a merry christmas

Christmas started not with gifts this year but with an epic lighting of the fort langley christmas tree. excited and bundled, with hot chocolate, friends and mittens, we set out to watch the lighting of the christmas tree in fort langley. santa came rowing in on the river and walked through the crowds of people. he stopped and scooped up penny in his arms, he chatted to her for a moment and then asked what she would like for christmas, her response, "a snack" as she stroked his beard. we followed him to the tree where we counted down to the lighting, not sure how to describe it...but it made for great story telling afterward! the kellers had joined us and drove home with us to finish our hot chocolate and watch a movie. this was the start of our christmas time. we ventured to stanley park with the same friends for more christmas cheer and train rides. although we didn't end up riding we did explore and grow our community. over the next week our hallway of friends left to join their families and we celebrated our own christmas.

following that we too left for our adventure and celebration of the birth of Jesus.

there were stickers, dinners, medications, gifts, and more meds. there was kindness and love shown by all. our families came together in different ways to wish one another a merry christmas. we shared experiences, we laughed, froze, were sick and rode hard, we played in the snow and caught almost every snowflake on our tongues. and lastly, there was walking and playing, skating and riding, sipping tea and sharing our hearts. i could not give more thanks for these friends, for their kindness and hospitality. our community is so important to us, they walk through life with us, they share our burdens and rejoice in our victories. they are our blessings, they are our much...we have been given much.