Family Winter Update From Emily
Happy New Year Everyone!
I hope you all enjoyed Christmas, celebrating in all the fun ways we do, but most of all rejoicing in Jesus, Emmanuel.
We certainly did just that. I LOVE the Christmas season, and when Jackson was a baby we were given a wooden advent calendar that we use all through December, counting down the days to Christmas, often with fun surprises to be found in the doors along the way. So sprinkled through this last month was cookie making, family Christmas movie nights, snow day, viewing the biggest and craziest christmas lights around, and picking out a new 2019 family ornament during a "snowfall" of soap bubbles in our town. I do love enjoying the fun and family and anticipation of the season and "the doors" has become a fun way to add that in. Of course, Nick and I have to have a big December scheduling meeting and breathe a sigh of relief when its all said and done as well : )
Aside from the fun advent, we also countdown to Christmas each night with another advent, a book called "The Wonder of the Greatest Gift" that I would totally recommend to anyone with kiddos. The book includes a "Jesse Tree" that is a christmas tree that focuses around the family tree of Jesus. Each night a christmas ornament is added to the tree as you read a short story that takes you through the entire God-story of His great great love for us, His rescue plan, and the people He's been using to prepare the way, all the way to when He sent His own Son to come after us. It's a love story, and a victory story, and our story. Our story to own, to live and to tell.
So heading into another year, 2020(!!!), Nick and I have the hope and prayer to continue on in the same intentionality as our "Advent Doors" and "Jesse Tree" have provided. Meaning, we want to appreciate and enjoy the good gifts God has put in our lives with thankful hearts, intentionality, and an awareness of His Goodness in it all. And we also want to keep in the forefront of ALL things, His Story, His plan, His love, to keep that at the center of all the other stories and plans and loves. The Joy of all joys is that His story is our own, and we want to own it, live and tell it this year like it's the most important thing we have, and can do. Because...it IS!!!!!
Merry Christmas, friends, and Happy New Year!
May your 2020 adventure be centered around pursuing Him more along with us!
Love,
Emily and Nick and fam
