Sheats Christmas

 Christmas came early for the Sheats family so that everyone could be together. Phil and Linda came in from Indiana and it's another year that all of the grandchildren have been there. Of course, it had extra meaning that all of us were together with John walking through cancer. I'm thankful that all of us have our faith in common as our foundation during this season. 

Anna and Renee intentionally requested the same Bible. 

Janell suggested that Brian and I go in with her on a gift certificate for Mom and Dad. It was a great idea! Such a great idea that it was exactly what Mom told Dad that she would like for Christmas from HIM and he was planning to give her a few days later on Christmas. Oops! We had no idea! 

Moriah spent many hours on a very special gift for Mom. 

The cousins got to play Manhunt which is some of my childrens' favorite cousin game. The adults sat around the table and visited. It was just an all around good day!
 

Winterfest

 It is so fun to have children who are up for adventures. Friends invited us to visit them in Norfolk, VA to go to the Winterfest on the USS Wisconsin. With no hesitation, all 4 of them quickly agreed to the 2.5 hour drive for a couple hours with friends. (Since we left at 2pm, Jeremy wasn't able to go with us.) We didn't know what to expect and ended up truly enjoying the experience of the lights and the battleship itself. 

Walking out to the USS Wisconsin, this is what we saw looking left...

...and this is what we saw looking right. 

From the bow...

In this setting it was hard to take in the enormity of this ship. It houses 2,000-3,000 sailors during WWII.

The thing I have been treasuring the most this season is how much Aliza, Josiah, Anna and Isaiah genuinely enjoy being together and doing things together. 

 

This is about midship looking back to the bow.  

This tree and display is over the helicopter landing pad. 

We were also about to tour below deck. It was also decorated for Christmas. This is the kitchen. We also saw offices with old computers that Josiah enjoyed, dentist office which Aliza was especially interested in, sleeping quarters, and so much more. At the end there were fresh, locally made doughnuts for purchase. I totally bought some which surprised and delighted my children. 

 

After supper with our friends at Chick fil A, we headed home. And with that, we started Christmas break. 

Gingerbread Houses

 We got to have a Family Christmas Party at church for all of the church children. This was extra special because the last few years we have had 4 children and this year we had 11 children!  

The highlight for my children was making a graham cracker gingerbread house. And then they found out it was a competition and they were ALL IN.

As you might expect, the Heslop table was the loudest, most overtly enthusiastic table there. 

They even won a Chick fil A gift card!

The group then went to Cheryl's house to enjoy her light display. The children filled her yard with their energy and laughter. 

The rain held off and it turned out to be a really festive and special evening. 
 

Cookie Decorating

 My friend, Ashley, asked if I would like to have a cookie decorating evening with our kids. It was one of my best yeses this season. We had such a good time with our mini BFFs.

I made our cookies ahead of time and Ashley brought dough and baked hers at our house. Our cookies were completely opposite. My Grandma's recipe makes very thin sugar cookies. Ashley cut hers out thick almost like a shortbread cookie.  

All day I was excited about them coming over. I cleaned off the counter so all 8 of us could be around it decorating cookies. I was happy that Ashley could bring her young children over, bake cookies and go home to a clean kitchen. 

Henry bit into every cookie that he decorated. 

Isaiah ATE every cookie that he decorated! I didn't realize that was happening until I was cleaning up and there were NO cookies on his wax paper. 

Aliza and Anna enjoyed the frosting! I even got the piping bags and decorating tips out.

Anna took a picture of the cookies she decorated

Ashley and I made supper and all we ate together around the table. The big kids and littles all played together. We ended the evening with full hearts and thankfulness for friends in different seasons of life than we are and how much richer that makes our lives. 

 

Joy Dare::November

 12,799. Getting little things done
12,800. World Series watching
12,801. An hour extra
12,802. Giving a hug
12,803. Josiah and Isaiah making me laugh until I cry
12,804. Spontaneous decision = a turkey thawing in my fridge
12,805. Words that I needed

12,806. Knowing I'm right where I'm supposed to be
12,807. Fall tasting tea
12,808. Moriah's story
12,809. Soup for supper
12,810. Grace for the day
12,811. Isaiah and Anna working on school outside
12,812. Algebra went smoothly
12,813. Picking up Audrey and Henry
12,814. School without a voice
12,815. Pacing myself
12,816. Getting through ESL class while not feeling great
12,817. A lot of happiness and laughter today
12,818. Dutch Blitz
12,819. Quieting myself this evening
12,820. Sunday School discussion
12,821. Using all of my Mom skills
12,822. Turkey turned out well
12,823. Talking to Janell and Jeff
12,824. Aliza working with Anna on school again
12,825. Austin working at the counter
12,826. Very brisk morning walk
12,827. Chick fil A for peppermint milkshakes

12,828. Offering love and grace
12,829. Listening to original music

12,830. Peppermint mocha
12,831. Seeing Laura's eyes sparkle
12,832. Sunny mornings
12,833. Last ESL class for the semester
12,834. Choosing to be honest
12,835. Talking to Christie
12,836. Completing school for the week
12,837. Cleaning and organizing a closet
12,838. Christmas cards
12,839. Allie with us for the afternoon
12,840. Testimonies
12,841. 9pm family Cookout shake run
12,842. Aliza's heart
12,843. Looking through pictures
12,844. When Isaiah cooperates
12,845. Yellow leaves
12,846. Errands with Isaiah
12,847. Going to the library
12,848. Maria
12,849. Positive new from Laura
12,850. ESL supper and a sweet thank you
12,851. Confirmation
12,852. All the birthday preparations
12,853. Leftovers
12,854. Friday evening at home
12,855. Family Chick fil A lunch for Anna's birthday
12,856. Magi Concert with Jeremy
12,857. Celebrating Anna--games, movie, trifle
12,858. Baptisms
12,859. Decorating the Christmas tree
12,860. Bible study
12,861. An hour by myself
12,862. Making time for people
12,863. "Just" praying
12,864. A jolly boy 

12,865. A couple warmer days
12,866. This game makes me laugh

12,867. Making pies
12,868. Porch visiting the day before Thanksgiving
12,869. A scrapbook page
12,870. Thanksgiving around Mom and Dad's table
12,871. Listening
12,872. Making room for laughter
12,873. Jeremy's calm patience
12,874. Aliza able to be with us this weekend
12,875. Black Friday shopping from home
12,876. Tea and Christie time
12,877. Heslop Thanksgiving meal
12,878. My children appreciating the story of The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever
12,879. Pokemon afternoon
12,880. Being able to pick up groceries
12,881. Grace to sleep with Isaiah