Treasured

And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:18-19

As I finished writing personal notes in Christmas card to friends who I don't connect with on social media, I pondered how you sum up the year without writing a book (which I aspire to, someday...) Here's where I landed:

• Most days, the girls like us (though not always the tweens).

• The girls keep us busy but it's fun.

• Though it can be overwhelming at times, we are so thankful for the privilege to be their mom and dad.

Then I recalled reading Luke 2:1-22 earlier in the morning: Mary treasured. Here's a teenage young woman who the angel told would birth and parent the Savior to the world (Luke 1:26-28). She knew the basic facts, yet she didn't know all the details. She trusts her God. She praises the Lord from the bottom of her heart (Luke 1:46-55). At risk of being stoned (pregnant before marriage), and surely ridiculed, she carries the Holy Child in her womb. Then she and her fiancé find out they must travel to Bethlehem, nearly 100 miles (nine months pregnant mind you) to pay taxes. The trip does her in; she goes into labor and the only place they could find to deliver was in a stable, likely a cave. (Thank you merciful Bethlehemite who gave them at least some shelter and privacy!) The endorphins after giving birth are powerful, and I recall feeling on top of the world (actually, I told Derrick we could have 100 more babies). And here Mary sits, so thankful for this child she delivered yet knowing this Baby would in fact deliver her from eternal death. Then come these shepherds who've been visited by an angel of the Lord and sung to by a choir of angels. They have big stories to tell and they're telling everyone about this Baby Mary holds in her arms, wrapped in rags, laying in a feed trough. And at that moment, the past nine months of ridicule and shunning fall out of her mind and all she can do is treasure: take note of every little detail as to not forget a thing. Everyone around her was admiring this saving child, wondering how this baby would save mankind from eternal separation from God, but Mary, though not sure how, was recalling all the details God had worked out so far, thanking Him and actively trusting God's plan to save mankind through this Baby.
So I got to thinking, do I treasure like Mary or do I wonder like these who heard the shepherd's vision of angels? It's easy to wonder: will she ever remember to put on deodorant without my reminding; will they be best friends when they grow up; will Derrick and I have a common denominator when they leave the house; will they grow up to walk intimately with Jesus? But what's better is to treasure our journey so far and be thankful for the privilege of being a family.

A not so surprising Disney adventure.

Waiting in line at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Spring Break in Tennessee with 5 Giffey boys.

Precious memories and times with Auntie Kayla and Uncle Bryce.

Bill Sykes and the work house kid. Who knew my husband could be a villain?

Building relationship with cousin Evie, playing on the farm.

Drum and Bugle Corp Competition at TCF Stadium.

A Twins game in September.

Madison's Jazz Class winning first place at three competitions. The look on her face: priceless!

Daddy Daughter and Mommy Daughter Dances at the Spring Show. 

Oodles of Dakota County Fair projects.

Family times in the Swine barn and four piggies to fit and show. 

Annual hiking adventure with Doug and Sarah McGrail in the Big Horn Mountains, WY.

A gorgeous fall night for a photo shoot with my golden heads.

Sarasota beach! (Mom's favorite!)

I hope you will choose to treasure as well! Merry Christmas: Immanuel, God with us!

Elf & Gingerbreadkid

It was one of those proud momma moments for me. as I watch Breanne totally in character for her first performance of Elf last weekend. IMO, she's quite a talented young woman on the theater stage. She keeps us hopping lately with play practice, Christmas parties, band and honor choir. At one point, she ate every meal for 24 consecutive hours in the car on the way to her next destination.

The Macy employee

 "Gingerbread, gingerbread, gingerbread rock. Gingerbread rhymes for gingerbread times. Shaking and baking, it's holiday fun. Now that gingerbread time has come." What a delight to see Aliya take stage with her first grade class. She was a shining star...or baker should I say?

All this talk of the gingerbread kid that ran and hid, makes me want to eat chocolate gingerbread cookies!

I am aliya the rock star!!!!!!!!!!

Really?

I about choked when I uploaded Aliya's Veteran's Day school picture earlier today; really, I haven't posted a thing since June? Good golly. Maybe this is indicative of the phase of life we now enter. It's not little people running around you in circles, but rather three young adults (well, maybe not Aliya yet) directing your time, money and emotions down paths I'm not sure I'm ready to navigate again: school dances, concerts, youth group, shopping in juniors, state fair, algebra and geometry. (Okay, so Derrick really never left those last two.) Enough ranting. This is our new reality and really, we wouldn't want it any other way.

In July...let the fair projects begin. Madison would go on to receive Grand Champion in Food Revue and Breanne an Award of Excellence.

A beautiful very first fair ribbon for Aliya at the Fashion Revue.

The van was loaded with fair projects this year, but we didn't have to make two trips.

Madison loves showing pigs at the fair. And really liked trimming them too. Before long, she'll be cutting dad's hair.

Our annual trip to Montana led us to Wyoming. (Don't worry, it was on purpose.) We spend two nights with Doug and Sara in the Big Horn Mountains. We saw moose and snow and Derrick caught some trout. Fabulous!

The girls' first Minnesota State Fair trip with 4-H. Their club's Share the Fun skit won at the County Fair.

Lifelight with Moriah Peters in the background.

A beautiful 7-year old had a four days of birthday parties in a row. Plus, we got to canoe and paddle board. 

Halloween with cousin Evie.

Meeting precious cousin Nora.

Lots of fun playing with Evie.

Thanksgiving with the DeWildes.

Madison...a grandma's girl.

Cousin craziness include flashlight tag in the basement this year.

Salute

Aliya's first grade class salutes our Veterans.

"You're never fully dressed without a smile!"

And that line comes from…..?

Annie! The girls finished their busy month strong with four performances this past weekend. And just when I was lonesome for their company, they all left for grandmas'! (Hence the availability to upload pictures and chase after the resident bunny eating my garden.)

Earlier this month, we got to spend a day with cousin Evie. (She's growing up into quite the cute little girl!) She liked her cousins and loved her uncle Derrick.

 Last week, we spent an evening in the strawberry field: deliciously fun. As Derrick says, "You only have to pay for the ones you don't eat." By the time you leave, your belly is sick with berries.

We try our best to give the girls a taste of the farm.

Busy, messy, hard work, fun

I'd say, "Where does the time go?" but that's too cliché. Let's just say as the sunshine captures the hundreds of handprints on the glass, birds serenade and flowers cascade in a multitude of color, "Summer is here! And it's busy and messy. It's lots of work. And it's fun."
Yesterday ushered in the beginning of fair projects: Madison on her edible fairy garden and Breanne on  building a lawn game with her dad: corn hole. This past week has begun 32+ hours of Annie practice for all the girls, the first of many hours in the pool, the first parade dance practice, the first trumpet lessons, a new violin, BookAWooky summer reading program, mommy time, date night, two campfires, Summer Evenings in the Garden with the Master Gardeners and dinners on the deck. Golly, what do we do for entertainment around here?
Here's recap of the past month's fun. And remember, any time you want to come join our craziness for a while, you're welcome! Every day is full, and every day has an opportunity for us to become more like Jesus.

Bill Sykes and the work house kid from May's production of Oliver.

Who knew I married a villain?

And why were we standing by the creepy, naked statue?

Madison enjoyed Camp Pepin, an outdoor learning experience for fifth graders in Farmington School District. This was the giant swing. Here she is doing the spider man. 

I survived chaperoning: first mountain dew in years!

Made a trip to Missouri to see Bryce and Kayla. They showed us the best of the Ozarks. Loved the plunge ride at Silver Dollar City.

Weekend away by St. Croix Falls, WI and canoed on the St. Croix: quiet, relaxing, refreshing. (Thanks grandma!)