Good bye 2016... Bring it on 2017!

Happy New Year! I never got around to sending out Christmas cards this year nor my Christmas letter of the events of 2016. It has been a whirlwind of a month.

December had many ups and downs but we are so very grateful to be healthy, warm, and safe in our home.

We started the work marathon with painting rooms and hallways and putting up some closet shelving. Jason and I tackled learning how to tile and managed to get all the floor tiling done over the course of two weeks. After the tile was set, we could finally install a toilet IN THE HOUSE! That’s all I wanted for Christmas – and it came a week early! We also hooked up our washer and dryer – woohoo! Then we headed straight into laying hardwood on the main floor. The first day we managed to get the hallway and girls room done so they could sleep in their own room for the first time in 2 years – just in time for Christmas! It was amazing to move their bunk beds out of the living room after 7 weeks, and see a room transform into a bedroom. We finished the hardwood in the living room on Christmas Eve, just in time to relax and enjoy a quiet family day on Christmas. We went sledding and snowshoeing and enjoyed hot chocolate in the peacefulness of our home.

Laundry! (posted the before drywall disaster)

Never thought I'd take a photo of a toilet!

Snowshoeing!

We even managed to set up the tree!

Our winter wonderland!

We then headed to Kelowna on Boxing Day for four days to visit family and celebrate Trinity’s 9^th birthday.

We came back home with our couch, chair, and TV to set up our living room! This was monumental. I haven’t had a real couch or living room in two years. Honestly, we have all been coveting the couch since it has been set up. It is a small but huge pleasure to curl up on the chair with a cup of tea and a book. GRATEFUL.

We started January with a bang, by finishing the hardwood on the main floor, setting up my office, and finding a leaky drain, a poor insulated wall (aka wet drywall), and water coming from the ceiling under the upstairs bathroom. Which has resulted in removing LARGE pieces of freshly painted drywall, wet insulation, and having a very frustrated husband. So, it looks like January will include more dry-walling, sanding, and painting.

However, we have the greatest joy of knowing that these rifts in our days are nothing compared to the suffering of many others. We were reminded of this frequently these past weeks upon hearing of loved ones passing and others being very sick. May we never lose our perspective of our lives in this world. May we not get caught up inside our own pity boxes. Let us hold on to the bold and beautiful truth of the future that is ours in Christ Jesus. Let us lift one another up in the struggles of this world and reach toward the One who is willing to carry us.

Above the sea of clouds.