Joy Dare::December

 11,816. First Sunday of Advent
11,817. Visiting with my Mom
11,818. Dancing with the Stars finale with Aliza
11,819. Jeremy was home to drive with me
11,820. The trampoline was already disassembled
11,821. Apple pie and ice cream
11,822. "Expectancy sets our sights on God's promises rather than the empty pursuit of all that cannot     truly satisfy in this season." Ruth Chou Simons
11,823. The service of being able to pick up groceries
11,824. Thorough dental care
11,825. Isaiah's good attitude about taking medicine
11,826. Advent readings
11,827. Another piece falling into place for Aliza
11,828. Gathering all the present wrapping supplies
11,829. Making cookies
11,830. Our house full of young adults
11,831. Technology for Isaiah to play and talk to his Texas cousins
11,832. Josiah helping with supper without being asked
11,833. Trampoline put together
11,834. Anna's birthday party of all the things she likes--painting, Chinese food, movie, friends
11,835. Learning new chords
11,836. Catching up with both of our moms
11,837, Watching a Christmas concert
11,838. First Cookie Baking Championship episode
11,839. Candles burning
11,840. My circle of friends
11,841. Aliza and Anna's hearts
11,842. The coziness of rainy days
11,843. Finals week has gone smoothly for Aliza
11,844. Watching Josiah drive out to meet friends to play soccer
11,845. Singing Christmas carols until I had no voice left
11,846. Cookout shakes, Advent reading and laughing
11,847. Talking to an old friend
11,848. Janell put me on the right path to help Anna's headache
11,849. Concentrating on school
11,850. Gifts wrapped
11,851. Lunch conversations
11,852. Christmas lunch with Maria
11,853. Searching my heart
11,854. Bookstore and dessert
11,855. Thinking about dear ones as I address cards
11,856. Isaiah confidently standing up and reading Scripture
11,857. All of the coming and going activity
11,858. The moment when Aliza sees that I do understand
11,859. Josiah willing to spend his afternoon helping
11,860. Peppermint mocha on a rainy Monday afternoon
11,861. Isaiah very motivated to work ahead
11,862. Hearing all about Anna's Christmas dance class
11,863. Soaking up a little sun
11,864. Gingersnaps baking
11,865. Late night talking with Aliza
11,866. Welcoming a friend
11,867. Sitting with Mom
11,868. Dad's heart beating in rhythm
11,869. Young children singing
11,870. Getting to hug Judy
11,871. First semester of school finished and organized
11,872. Shopping with Anna
11,873. Isaiah playing with Texas cousins
11,874. Enjoying the season
11,875. Christmas tree lights on dark evenings
11,876. Aliza's Christmas concert
11,877. Santa driving by and all the laughter
11,878. Christmas Sunday worship
11,879. Isaiah singing with the children
11,880. Aliza's solo
11,881. Snuck in supper with Mom
11,882. One more Christmas music program
11,883. Being able to drop everything to be with Dad and Mom
11,884. Aliza kept the laundry going
11,885. Strength for the day
11,886. Spending the afternoon with my brother and sisters families
11,887. The timing that Dad and Mom could see all of us
11,888. Quieting for Christmas Eve church service
11,889. Christmas morning baking
11,890. A day together at home
11,891. Smiles and happy children
11,892. An actually enjoyable trip
11,893. Playing with Ronan a little bit
11,894. First Christmas with the Heslop cousins
11,895. Toddler squeals
11,896. Reading time
11,897. Christmas dinner
11,898. Jeremy was the driver for the day
11,899. Jeremy could be there for Aliza
11,900. Cousins playing new games
11,901. One more meal with the whole Heslop family
11,902. Games of pool and visiting with Matt and Chrissy
11,903. Our children thanking us when we eat out
11,904. Home
11,905. Anna having an electric guitar lesson
11,906. Supporting Jeremy
11,907. Sheats family Christmas
11,908. Overheard: "I can't wait to get home so I can pray and tell God all about my day." (Anna)
11,909. Midnight and New Years Eve with the 6 of us together.

New Year's Eve Christmas

 We did not stay with my family until midnight, but we did have our usual Christmas Eve pizza and shrimp. 

Cousins in a line.

Grandad reading Luke 2.

And a picture of each of the grandchildren opening a gift. In no particular order...

The 6 of us did stay up until midnight. We were all doing our own things and then we all gathered on the couch to watch the ball drop. We were quickly off to bed then because Aliza had to be out the door at 4:30am for her next adventure! I consider it a Mom win that I did not even hear her leave. I was sound asleep!
 

Oldest and Youngest Boy Cousins

First of all, Anna casually took this picture and it is now my favorite picture of Josiah. That natural smile melts my heart. 

Second of all, Josiah spent his weekend in WV being led around by Ronan. Even though we were at Ronan's house first, when he got to Grandma and Grandpa's house he remembered all the games he and Josiah did last time we were there.

When a 23 month old tells a 16 year old boy to put the dinosaur egg on his head too, he does it!

This game quickly led to Ronan standing on the truck and jump flying into Josiah's arms.

Isaiah was getting ready for breakfast and Ronan brought his dinosaurs over to play. Amanda apologized to Isaiah for the interruption and Isaiah responded with, "It's ok. It was the cutest interruption."

Ronan sent Josiah home with the gift of his cold. Josiah has been pretty miserable this week. Today, though, he said, "I'd like to feel better. But it's ok. Ronan was dive hugging me with snot flying out of his nose. I would never have let him fall. I love him so much." 

Josiah's sisters are convinced that he will make the best husband and dad one day!
 

Heslop Family Christmas

 This year was extra special because, for the first time in at least 18 years, Jeremy's whole family was together for Christmas.

Ronan sat with me for a little bit to play with his dinosaur puzzle. That is a picture worthy event! (Ronan much prefers his Pop-Pop or Josiah!)

This year the cousins were all old enough (except Ronan) to play games together and they had some FUN playing games! Our kids introduced Evelyn and Florence to Exploding Kittens and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.

Evelyn and Florence introduced Isaiah to making slime.

Pokemon is still a hot topic of conversation. I'm pretty sure that is what these three are discussing.

When Sarah is here I stay out of the kitchen. She is the best cook and we are spoiled with her cooking skills. Our Christmas dinner dessert was Creme Brulee. That was a treat!

We all traveled to Pennsylvania on Saturday to have a Christmas meal with Jeremy's Mom's family. Florence got to make a teeny tiny snowman with the bit of snow that was on the ground. She was very excited about that. These cousins took a table and entertained themselves. (Yay for big kids!) But also don't be fooled--all of those big kids may have had some bad attitudes bordering on meltdowns on the way back to WV!

On Sunday we had brunch at Grandma and Grandpa's house before some more pictures and saying good bye for this time. Evelyn and Isaiah are buddies. Evelyn, Florence and Isaiah have kept a connection during the year by playing Minecraft and Roblox games together. I love hearing their voice over the Kids Messenger calls.

Christmas Day

Our Christmas morning was not too early and included homemade cinnamon rolls. A perfect Christmas morning combination in our household!

Anna was sure that emotional support fries would add to Aliza's life.
 

Aliza gave Josiah a burrito blanket.

Aliza got a hug after Anna opened her thoughtful gift.

Isaiah soaked up all the fun.

Anna's sea turtle plushie from Isaiah was pretty cute!

Lots of other Christmas moments are tucked away in my heart.

Christmas Singing

Our Christmas week started with a weekend full of Christmas choir programs, a cantata and Christmas Eve service of carols. 

Aliza has been able to continue singing with the Salisbury Children's Choir this year. These kids have worked hard this semester and had a lovely Christmas concert.

Christmas Sunday was a cantata. The children sang Away in the Manger. It was fun to watch Aliza and Isaiah sing beside each other. Isaiah had to move the whole time he was singing.

I knew Aliza had a solo but I had no idea what she was singing. She sang the first half of Little Drummer Boy and it was gorgeous.

Sunday evening Mom and I felt all kinds of special sneaking in a soup supper before going to Allen Memorial's Christmas program. Aliza's choir was singing with the church choir. It was a long concert, but it was GOOD choir music. We really enjoyed that extra evening of Christmas music. 

And then we had one more Christmas service on Christmas Eve. It was a simple service of carols, Scripture and candlelight. What I appreciated the most was the opportunity to just be quiet and still and refocus on Jesus and what Christmas really means to us. 

For our family the 23rd and 24th didn't go exactly how we had expected and contained more emotion than we had counted on and so quieting was especially welcome and timely.
 

We slid into Dominos at the very last minute before they closed for Christmas to pick up our Christmas Eve pizza and then we settled in for a quiet family evening.

Little Things Making Me Smile

 Gifts are wrapped, a couple batches of cookies have been made and I'm trying to enjoy these days before all the festivities start. I'm very much looking forward to a break from school--one more day to go!

Our mantle is in a room where I don't get to enjoy it as much as I'd like to, but I'm happy with how it turned out this year.

I've never had a yard decoration for Christmas, but a few years ago this one caught my eye. I put it on my Amazon list just to watch the price--to see if it might go on sale at any point. Instead it showed up at my house. Jeremy had bought it for me and I was completely surprised. JOY is one of my words to live by and with the nativity inside the O, it encompasses the season well for me.

Anna's sweet friend, Tabitha, did this painting for Anna's birthday. It's one of my favorite of hers that I've seen. I can just sit and stare at it. It's breathtaking.

A 2 year old opening a small Christmas gift is just the best.

This weekend will be all about holiday music and cookie making!