CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS TIME at the BLASKE HOUSE!


Each year brings new things and old traditions.
Dave and I sought out to make this Christmas a bit different than years past after we read a great book called "After the Dream Comes True" (speaking of a family who wrote down
the events that occurred after they brought their adopted kids home)
We were touched by their awareness to make things simple and meaningful for their kids. We always set out to do this and I think our traditions represent this in many ways. But this year we set our focus...lets say "a bit more focused"
We we were able to gather some gifts, books, clothing and letters for Victoria and John that we sent with Phil and Amanda to Ghana. (Thanks guys...this was a BLESSING of big proportions)
Here you will see them at the Beacon house opening the gifts we were able to send. Nothing could prepare our hearts as we looked onto these pictures. To see the joy in their faces and the excitement filled us up. What blessed our hearts more was to see the Christmas day events at the Beacon House. They are in a GREAT Place and we are soooooo thankful.

(a live action shot of Victoria's Delight as she sees the package we sent to her)

(here is our little man John...waiting to open his gift)


We know we will be working hard to preserve the family connections the kids have in their hearts for all who live there.
While John and Victoria were in t-Shirts and bare footed 80 degree weather, we were watching the snow fall. It has been many years since we have seen snow on Christmas day.
What fun to sip hot chocolate under a blanket on the couch watching the snow fall.

I know lots of families have a tradition of new jammies on Christmas Eve, and we are no different. Here are the kiddos in their new jammies ready to sleep at Grandma and Papa Swanson's house in Redmond. It is hard to believe that we have had 18 years of new P.J.'s

(Look at the little brothers reaction to the "little" jammie shorts, to funny..little did he know that Ash was planning on wearing them OVER the LONG bottoms they came with .)
(No Daddy...they do not go on your head :O)
Blaske Kiddos looking sharp in their new Jammies!

One of the ways we got to bring everyone together was a God moment we had of reading the prophesies of Christ and the fulfillment of them in scripture. It was a great time of reflection that we serve and love an amazing God and all he says and does is RIGHT AND TRUE! It was a special moment in my mommy heart to hear my family pray around the room for the ones in need, lost, forgotten and sad. We are Thankful that we serve a God who hears us.
On another God note...Dave and i had decided a few months ago to get the kids a WII game station. We had seen that my parents had one and it made for GREAT fun family events and group play. I can say that our other game stations leaves my kids to say things like "Thanks for trying Mom, but your not so good at this" Hee hee! They are Right.
We looked and looked and even bid on one on E-BAY, but NO WII for us. We decided to go ahead and buy a few controllers and write the kids a note telling them we would buy one when the supplies went up again in the Spring. We did that and went on with life...less stress and ready to go on with Christmas.
We travel to Seattle area to spend one day with each set of grand parents over Christmas. It is a time of year and tradition we really look forward to.
Our first stop was Dave's Dad and step mom's house. They gathered the kids around and gave them a gift....they opened a WII system! We did not know this, but looked across the room at each other and smiled...God takes care of even the small non eternal desires of our hearts.

So we traveled to each families house with a packed van of food, fun and excitement of new memories to be had.
Here are some pictures of our group play with the WII. I realized that bowling is GREAT...I can actually beat my kids and Dave. Grandpa is another story!
(Papa Zopfi showing Grandma how to bowl)


(The boys playing golf with the golf Pro Papa Swanson)

So I wrap up this entry with a thankful heart for our Saviour Jesus Christ, our new memories, games, puzzles, food, prayers, new jammies and most of all a family to share it ALL with.
As we draw closer to the day when the Blaske 6 will be 8, we lean each day on Jesus for our HOPE and STRENGTH to make it to that day, He is in control and we are thankful.
Merry Christmas To All!