It's Christmastime...

Christmas holidays have arrived & our kids are beside themselves with excitement. This year, we are with Riley's family for the beginning of the holidays and my family is coming to our new home in for New Years. I was joking with my dad that will have to have our first fire in our woodstove with his help ( our friends have been bugging us about doing this!). Christmas this year has had a completely different feel.
About a 2 1/2 weeks ago, Riley sustained a bad injury to his knee and continues to be on crutches. It is likely that he will need surgery but first we have to wait for an MRI (3+months). This development has led to me doing most of the driving, packing and packing up and unloading the van, all household chores etc. But it has also given me a new appreciation for all that my amazing husband does for me and for our family! I sure hope he is walking in the New Year.
Secondly, Riley's new job has given us a different rhythm and pace around the holidays. The students have been gone since the 14th and we ended the semester with a great staff party! The last week was full of Christmas concerts and hanging out with friends- it has been good. As we were heading out of town for the holidays, Riley and I both remarked that we already missed our home. That is a good sign that we have begun to put down roots in our new community, and for that we are truly thankful.
This Christmas also has a different feel as we continue to wait for our child(ren) from Ethiopia. Through advent, we began to learn a few phrases in Amharic along with our devotions. The kids continue to pray regularly for them ( as do we!) and are excited to welcome them home. Although we do not yet know who and how many, they are truly part of our family...we continue to pray hard for all the pieces to fall into place - for our home study to be approved in a quick timeline, for provincial approval letter to be signed and for our dossier to make its way overseas!!! God is so good and we thank and praise home for this incredible opportunity to expand out family-we continue to trust Him for all the practical aspects to be worked out as well!

So Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of a King and reflect on His glory and grace!!!

Blessings,
Candra