There are pros and cons to having a mild winter. It is nice to leave the house without arming ourselves with hats, gloves and scarves. The downside is that the pond remains a slushy wet reservoir, rather than transforming into a solid ice rink.

However, there was one week when the temperature turned sub zero. It was enough to freeze the pond and lead Jim to zamboni the ice with the hose hooked up to the hot water heater. (I am leaving out the part of the story where a large crack formed with water coming up from it while Jim was on the ice)

For a few gloriously cold days, the kids skated their hearts out. It took a while for Ruth to get her ice legs.

And may I introduce finesse…

and his brother power…

Good buds.

A couple days later, these guys took to the ice.

They were joined by Ruth and her dog.

Her dog who has perfected the “hover-sit”.

It never fails. Whenever we gather in family room to watch a movie or play a game, Molly sticks her head into her toy bucket, pulls out a bone and traipses out to chew on it in our midst.

It’s her way of participating in the family activities.

tradition: a transmission of customs from generation to generation.

One such tradition began with just Jim and me watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy during Christmas break ten years ago. Over the years, it has grown to include one kid after another.

There are two prerequisites to being included in this tradition: one, you must have read the books; and two, mom and dad must agree that you’re emotionally mature enough to handle these intense movies.

Over the fall, Peter–knowing that Christmas break was right around the corner–was a reading machine and successfully read through two of the three books. He was thus invited to join the rest of us for the first two movies.

For Derek, winter now means wrestling season. After being instructed by his football coaches (who are also his wrestling coaches) to “get big”, he moved up a weight class from last year. He has happily complied, as lifting and eating are favorite activities of his (not necessarily in that order).

Jim was invited to participate in practices so he could drill with and help coach the heavyweights. For Jim, it was like wrestling with his sons in the family room, only on a mat with no fear of putting holes in the walls. Both he and Derek came home beaming. One of them walked in limping.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2)

Over a span of two days, Ruth and I baked over 11 dozen gingerbread boys and girls, to be used for both a cookie exchange and gifts. It was good bonding time.

What is perhaps more amusing than seeing a polished family smiling in a photograph is seeing the progression of how they got there.

Alright, kids, can we get a shot of just you guys?

There we go.  Hold it right there.

Our marriage is 21 years old today.
Until death do us part.

So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord,
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth. (Hosea 6:3)

Back by popular demand, we hosted the second annual Meatopia last weekend. It is becoming clear that smoked meat is Jim’s love language.

Molly can’t control herself around the barbecue aroma, so she becomes Jim’s best friend during the preparation process. Ruth decided Jim needed more free space to season, smoke and slice, so she put up this sign at the kitchen entrance.

Unfortunately, the dog cannot read, so she remained as a speed bump in the kitchen.

When all was said and done, we served nine different types of meat,

sides,

and a chocolate fountain for dessert.

These guys were the first to show up, then more came as the afternoon wore on.

Some started by filling two plates, while others made their way through the kitchen several times. We were surprised at how little meat was leftover when all the guys went home. It was fun to send them home with full bellies!

Ruth’s favorite part?

After dropping Jake off at the airport last Sunday, we picked up a wonderfully smelling tree and decorated it into the night, with Handel’s Messiah playing in the background.

The boys were in charge once again, putting up lights, ornaments, garland, beads, and the village underneath to complete it all.

Some of our ornaments are from Jim’s growing-up years. As the kids were gleefully placing ornaments on the tree, Jim stopped everyone, held up a big glass ball with “Jimmy 1977” written in glitter. As he held it up proudly in front of him, he exclaimed, “All I have to say is…JIMMY 1977!” Then, with everyone’s gaze on the ornament, it dropped from the hook, fell on the hardwood floor and broke into several pieces. There was utter silence, then Derek replied, “Well…so much for Jimmy 1977.” You’ll be happy to know that Jim successfully superglued the red ball back together and it is hanging on the tree once again. Ahh, family memories.

Another way we kicked off the Christmas season was by making a hospitality wreath.

It’s easy and fun, and makes people happy. Just glue pieces of candy onto a wreath

and hang it by the front door for guests to pull off and eat when they come over!

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:9)

The Friday after Thanksgiving was full of celebrations. My brother’s birthday, my niece’s birthday, and my mom’s retirement.

We started off at the Gieres’ new home to celebrate birthdays, and played a quiz game called Kahoot, testing our knowledge of the birthday girl.

As usual, things were lively.

Then later that evening, everyone came over to celebrate Mom’s retirement, where the liveliness continued…

My cousin had a baby a few months ago, and the kids (and adults) were magnetically drawn to this newest member of the family.

(Almost as much as Derek was magnetically drawn to the leftovers on Saturday)

It was a great weekend from beginning to end. We are thankful to God for this family. Here is everyone, minus my sister-in-law the photographer:

The Bible instructs us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I love that at least once a year, we are reminded of the importance of giving thanks. And not generically, but giving thanks to God.

We did just that when we gathered as a family last Thursday evening. Dad shared a devotional, pointing our eyes to the Giver of all good gifts.

After all the food preparation was complete,

in large part thanks to these three sisters,

everyone sat down and enjoyed a delicious feast. Thanks to modern technology, we were even able to say hello and speak virtually face-to-face to the fourth sister and her family in North Carolina.

Surely, a highlight of the evening was when my Grandpa Barker walked in the front door with his flight jacket, from his time in the Army Air Corps during WWII.

He has not shared much about his time in the war, which made this gesture even more meaningful. He had a rapt audience.

He talked through his “yearbook”.

These two have always had a unique bond, sharing an uncanny love for engineering; and after this evening, I think the bond grew even tighter.

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. (Psalm 79:13)