Giving Thanks...

It is Christmas Eve- and quiet here as we sit in front of the wood stove and listen to Christmas music.  Our thoughts often drift to our family and friends tucked away in their homes across this big earth.  We are sending wishes out from our quiet.  Last year we pretty much alone too, but that was because we both had the flu and therefore spent most of our time stretched out on the couch, with either fever or chills, coughing, and generally feeling miserable.  This year we are thankful for health.

Christmas has become a time of reflection- in the season of reflection.  I do believe that often Christmas is as much about our past as our present.  It is in the familiar- the favorite songs, favorite decorations, familiar stories...  I'm not sure how many times these past couple of weeks we have looks at tree ornaments and talked about when we got them or who we got them from.

This Christmas Eve I'm reflecting on my many blessings. 

First- we have a new beautiful Grandson.  This new baby was born on November 17, 2010.  He arrived practically full grown at 10 pounds and 12 ounces and 22 inches long.  It was love at first sight.

And I have to tell you the absolute thrill when shortly after the arrival of our beautiful new boy, my beautiful boy from across this globe in Afghanistan called to tell me that my new grandson- his new son is to be named Weiler Kearns Kappel!  Life just doesn't get better than that!

Since Weiler was born just a little over week before our Thanksgiving, this year was a extra special celebration of those we love. Our house filled with family as first Amber and Evan, and then Brandy, Will and Mikayla, and finally Matthew and Sharon arrived from places far away to join our celebration.  And then as we celebrated our Thanksgiving, Sarah, Deseree, Anthony, Michael and Liz joined us, along with Marianne, Reeder, Hayes and Weiler, and Elizabeth (Marianne's sister) and Eden, plus friends Don and Mary Jo Peairs, and Linda Wise, Johanna and Annaka.  I think the total only came to 24 this year; it was a wonderful evening.

Though we did take some pictures (and borrowed some from Sarah- thank you, thank you Sarah!).  We were very busy- what with family all about and I might mention the COOKING!  Yes we did COOK!  Over the course of 4 days we cooked banana nut bread, pumpkin bread with nutella, spagetti- with meat and with mushrooms, deviled eggs, roasted vegetables with wild rice stuffing, cornbread stuffing with sausage and mushrooms, dressing with swiss chard and mushrooms, cranberry relish, apple/cranberry pecan salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, broccoli rice casserole, corn pudding, sweet potato casserole, gratin of fennel and tomato, pumpkin pie, apple/ginger/cranberry pie, chocolate fallen souffle cake, grandma's chocolate cake, chocolate ginger cookies, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip cookies, apple cake, brisket, squash and kale bread pudding, greens/beets with blue cheese walnut dressing, roasted potatoes, buckwheat pancakes, waffles, and of course THE TURKEY!  I get tired just thinking about all that cooking.

And we did have some help...

The boys love to help in the kitchen...

These two kept the floor clean...

Mikayla feasted on her daily fill of broccoli - her favorite...

Evan took care of pulling corks - he was busy...

We had so much COOKING going on that we had to send Don to the grill outside in the cold when we ran out of kitchen space.

But the best part is never the food.  No the best part is ALWAYS the family that gathers, the laughter, the conversation, the holding of babies!

Can you believe that even with all the food we cooked, we still went out to eat once?  And then to our favorite bar (maybe the only one we know) The Blind Lemon...

Mikayla got lots of Grandma time...

Mikayla posed just for the camera...

The girls and I even "snuck" off for a day of shopping at the outlet mall!

We finished the weekend with a baptism of our newest grandson.  Weiler Kearns was baptised on Sunday afternnoon on November 28, 2010. Amber was a very proud godmother!

We give thanks... We are blessed...