Caleb's hockey

 Our son Caleb decided to join the local recreational league hockey this March. It has been fun to watch him compete in a sport again. He's played golf the past few years, but that is not a spectator sport! He was a little nervous to join, partly because he'd never played a real game. He could definitely ice skate, and he played lots of hockey in our garage (on roller blades) with his sisters.

He has done really well and enjoyed it a lot! He's made lots of goals and learned as he's played. We've also enjoyed seeing him indoors, instead of freezing in the wind, rain, or boiling in the sun (like in baseball!).

He's played the lower levels in his league, which are C and D. They had similar guys on two teams. The last night that they played this season with the D league was their championship, and they won! They even had an imitation Stanley Cup that they got to hold and skate around with. It's been fun to cheer with his girlfriend (now fiancée), our niece, and his sisters. We take a bag of blankets with us to the ice rink.

His first jersey was an old loaner that said "JIM" on the back, so that's what we called him when we cheered.

He got a New Jersey halfway through the season with our last name on it. It was spelled wrong, but he wore it anyway. 

The skates make him seem really tall!

Even if he has grown up, we're still his parents cheering him on!

Genesis 18:3-4
He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree."

Job 37:9-11
The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.

The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters his lightning through them.

Word of the Year 2026: Abundance

Word of the Year: Abundance 

I had a challenging time this year choosing a word to focus on. I needed to appreciate the blessings that I already have. Really, I have been given so much. I dislike the lies that the world tells us that we can't be happy until we have MORE, or the newest, latest & greatest. I have plenty of clothes, books, "toys", purses, candles, food, etc.,

Part of it is the time after Christmas when I want to purge some things. But I really just want to be happy with the "abundance" that I have been given. I chose Ephesians 3:20 for my verse to memorize, and it will help me remember that He can do way more than I think or imagine, and to God be the glory. I don't deserve anything, no matter what anyone says. I deserve punishment for the way I have betrayed my Lord. I have disobeyed Him and dishonored Him. The world says to take a break or buy this thing because "you deserve it." I say no, I deserve nothing. 

God deserves all of the praise for all that I am and all that I have. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for God in my life. I need Him every moment of every day. So I honor God, and say, Now to Him who is able to do ABUNDANTLY more than I ask or think... to God be the glory!

I also found a song that goes along with this verse, called "Abundantly More" by North Point Worship. You can listen to it here. I like the line that says, "Your love for me is better than I imagined." So good!

Did you choose a word of the year? I'd love to hear all about it!

Ephesians 3:20

NKJV      Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

26. 
    
    
    
    
    Matthew 25:29
      For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have, will be taken from them.

    
    
27. Luke 12:15
    Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Christmas highlights 2025

 We had a wonderful Christmas this past year. We had our "big kids" home for a few days, and that was fun. On the 23rd, there was a "Christmas skate with Santa" in the afternoon that my husband and three younger kids went to together. I'm not an ice skater, so I did not participate. My two middle kids have "Elf" costumes that they wore ice skating!  Haha

 

On Christmas Eve, we went to our church's candlelight service and then home to open one gift. My 2 younger girls had gotten Grinch sweatshirts in early December, so we bought the sweatpants to go with them.

Oldest daughter opens pajamas...

My hubby got a new t-shirt...

Here's the girls in their matching sweatshirts and pants!

They played our table-top air hockey before we began "The Polar Express".

Our family photo after our Christmas Eve service... it took about 10 pictures to get a good one!

My hubby got some new slippers called "Kyrgies" that he really wanted... he loves them!

Our youngest got a Nintendo switch game that she's wanted for a while...

M got an electric tea kettle for her dorm room that she wanted...

The bigs got a blanket that they really wanted...

My mom was here for the day and she loved her pink, striped shirt that we gave her!

M appliquéd letters onto several sweatshirts for gifts... I have one that says, "Jesus Saves."

Our oldest daughter got a hand-stitched bag that says, "Thank You for the Music."

We saved the last gift for M... I began writing a devotional book for her!

After my son's girlfriend got off of work, we opened gifts with her. She liked her new scrub top!

My son bought her this hat that says, "He's Golfing."

We used part of my husband's Christmas bonus to buy a large, wooden shelf to hold our games! We like it because now we can see them all!

We finished our 1,000-piece Christmas puzzle (from my hubby's mom and sister-in-law) a few days after Christmas! It was a good challenge!

How was your Christmas? I'd love to hear about it!

Luke 2:4--15

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”