Keeping Christmas simple.

How do you keep Christmas simple when the whole world is scrambling around in a blurry mess? This year Christmas has looked a little different for our family. Mika was working a 24 hour shift on Christmas Eve. He was off at 8 am on Christmas morning so it was so nice for him to see Sadie on her 1st Christmas morning. My parents came up on Christmas Eve in the afternoon to spend time with Sadie and I since Mika was working. We had a nice relaxing Christmas day. We went on a walk in the morning and hung around for the rest of the day. In the evening we went on a walking Christmas light tour. It was a perfect Christmas Day celebrating the birth of our Savior.
On Boxing day my Mom and I had a dumb idea of going to the mall?! What were we thinking?! My Dad dropped us off and we got picked up shortly after. While we were there I was just thinking about how the meaning of Christmas was just lost in this mess. Everyone was scurrying around the get the best deals. When really everyone should have been at home spending more time with their family and relishing in the fact that God sent his Son for us. That is the only gift we really need.
 Mika and I had a talk before Christmas that we want Sadie to have a more simple Christmas experience. We want to pick just a few gifts for her every year. Obviously we want her to have that magical Christmas morning experience but more importantly we want her to grow up being grateful. So I guess we need to find a balance between the two. I feel like my Mom and Dad really set a good example of how to do Christmas. I would like to follow in their footsteps.
Today the rest of the family is coming up and we are doing our "Christmas" today! I want to just be still today and really remember why we are celebrating.
I have been following Ann Voskamp lately and I love this quote from her.
"The point of Christmas — the truth that ushers you into the New Year — is exactly that: you can rest in His perfection— because He embraces you in your imperfection."

This was God's reminder for me this morning.
To be still and celebrate.

Merry Christmas everyone! I am off to get ready for my family to come up. My goal today is to keep it simple and just celebrate together!

Mel

Sadie's 1st Christmas.

This past week I have been feeling really emotional about Sadie's 1st Christmas. I feel so blessed and so thankful that we get to spend Christmas with our blessing from above, our baby girl. There has been a lot of tragedies and sadness this past year in our family and with our friends. It makes you stop and take a step back and remember what Christmas really is about.

Hope is our assurance that God will finish all he has started and hope that God will do all that He promised.
Peace is coming.
Joy because Christ came down to save us.
Love came down.
This is how God showed His love:
He sent His one and only Son into the world
that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9)

Not everyone is experiencing the feeling of joy this Christmas but know that there is Hope is Jesus Christ. We need to hold these loved ones up in prayer, especially at Christmas.

Sadie is still to young to know what Christmas is all about. I am looking forward to when she is a bit older so we can share with her the meaning of the season. I can't wait to start some of our own family Christmas traditions. My Mom always got us one ornament every Christmas. I have most of those ornaments hanging on my tree now. I really treasure them. This is a tradition I am starting with Sadie. She might be getting 3 ornaments for her 1st Christmas though...!

Can't wait to spend Christmas with my Sadie girl.

This is our picture we used last Christmas to announce that
we were expecting!

Well I have some last minute errands to finish off before my family arrives tomorrow! Can't wait to have them all here!  

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. 

I know Santa photos are cheesy but oh so cute!

The Move.

I've been a little bit weary of writing a post about our move to Kamloops since it has been full of so many highs and obviously a few lows too. God has been so faithful to us through this whole process! He is definitely taking care of all our needs.
On November 18, Mika picked me and Sadie up from Abbotsford and we drove 2 1/2 hours to our new home in Kamloops. That drive was hard. So many emotions. I've lived in the same place for my whole life so a 2 1/2 hour move is a big deal for me! With tears streaming down my cheeks we drove. I am so thankful for such a loving supportive husband in times like those. I knew God was carrying us the whole way. In between sobs I could hear the lyrics of a song that has been on my heart a lot through this whole moving process. That's when I was reminded that this IS God's will for our family.
Help me find it- Sidewalk Prophets (you can listen here)
I don’t know where to go from here
It all used to seem so clear
I’m finding I can’t do this on my own

I don’t know where to go from here
As long as I know that You are near
I’m done fighting
I’m finally letting go

I will trust in You
You’ve never failed before
I will trust in You

If there’s a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can you help me find it
Can you help me find it

I’m giving You fear and You give faith
I giving you doubt
You give me grace
For every step I’ve never been alone

Even when it hurts, You’ll have Your way
Even in the valley I will say
With every breath
You’ve never let me go

I will wait for You
You’ve never failed before
I will wait for You

That week was also hard since Mika was training and was working longer days than he would be normally. I never have really felt that lonely before. Through all of this I have really leaned on God. He has been so faithful to us. We only know a handful of people in Kamloops but so far have been connected to all of them. It is really nice to see a few familiar faces when you are in a new place!
I have been here for 3 weeks now. It feels like it has gone by really fast but really slow at the same time too if that makes any sense? I have already been back to Abbotsford. My Mom dropped me off to take the bus home. That was HARD! My Mom and I are so close and it has been a struggle to be apart. But through lots of visits, facetime and texts I know we will make this work!
My family has been so supportive through this whole process. My brother and nephew have already been up to visit Mika and my Dad and sister come up today! We are so loved and so thankful for them. Since Mika is on call on his days off he is not able to leave Kamloops (this is temporary) my whole family is coming up for Christmas! We can't wait to have a white Christmas and go sledding, ice skating, and just enjoy each others company. Mika's family is coming up for New Years as well!
So far I am loving Kamloops. I love our house. Our view is beautiful! (a gift from God I'm sure). It is a really cool city and we are having a lot of fun exploring. With Mika's new job as a fire fighter he is working 4 on and 4 off. He gets to spend SO much more time with Sadie and I which makes this move so worth it.
 Sadie is doing great by the way! She is such a happy baby and is at such a fun stage right now.

Our view!

A rainbow we saw on one of our moving days.
 A sign of God's promise and faithfulness.

Well that is all for today. Happy Saturday!