We had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas. We cooked almost all day, went for a walk in the afternoon, and ate our feast in the evening. And we had a white Christmas! It started snowing that night and has been off and on the last few days- covering everything in a blanket of frosty white. My (Jess’s) parents came the day after Christmas and stayed for a short but fun visit, a huge blessing for us three. We explored the Davenport hotel in downtown Spokane, played games, ate lots of yummy leftovers, and enjoyed hanging out together.
Now we’re in our jammies, Jude is running around in his diaper (he’d prefer to be a minimalist when it comes to clothing) and chewing on our toothpaste tube, and we’re thankful for our time together and a really blessed December. 2008 is just around the corner…

Funny Face
A Foosh Christmas
The coolest sock ever
Stealing Ornaments
A special present
Working - even on Christmas

Baby Jude one year ago

Baby Jude & his hat

I was looking at pictures of our little man today from last year around this time- we took some under the tree and they are still some of my favorites. What an amazing year- I’m so very grateful for Jude. For Andrew as well- I remember thinking when we were dating…’I bet he’ll make an amazing daddy someday’, and how true that is.
Snow is clinging to the trees and covering the ground outside, making it feel even more like Christmas time! Only a couple weeks till the actual day, but what I love is that this season stretches out for a month or more, putting my heart in a place of wonder and gratefulness for the real reason I celebrate- Jesus coming to earth in a smelly stable and humbly but boldly becoming our savior. The reason I have hope that there’s more than just this life to live- more than the day to day problems of life, a bigger story that I’m a part of that started a long, long time ago. There’s more. And Jesus still says to us ‘Come, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Money can’t buy it. Success won’t bring it. When our life is done on earth only one thing will remain- a relationship with The One who loved us before we were born, who dreamed a life for us worth living and a hope that won’t disappoint.