A January Christmas

Every time we get back to Iowa I completely fill our time with plans to see people we love and also to buy our bulk groceries. Our January trip was no exception, although it was to be just three days. Friday we helped prepare for the holiday at
Gabe and Missy's, which included, of course, making Cookie Moose with Forest! We got to babysit Joseph (that's Grace reading him a book) Friday night while Ben and Rebekah went to a Christmas party. We were up early Saturday for a trip to the Kalona Bent & Dent, Stringtown, and the Cheese Factory. Then we got to see Abby in Cedar Rapids late morning. A little more grocery shopping at Sams and we were off to see Aaron, Karla and Phaedra in Vinton. Next we went to see Torrey and Cheryl over past Garrison for a long overdue visit. After that we headed back to North Liberty to see how Gabe and Missy's Redemption tournament had gone and to get some rest for the Isbell Christmas on Sunday. This is very tipical of our trips to Iowa. We are blessed with so many people we love and care for. There are still many friends and some family we haven't seen since we moved to Alaska/Minnesota...maybe next time we're back in Iowa...


Steve and Abby


Phaedra posing with her Brain Noodle crown.


Torrey and Cheryl


Playtime with Willow!


Forest reading a bible story to Uncle John.


SUNDAY JANUARY 17TH, 2010



This year we celebrated Christmas with our family in Iowa on January 17th. This is the first time we've ever celebrated Christmas so late. It was good to stay in the 'attitude of Advent' a little longer. The later celebration was also good because I had committed to knit something for everyone for Christmas...that was 31 projects...so the extra time was needed to meet my goal. Some of the girls helped make a few dishrags and Maggie knit a couple hats so I can't take all the credit.

Everyone did their part to provide great food for our celebration. There was lots of eating, fun and games, gift giving and exchanging, excercise, loving, juggling, and here are some pictures to prove it.


Chris and Steve carving the roast beast.


Rebekah and Ben



Chris and Brooke


Some of the 'guys' hanging out...John, Joseph, Jacob, and Alex.


My beautiful Mother-in-law.


Carter and Phaedra playing 'Lions in the Zoo'.


Phaedra and Forest warming up by the fire after playing outside.


Blues Brothers or Men In Black?? Nope, 3-D Aaron and Karla.


Willow and Chris.


Sherri thought she'd take gifts to the car when some of the 'big guys' were outside. After getting hit with snowballs she turned and ran back in the house a little wet.


Katie and Grace Wii-ing.


Forest and Phaedra getting their turn.


Joseph and Ben


These three look like trouble!


Grandpa Steve and Carter chillin out.


The teen guys 'chillin out'!


Everyone listening to Gabe's instruction for our gift exchange. The game was fast and fun!


Willow got just what she always wanted...a big, silver bow!!


The most beautiful grandchildren on Earth!!


End of day..party's over.

Thanks family for another wonderful celebration of Jesus' birthday! And thank you Gabe and Missy for hosting!!!

Tennessee and Christmas

We nestled in for some serious homeschooling after the Thanksgiving holiday, which included some awesome nature study, thanks to the wildlife around the cabin that Steve's been feeding.










It's great having Steve home to help teach school!

We began to prepare for Christmas. Steve had started reading 'Tabitha's Travels' by Arnold Ytreeide for Advent (3rd in a trilogy that we highly recommend). Then we talked to our dear friend, Amy, in Tennessee. She'd been sick with pneunomia, so we prayed and decided to travel to Tennessee to see what we could do to help. Gabe and Missy kept our pets for us and Jim Moser kept an eye on the cabin (THANK YOU, THANK YOU!) After getting the 'come on down ya'all' from Andy, Amy's husband, we were on our way. Andy kept our secret and we managed to COMPLETELY surprise Amy and the kids (no small feat) when we walked in their front door.


We got to meet Michael, the latest Christensen addition, for the first time and celebrate his first birthday.


Girlfriends on the trampoline. We hadn't seen the Christensens for a year and a half. We all enjoyed our time together. Here are a few more things we did...


Moriah and Mercedez..friends since they were babies.


Grace, Moriah, and Mercedez doing a science experiement. We all enjoyed homeschooling together.


Decorating sugar cookies! (and eating frosting)


Alexis, Grace, and Mercedez. We all enjoyed the warm Tennessee weather, especially considering that it was getting well below zero at the cabin.


Then we met the neighbors, Patrick and Adrian, a most wonderful couple!! They own a horse farm and were happy to show us around. Patrick hooked up her little pony to the cart and let the kids enjoy themselves. Adrian taught some of the kids how to drive his ATV. And on top of all that, they gave us the tour of their beautifully renovated classic Tennessee home, and served us homemade treats and hot drinks. We just loved spending the afternoon with them! No one wanted to leave.






Steve read Tabitha's Travels to everyone each night.


Trouble-shooting a septic problem. The gentleman on the left is Harold Miller, a new friend we made while in Tennessee. Derrick works Saturdays for Harold and John got to go along too. We made other new friends too..so glad Andy and Amy like to share!


The Baby Doll Sheep at Andy and Amy's hobby farm.


Alexis did a beautiful solo at the Christmas program.


Benjamin also did a great job!

When we arrived in Tennessee Amy was weak and wheezy. After six days she was sassy and ornery..back to the Amy we know and love. We all had a great time together. Time to go back to the frozen north...


We spent an extra day in Iowa and got to celebrate Gabe's birthday (34..I must be getting old..yikes!).


Ben, Rebekah, and Joseph got to help celebrate!


Forest and Willow...


Willow having fun with her aunties.

And then it was time to get back to the cabin. We arrived to lots of snow, a cozy cabin with a fire crackling in the woodstove (thanks Jim!), and deer waiting to be fed. It was five days before Christmas. We were glad to have done some preparation early in the month, very uncharacteristic for us (thanks God for your leading). We had just enough time to get ready to celebrate the birth of our Saviour. We had a quiet, simple, peaceful, blessed Christmas with the kids. With all the traveling we'd done, we were grateful for the continuity of celebrating Advent.


Don't know which is more fun...baking our traditional soft, thick sugar cookies...


...or frosting them!


We pray God's blessings for you all!