Cherishing the Moments

It's amazing how being absent from your country and family for four years can help you to cherish each moment you have together.  And that is exactly what we have been doing the last two months; hence, the hiatus from blogging. :)  

(That, and we were absolutely exausted from this past term, so we decided we needed to be intentional and strategic in what we said "yes" and "no" to in order to prioritize time to rest and recover.  Blogging didn't make the cut.)

So here are the last two months' worth of highlights.

Lots of time just hanging out as a family.

 Halloween.

Our artist, cowboy and Legolas (from Lord of the Rings) with Mikayla's close friend.

Family reunion with Steve's family.

(His nephew's face is blurred because he is their foster child so need to protect his identity. This little guy stole all our hearts; prayers appreciated as big decisions are made this month that will greatly affect his/their future!) 

 Thanksgiving dinner with Steve's extended family on his mom's side.

 Set up the Christmas village with Grandma Jackson...

 ...and the Christmas tree at Grandpa & Gram Hagen's.

 Christmas day with the Jackson family.

 So much fun time with cousins.

 Pretty cool gingerbread village.

 Christmas with the cousins - first time in 9 years!

Ben was really sick all day with a high fever, but we still had a blessed day together.

 And God sent us snow in answer to 3 kids' prayers!

 They got in some great sledding and snowboarding!

 Then He even sent MORE snow!  So blessed!

Appreciate everyone's prayers as we are in the throes of packing, weighing, re-shuffling and re-weighing.  And good-byes.  Those never get any easier.  We leave on Monday morning; thanks for praying!!!