[talk: OH Boy ... Here We Go ...]

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Well - sort of.

These are the last two days of the Christmas season for us ... and we end it with a bang. My hubby's bday is tonight - and our little 4-couple fondue has turned into a 19adult 7children event.

Why am I wasting time writing this, instead of doing all that I should be? Well, I'm waiting for my hubby to come home with all the ingredients to finish everything up. Like all functions, it's the last hour prior to that becomes a nail-biting frenzy. And I'm a tad nervous that there won't be enough of everything ... I mean, how do you plan for 19 people with dipping sauces?? I have no clue - but I'm willing to give it a try *grin*.

The numbers grew due to people not having a place to go for New Years. So we invited another couple. Then another. Then we found out so-and-so didn't have a place to go, and neither did so-and-so.- We have an "open door" policy but when we were told that another so-and-so would like to come to, with so-and-so, we had to decline. Honestly, it was such a hard thing to do - but as my poor hubby said, "Sweetie at some point you just have to say "no". There simply isn't enough room." Ick. It just made my stomach turn into knots. But they were gracious and hopefully they understood our predicament.

On another note, last night we were at B&A's engagement party and I learned of some of my "blog stalkers" (they should come up with a better term - that just sounds creepy instead of what it really is - super sweet). Listening to people be touched by what I write was really quite surreal. One person talked with me about how my story of Shalom really touched her, and another talked about my recipes ... and it was really lovely to hear.

See, I just write, and throw it out there - not sure who will be catching it. So, as this is the final blog of 2008, let me thank YOU for taking the time to care about the little snippets that I write. I wish you all a wonderful new year, and all the best for 2009.

I'll be sure to post pics of our New Years Party ... but for now, here are a few pics of the snow caves my hubby built with Mattias and his neighbour friend. The snow's still here, but definitely melting ... we'll see what happens during January!

Be blessed!

[talk: Silence.]

Shhh ... can you hear it?

It's the sound of the clock ticking in the dining area ... and the purring of my laptop. Oh how SWEET the sound. The sound of silence.

I love people. I love being with people, talking with people, laughing with people. But I love silence too. It clears my head. And there is a lot going on in my head today. Thoughts of possible dreams coming true, thoughts of *ugh* dreams possibly not coming true. Thoughts of hard paths different friends are walking. Paths of financial stress, marital grief, physical illness.

And it seems, in these quiet moments, that all the loudness of laughter and noise just ripples away. What is left is the truth ... that life is full of blissful ups and devastating downs. We can't hide it with wide grins and empty banter. We're not meant to have it all together all the time.

We all know that it's the hardtimes that make the good times even sweeter. And as I enjoy the quietness of my evening, I know that right now is a good time. I will savour it, because who knows what tomorrow will hold for any of us.

How sweet to know that even when all is silent, that He is there.

[talk: Tuesday - "Nanny & Baba's Christmas Morning"]

Christmas morning at Nanny & Baba's always starts off with the BIGGEST breakfast. And with a little boy asking if it's time to open presents yet. Who are we kidding. There are a few BIG boys asking the same thing ...

No one makes a breakfast like my mom. German pancakes, Land of Nod Cinnamon buns, bacon & sausage, eggs, fruit salad ... need I say more??

Then, after breakfast, it was time to open the presents with the Christmas music in the background and cups of coffee in hand.

My niece read the REAL Christmas story from the book of Luke.

Mattias got a fishtank from Nanny & Baba ... he was CRAZY excited and didn't know what to do with himself.


It was a great, great time. And I can't believe it's over until next year!! But our Christmas was JUST beginning ...

[talk: Monday - "Nanny & Baba's Christmas Eve" ]

Monday night was our annual "Nanny & Baba's Christmas Eve" with my family. We have a fondue, play games and sleep over so that the next morning is "Nanny & Baba's Christmas Morning." This is a great way to take the pressure off of December 24th and 25th of us all being together - which is so complicated with all the different families and in-laws.

Our fondue has become a tradition, with battered mushrooms & cheese, steak, chicken and a host of other foods. It's a great thing to do, as it slows down your night and lets you have good conversation while you're cooking your food.

Josiah knows EXACTLY where the candies are hidden.

We even opened the kids stockings - although my husband was pushing for the adults to open at least one gift. But we all waiting for the next morning.

Baba and the boys put out chocolate milk and cookies for Frosty the Snowman - who conveniently lives in their backyard *smile*.

[talk: Ho Ho Ho *yawn*]

Ok. I'm spent ... but I've survived the first week of Christmas holidays. Birthdays, family functions, dinner with friends ... there's been something on every day, every night. And I have the photos to prove it. So many, in fact, that I'm a little dizzy just sorting through them all.

I don't know if any of you are the "photographer" of the family - but I am definitely that in both of ours. I'm not even sure if anyone else brings a camera - except for maybe my teenage nieces. So, I click away and then I put the pressure on myself to get them ready (edit) and send them out to all the family. I've totally created this habit on my own, and now our families are used to it ... so then comes the, "So, do you have our pictures yet?" *smile* But I deserve it ... I love taking them - but in such a busy week, getting them out is just another thing to do.

What I'd REALLY like to concentrate on, is finishing our Cruise scrapbooking. I've done 18 pages so far - and am on day 3 of 7. But now that I've gotten going on it, it shouldn't take long to finish it.

Here's a recap of our week ...