It's been a glorious Christmas with all chicks back in the nest...College boy is home again after a 4 month stretch! Nothing makes a Mama happier than having all of her children home. It's been the best gift.
College has been good for him and he is very, VERY, happy there! It's an amazing experience to watch your children grow into their own individual lives...They are out in the world making it their own, making decisions that shape their future, without your daily guidance. It's a very strange feeling. Our prayers fly with them and we cherish when they make it back into the nest again. They are always our children but new blessings come as we get to know them as adults. We are all embarking on new and unchartered ground. He feels the transition and so do we.
The best thing we did was load all kids in the CAV (Catholic Assault Vehicle) a week before Christmas and head to the snow...Just our family for 2 nights. A fellow firefighter offered up his humble abode to us and we were able to spend quality (concentrated) time, together. It was a time of getting to know college boy in a new way. It was a time for college boy to reconnect with all of us. Just 2 nights was all we needed for some good bonding with a little bumping and bickering grinding too:)
We couldn't remember this little one ever playing in the snow...It's been a few years since we've ventured out in the great white! Isn't it wonderful when little ones fit right into their older sibling hand-me-downs?
We had a couple of bins filled with old snow clothes and MIRACULOUSLY, we outfitted the whole family without a single purchase! Yes, snow angels DO exist:)
We had fun watching movies,
playing cards, and just hanging out.
A day of ice skating was a treat!
Everyone helped teach the littlest one how to do it!
Dad had to sit out due to some tendonitis going on...But the rest of us had a blast!
I did fall once and bumped my hip pretty good but luckily just a bruise! We had a day pass so we came back and skated at night:)
Thank you, Lord for a special time.
The scenery was spectacular at this lake that never freezes!
How funny that we were standing on a snow-covered beach...Playground and all!
It is true that the present moment really is the best present...In this sense, Christmas came early at our house.
Praise God for your beautiful and blessed moments with the entire family.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for His grace as I gently enter into the season that you are now becoming accustomed to.
Thank you for your example, prayers, and words of encouragement. May you continue to be a witness for Christ.
ad Jesum per Mariam, Lena
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you guys a beautiful and fun Christmas!!! :)
Merry Christmas Tiffany! Such lovely pictures of your beautiful family all together and lovely scenery! I haven't been feeling up to visiting blog posts and commenting due to this wee one growing in me :), but I wanted to stop by and thank you for visiting my blog and commenting plus I really love the love in this blog post of your family and wanted to comment. Have a blessed new year!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Tiffany! Oh what a wonderful present to have all those little chicks together again. And what a wonderful present your friend gave you all by loaning his abode out. Aren't hand-me-downs the best? Poor little Stan wore some pink boots when we shockingly received a lot of snow on Christmas day. But he didn't mind. Don't you love the rosy cheeks? What fun to ice skate...outdoors, too! My kiddos would have loved that! May your days continue to be filled with Christmas joys and peace!
ReplyDeleteLove the CAV Tiffany !!! Spending time with family without interruptions, how truly wonderful! I visited Lake Tahoe in 1984 and my cousin and I rented a little boat and the "seas" were so choppy ! It's a beautiful place, and a perfect setting for you all to come together again.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Tiffany! Many blessings from the manger upon you and your family!
ReplyDeletePraise God for the generosity of your firefighter friend to lend you his home for your mini vacation. Looks like everyone had a wonderful time reconnecting and making new precious memories. The scenery looks amazing and love the night time ice skating. So magical in the evening!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just wonderful when all of our ducklings are back in the nest?! Our oldest, who only lives a few miles away but is working and living his own life now, spent all day Christmas with us sprawled out on the sofa goofing off with his siblings. I was so happy all day! +JMJ+
ReplyDelete(Oh, and no blog yet, Tiffany! I'm just not that interesting! ; But, I certainly love visiting other Catholic women and gleaning from them!)
I'm so glad you all had a chance to reconnect and to play in the snow! Merry Christmas!
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