Ready or Not, it's the Holidays

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 Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA - an incredible venue and beautiful pool. 

My Wednesday morning running buddy is getting harder and harder to enjoy:-)

  If you don't have swim practice at 6:00am Thanksgiving, you may as well serve
breakfast at The Haven with Olivet's Youth Leader.  What a wonderful way to start the day!

 Final destruction of the 4-D Harry Potter puzzle that's been moved around the house for two years.

 Since Granddaddy was here, may as well have him help with the audition for Veritas' Virtual Christmas Concert.  The nice thing about being involved with two well established virtual schools is that they have rich traditions already in place. (Spoiler alert, since I'm writing this so much later - the actual event was quite impressive----ridiculous talent among these students---meaning, NO.  The Killians did not make it:-)

 

The girl is starting to like Chestnut Soup!

 Fun new "Thanksgiving" poinsettias were available this year.

Dody's Advent - "everyone's" FAVORITE game, I promise, followed by what Granddaddy's do best.

Penny's just a tiny bit bigger than last time we took her to the Christmas Tree farm.

These two still enjoy breaking out the Fisher Price Nativity Set and our Bill's handmade nativity puzzle.

 

These guys filmed the lighting of the Hope candle and "twisted it on" during the chilly service at Meadows as well as doing the virtual lighting for Olivet.  So many Hope candles...does that give us extra HOPE?!?

 

 

 

They also virtually lighted the Hope candle and made Advent Wreaths at Olivet.  Matthew was SO into it while Margaret was making ornaments with The Creative Wagon.  It was a beautiful, fun time together.

Also a "pick-up event" day, we left with more loot than we could carry.  Our Kingdom Kits are filled with so much to do at home! 

 

Our first visit to the outdoor chapel at Olivet.  What a unique, special little spot.

A toast to the new, beautiful "slender" 9' foyer tree.

Experimenting with our two wreaths, and Margaret's Greystone candle.

 We spent a full week in heaven in Michigan and got not one single family pic. So, later than ever, we called on our dear Jenn to save the day.  And she pulled off her magic once again:-)

 

2020 has certainly been a year no one could have expected. In some ways, the devastating blows that began in March seem like years ago already.  Our new normals have become sad routines.  Our country has been stripped apart on principals, as now happens every four years.  The world faced unique and ugly challenges.  But we all had choices how to respond. 

But my prayer is that health and wealth will no longer be taken for granted; that employment will be viewed as a gift rather than a burden; that school will be celebrated as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than a break from the kids; that people will think more about others and less about themselves; that love will conquer all; that Jesus will get more attention; that God will be the one we trust with control.  

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”  Matthew 3:15