Looking Back at a Good Time Indeed

Christmas is, as we know it, wrapping up for another season. Was it a good one? Yup. It was just what I needed. I sit here, on New Year's Eve (day) and can look back at what I would say was a refreshing and fun time of blessing with our family - both the Toews' and the Bartel's. I always say it, but what might seem to some as an obsession with my family, only continues to grow each time I make the trek home to spend time with them. Maybe it's because I don't have the luxury of hopping into my car to see them whenever I want. Well, regardless, I am in love with this little grouping of people that God has blessed me with. They are my everything.

The Toews Brothers - Devin, Warren & Brad - Bundled up for an afternoon of chores.

Devin & Laura - Opening gifts.

Brad & Angel

Brookie & Daddy - We got together with Dave & Mel and the munchkins to celebrate Christmas, as well as Dave's birthday, a few days before we flew home. They didn't come home with us this year because they went out to B.C. to be with Dave's family. They were definitely missed by everyone. It was great... just not the same.

Mikayla & Uncle Warren - dirty faces.

Baby Josh - his first Christmas!

Yummy crepes on Christmas morning - a Bartel family tradition.
Dad is the official crepe maker. So good.

"The Blob" - A homemade Christmas tree ornament Jon made when he was little. I think it's actually supposed to be Rudolph. Everyone knows about The Blob and everyone specifically looks for The Blob when we first see the tree each year. So here it is, in all its glory.
Ah, traditions.

Mom & Dad

All of the boys got "Planet Earth" - an amazing nature documentry DVD. (You should see it!) It was kind of funny how it all happend, though. We had originally bought it, among other stuff, for my parents. When they opened it, they acted super pumped and were asking all sorts of questions about it. Then, my mom promptly stated that she had a great gift for the guys to all open. So, when they all tore apart the wrapping paper, each guy got the exact same DVD. It was pretty funny. Maybe one of those "you kinda had to be there" moments, but hilarious nonetheless.

For Christmas, my parents gave us a trip to Disneyworld!!! All of us. Yeow! They always said that once Jon & Karen got married,, we'd all go. Welp, Jon & Kar tied the knot in September, so here we go! So exciting, so exciting! The Bartel family kinda has a thing with Disney. We've gone there several times before and it's kind of our thing. So, in February, Mom & Dad, Dave & Mel and the kids, Warren & I, Steve & Vicki and Jon & Kar are headed to Orlando Florida to stay in Disney for a week!!! Can't wait.

Jon & Kar

And so, I'm sad to see the Christmas season go, but I am looking ahead to a whole spankin' new year. A clean slate. A fresh page. What will it look like? What will take place? And I'm thankful for its freshness. Cheers to the wonder of new opportunities, the excitement of new challenges and the beauty of God's love. Happy New Year.*

This, That and the Other Thing

Yesterday was special. It marked two years since I married the love of my life. Warren and I have had quite the ride in the two years that we've been married so far. Some things have been overwhelming. There's been loss and sadness. There have been many challenges and bumps along the way. But there have been many joys and reasons to celebrate too. The good has absolutely outweighed the bad.

When I look at my life in a hypathetical state without him, it would seem empty and would lack so much. I have found a best friend in him. We're a team and we're one. We're in this together and I thank God for finding me a soul mate. I am blessed. Beyond words, actually.

And so, to celebrate, we went out for supper and a movie. Which brings me to the next point of this post - August Rush. Oh my GOODNESS!!! It was such a good movie - at the risk of sounding over dramatic, I will boldly say that it was truly one of the best movies I've seen. Warren had to agree (and ladies, that's saying something!). It was just so inspirational and well written. I would highly recommend it. It was that good.


Lastly, we are heading home for the holidays and I am (as always) bursting at the seams with excitement and anticipation. So, I had to stick in a little glimpse of a Bartel Christmas for the record.

I feel giddy when I think about: sitting by the fire with a cappuccino, visiting with my parents, eating a home cooked meal (mom's cooking is always the best), going to church on Christmas Eve, watching Monsters Inc for the 50th time with Dad, visiting the shop (the infamous Bartel Machine) and taking in that 'shop smell', unwrapping gifts with everyone - such a multitude of paper and bows and I love it, Mom's sugar cookies with mile-high icing, seeing Kodak again... and the list is unending. Should be good.*

White Lily

A time of suffering to God isn't hopeless. It's an opportunity for growth and it's the road to a closer relationship with Him. That's the idea anyway. But we don't usually see that right away. Our capacity of seeing beyond the here and now is often shadowed by the sorrow and the loss we feel. It's very real and very now and that's okay. We need to feel everything. We need to move through all the phases at the right time.

But there's something beautiful about the way God reasons with us, each of us on such a personal level and in such a way that only we can understand and make sense of. He knows what we need and how we need to hear it. He understands how we're wired and what will bring us comfort during a time where the tears flow freely and the hole in your heart only grows.

It was with an extremely heavy heart that I shuffled into our kitchen in the morning a few weeks ago, tear-stained eyes, shaky limbs, pounding head. I was hanging by a thread and felt things I just didn't know how to deal with, how to make sense of. As I entered the room, I lifted my head and scanned my surroundings. As I gazed out our back patio doors, the corner of my eye caught something that left me breathless. I looked down at the plant sitting at my feet and noticed a large white lily standing tall and in full bloom high above its leafy canopy below. The sun poured through our windows and there was a very obvious ray of light spotlighting this wonder, specifically lighting up the flower. Incredible. We've had this plant for a year and a half and there has never been any trace of a flower on it, I didn't even know that this was a flowering plant. Actually, just the night before, I had watered it and there certainly was no flower or even buds in sight. God knew. He knew. He knew that more than any sympathetic word, any hug or any perfectly written note, a visual picture of life, of beauty and of love was what I needed.

I cherish the idea of God as a Father. I envision a man with a soft expression of his face, kind eyes and gentle hands, scooping me up in his arms and holding me tightly. The comfort that I feel from that illustration is unexplainable. Maybe it's because of the relationship I've always had with my own Dad. Maybe it's because of the simplicity of God's love. It's not complicated. It's right in front of us.

As my white lily continues to stretch upwards, I am trying to do the same. I'm growing and I'm trusting. I believe in the promises of my God.*

A Sugar Palace for the Munchkins

I suppose I should start with a very exciting, yet painfully obvious fact - the Christmas Season is in full swing - how could I not make special mention of my absolute favorite time of year?

Ah yes, every mall is a heinous circus production, every Starbucks is lined up with holiday consumers, needing their cinnamon latte fix and most every home in Saskatoon glistens with sparkling twinkle lights and cedar roping around the front door. Weren't we just here?

And though Christmas faithfully brings out a certain nostalgic feeling in me from year to year, I owe it all to my love for family tradition and the warmth that hugs my heart each holiday season.

So, let old traditions continue and new ones begin. This past week has been no exception. It started off with a very fun and entertaining afternoon with the munchkins. We attempted our first (of many to come) gingerbread houses. Let me just gush for a minute about my ever-favorite role as an auntie. I could go on for hours. For every very precisely placed gumdrop stuck on the white icing-lined rooftop by one girl, there was an equally enthusiastically placed jube-jube in the mouth of the other. I'll leave the assumptions as to who did what with you. *grin* A terribly priceless afternoon.*