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince Of Peace.

Isaiah 9:2-6

We come together every night as a family communing in a devotional time. We have a book called Christ In Christmas A Family Advent Celebration . We also read all the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as well as sing Christmas songs from our hymnals.

I hope you will find this book of use in your home. We have been blessed by our treasured moments as a family which has only grown us closer to one another in a relationship with Christ who was born a man.

He came, He died to save us from the darkness....

what a gift !

A Walk Through Gingerbread Lane...

This week we went to our friends house to make Gingerbread Houses. This has become a tradition in which we have enjoyed doing throughout many Christmas pasts. My friend made sure there was lots of candies to work with.

This year we used graham crackers instead of the big process in making homemade gingerbread. The kids got into creating their houses.

But... I have to tell you that the teen boy's enjoyed it the most. it became almost competitive. They spent a long time working on their houses.

My daugters house ended up falling down. She soon left the house, as the boy's continued on.

Here is my son's house.

Here are the houses that stood at the end of the day. I had my house all designed...but ended up helping out in the kitchen, helping the kids and eating the darn candy instead of building one. Well it was a great time. If you have never done this project with your kids.... I say do it... build a new tradition in your home.

December Tid Bits......

I cannot believe it is really December already. We have passed a whole Season in California already. Still missing our home in Washington, yet we are moving on here in our new life. We are thankful and blessed and don't deserve any bit of it. The Lord is good.

This month can be stressful to some, yet memorable & fun for others, as I plan to make it for our family. We already have planned many things which we are so excited to do as a family. Miss Bri went to her first Christmas party yesterday with her GEMS group. She is making friends and already planning her first Friendship Tea Party after the Holidays.

Highlights For December:

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1. Women's Fellowship Cookie / Ornament Exchange Party

2. Seminary Wives Christmas Brunch

3. The Nutcracker Ballet

4. Home School Group: Kids Christmas Talent Show

5. The Christmas Carol Play

6. Wild Animal Park with Grandparents

7. Home School Group: Family Ice Skating Party

8. Home School Group: Christmas Parties for Kids and Teens

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Last week my daughter got a hold of the camera. Look what happens when your not looking... and what you might find when you upload your pictures to the computer. Surprise !!!

She was caught red handed !!!

Silly girl !!

To keep family and friends posted on Seminary life... I thought I would share this photo of where Mr. Darling spends his days when he is not home. The Seminary also has a Chapel on the grounds which we attend on Sundays. You can see where we fellowship in the center of this collage. It is remarkably a 30 second drive, which is really a treat since we used to travel 45 minutes one way for 8 years to Church.

Mr. Darling is finishing his final papers and finals for the semester and will be taking a nice long overdue vacation over Christmas time until he starts back up for his second semester.

The kids are still plugging along in their studies. My son is getting back into Magic tricks and continuing his delightful compositions.

Miss. Bri is not only a student but, she is also a teacher herself.

Yet, I am not sure her pupil enjoys it.

She would rather go to sleep.