We're ready to celebrate Christmas at CTK Bellingham and I'm nearly breathless with anticipation. If you've never experienced it you simply must this year! Our new worship leader Mike Hohnholz will be with us for the very first time this weekend.
Home is so important. Our Becca is now home in England with her husband Anthony. After months of living separately - on different continents no less...all because of a silly little visa - they are finally the newlyweds they have longed to be...and on the same continent.
Today she posted pictures of their first home there. In fact she posted a tour which was so fun to see. It's wonderful to have a proper picture now in my mind of where she is living and just a bit of what her life looks like over there.
Bert already has his Christmas decorations up at the VanWervens!
I was up before 6:00 this morning to get my turkey in the oven and it was delightfully snowing outside. This is the view out my front door around 7:00. It's been a long time since we have had a white Thanksgiving. I knew right away this was going to be a really fun day!! 
Oh I so made PW's Throw Down turkey this year. This 20 lb'er was brined overnight, cooked covered at 250 degrees for three hours, then basted with this amazing herb butter mix before being returned to the oven to finish cooking uncovered.
It was time to load and go...but alas the fifteen year old first took a few of her now famous self portraits. Of course she did!
...and a shot of the pumpkin she NEVER carved for Halloween!
Waiting for the meal Uncle Genius's Ipad was a hit!
Jack opened our Thanksgiving devotions with the Likkel tradition of reading of Psalm 100...
...and Sam shared his very special "thankful" list with us...
...and then is was on to the food!
I must say my PW turkey was A-MA-ZING!
Oh happy, thankful day! Brandon & Greta's smiles say it all!
Lawn and Vern perusing the oh-so-abundant eating options.
Seriously I can't believe Ross, Taya and the boys are with us again this year. What a blessing!
After eating the kids went outside and constructed two snow forts anticipating a major snowball fight. The only problem was they accidentally built their forts too far apart and couldn't actually throw a snowball far enough to hit each other. Too funny! Then the adult males joined in and it didn't matter anymore...
...because it was game-on...
and all-out war!
Later in the afternoon Darryl, Karin & I took out our old trusty family slide projector and looked at some slides of our growing up years. Oh the memories! So much fun! Grandma, Taryn & Lawn joined us to watch the show.
It's been many years since we've seen some of these slides. I took a picture of this one of Dad moving a building. Dad liked moving building on to the farm. If you look in the building you can see it was being moved by his tractor. I'm not exactly sure which building this is but I'm sure Uncle Genius knows. Our neighbor Kenny Shagren is on the far left, Daddy behind me (in that oh so stunning orange pants outfit my mom made) and Uncle Gerrit next to me with his arms crossed.
The guys had a bit of a game of Stock Market before we hit dessert. Greta made four of the most amazing pumpkin pecan and apple pies, Karin made her very best fudge ever, and Grandma made batches of her renown divinity.
They're on! Today the fifteen year old got her braces. And don't let that smile fool you...it was an uber-sad fifteen year old I dropped off at school after she was "braced". Fearing the worst reaction from friends she instead was surprised by their affirmation.
By the way, while you can't really tell from this pick she selected her favorite color for her new braces - orange! Of course she did! 
We didn't get much snow, but we sure got wind...gusts of 55 mph...here in Whatcom County. And not just wind, but temps in the teens so with wind chill we are considered well below zero...and it sure feels that way!
Now if you say those initials together is sounds like “enemy”, and that’s not far from the truth. Actually N.M.E. stands for No More Excuses!
*sigh*
The boys are here for a sleepover tonite and they were so excited that after dinner they got to help grandpa in the basement. Isaiah said "oh boy, we have a project!"
What could this be in such a big box??
Totally forgot my camera but wanted to remember that today we celebrated little Ki with a shower at Aunt Kathy's home. Audrey's mom Joyce, sister-in-law Jodie and niece Brooke joined us, and we had a wonderful time showering Ki with gifts and great rejoicing that he is now here with us! Btw...he is one of the most beautiful babies I have EVER seen!
After my Daddy died six years ago my best friend Kay made a beautiful shadow box for me as a tribute to him. This past year she remade the box and gave it back to me for my birthday.
Brandon & Greta hosted a wonderful birthday dinner for me tonight.
On this super cold evening Britt and Nermal enjoyed a seat near the fireplace.
Greta made the most amazing ravioli, yes I said "made". I'm not sure I have ever had homemade ravioli before, and it was amazing! She even made us two kinds - spinach and goat cheese in a light alfredo sauce, and sausage and parmesan in a marinara sauce.
Love these new multigrain hot cerals from BetterOats with 100% all natural oats, whole grain and flax. A "cornucopia of the best flavors and textures on earth". So quick, easy and delicious!
Comes in these convenient single serving pouches that are then used to measure the water. Two minutes in the microwave and they're ready to eat! Perfect on these coming cold winter mornings I hear are on the way! 
Little Mia is the newest member of Britt & Shana's family...and is she cute or what! Welcome Mia.
Gary has worked late every nite this week so I decided he needed a very special meal tonite to thank him for working so hard for our family.
Taryn was invited by the Robin's to travel to Yakima this weekend for the Volleyball State tournament, and judging from her pics on Facebook she and Katherine are having a great time! Katherine's sister Heidi is a senior on LC's volleyball team.
It was quite an honor for LC's Concert Choir to be invited by Western Washington University to participate in their fall concert. LC sang three numbers and them performed a song together with Westerns Choir.
Yes Lord, walking in the ways of Your laws we wait for You,
London, Jakarta, Tokyo, Johannesburg, San Paulo, Sydney - six continents and seventeen cities - and then today, November 5, Passion 2010 came here to Vancouver BC!
Chris Tomlin (pictured here) David Crowder and Matt Redmond led worship, then Louie Giglio challenged this group of worshipers to make their life count for His fame. What a privilege to be a small part of such an amazing event!
This is how I spent election night - watching returns come in on my laptop at the Republican Victory Party at Homestead in Lynden.
We took the U.S. House...
...elected a stellar new County Councilman, Tony Larson. This was an intensely personal race for Gary...
...watched Vince Buys take out a liberal seventeen year incumbent...
...and enjoyed the fellowship of family and friends as we celebrated together.
