Happy New Year, 2024!

As we look back on 2023, we can remember and celebrate so manny beautiful moments and experiences together! Our hearts are full and filled with so much joy. We know that we are never promised tomorrow and so we step into this new year with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author of our days, with such gratitude for each passing day! 

The day was spent at home, cooking together, taking walks, watching movies, and welcoming in the year together.

So with that said, welcome 2024!  We are so glad that you are here...

December 26, 2023

 The day after Christmas, we had an amazing breakfast and opened stockings and played a game that our Mia and Papa had planned with prizes and everything.

We then headed to Altadena to spend time with our friends the Crabbs and to see the Christmas tree lane lights!

We made pizzas in their pizza oven and it was SO good!

Seeing the lights is so magical.  They have been doing this street with Christmas lights for over 100 years!

Then we headed inside for a treats, cocoa, and jeopardy...

Our friends are the most incredible hosts and the events that they host are ALWAYS so special, allowing us to create the most magical memories together!

twenty one

 I interrupt our regular schedule of Christmas recapping to say that today is our 21st wedding anniversary!

When I think back over the years of our marriage and our life together, I can't imagine a more perfect match for me.  I love the life that we have created together  and I pray that we have so many more together! Kit, you are still the one that my souls loves and I still choose you and only you to spend the rest of my life with. Happy anniversary Kit Rae!

Christmas Day 2023

 Christmas morning was slow and spent at home together before we headed out to Redlands for the evening. We started by reading the Christmas story from Luke on the cards I made Kit when we were engaged.

Breakfast was consumed by the "fire" surrounded by goodies...

The Rae adults exchanged names for pjs and so Kit got the deer romper from his brother Ethan and I got jammies from Diane!

The favorite gifts this year were  refurbished AirPods for the kids, a Stanley water bottle and Taylor Swift items for Eden and cleats and a soccer game for Ryder.  This was the year that we gave them super random English items and then told them that the gifts were to represent our trip to London before we go to Portugal... We are all elated about our adventure!

The bunnies hate photos but love the treats they get afterward so it's all a win-win...

Then we headed to Redlands!

We had a very special time together!

Christmas Eve 2023

 We are back!  It is a new year and there were so many special things that wrapped up 2023 that we got to be part of...  So I am having a sweet time of remembering and celebrating with each reflections and event!

First up: Christmas Eve.  This year it fell on a Sunday, which meant that we had an earlier schedule than when it falls on other days of the week. 

The kids and I served in children's ministry for one service, and were greeters and servers at our hot cocoa bar for the next service, and then attended the last service...

My little helpers were the absolute best!

Such incredible moments for our community together!

We then headed home and ate our first home made lasagna as a family and it was SO GOOD!

Then the kids set everything up for Santa, because even when you know the wizard behind the curtain, the magic can still exist...

And even though they set it up, they will tell you that one of their favorite things is coming down Christmas morning as seeing things moved...

I love these traditions so much!  Then it was time for Christmas day!