Joy Noel in our hearts

We've never been unemployed for Christmas.  We've never been unemployed for longer than three months... and this year we shot that right out of the water and continue to set records. 


We've never exhausted our savings and had few to zero options in our immediate financial present & future until this last summer.  It's been a whole insane year of financial crazy.  It's also been an insane year of amazing blessings and tender mercies.  I have no other words to adequately express those feelings.




It's much easier to focus on needful things when you have no other choice. It's much easier to continue to sacrifice wants and some needs when we seek to gain a little understanding of the sacrifice and embrace our challenges wholeheartedly.  


Yes, some days are tougher than others... some days we turn into two antagonistic nightmares.  Other days we force ourselves out of bed.  But at some point we do it (becuse we have to) and press on.  Curt hasn't quit looking for work and he hasn't quit furthering his education in the tough times.  There is light somewhere at the end of the tunnel.  There is hope in all things.


It's so incredibly sobering when so many others are cognizant of our struggles and generous beyond words.  It's that extra phone call, the note in the mail, the random 'thinking of you' email, the quick lunch date, the ear, the shoulder.  We have been blessed.  Heavenly Father will never forget His children.  Looking back at this last year, which was supposed to be our year to 'rebuild'... I chuckle a little bit.  But I think we've done just that in almost a spiritual sense.  We've changed our thinking.  I actually wouldn't wish for a different challenge at this time in our lives.  Call me crazy.


How grateful we are for the resources and gifts of love, tokens of kindness, all the small & simple things, and a few really large ones that have been sent our way and thrown us to our knees.  We were all geared up and actually quite excited to have a Christmas that has been unlike any other.  We weren't worried for the kids... these kinds of lessons and experiences are among those they'd remember for a lifetime.  


The love we felt this Christmas season was truly humbling... in an indescribable dose.  And all this is why.  Christmas for us has always been about a big family service project... and all the other wonderful traditions fill in the gaps and bring us all immeasurable joy and allow us to properly reflect upon our Savior as we turn our hearts to Him.  Sure, there's Santa and commercialism-- that's part of the butterflies & excitement.  Most the time it's too much.  Certainly our children have never gone without.  This year, we were all willing to do without.  The older kids each came to us at separate times saying they only needed pencils and shoes since his were a size too small and had holes.  One needed a jacket & socks, another needed nothing, but wanted a book.  Each of them told us we could have their money they had saved up so we could pay the bills... they were so sensitive and fully willing to sacrifice their own means so the little girls could have Christmas.  Lesson learned by all.  And I am one grateful mother.


But this year we weren't quite ready for what was in store.  And it was a lesson in gratitude and humility to try to graciously accept all the amazing outreach.  We were still able to participate in a wonderful service and reach outside of ourselves.  But we were the recipients of basically most of Christmas Day as our children know it.  It's harder than you might think to be on this end.  This is a first for us after 16 years of marriage.  So a heart-felt thank you to all, near and far.

Our First 'Dam' Thanksgiving

 I probably caught your attention.  Let's back up...  It's kind of a funny story... 

at least it tickled our funny bones.  Maybe you had to be there. 

So Thanksgiving this year was an adventure.  The Laverty Family cabin is up in the Kern Mountains, above Lake Isabella... so about 4 hours away from us.   Tallie's fam was so generous and kind to let us use it since no one else had staked the claim of Thanksgiving week.  Tallie & Terra (Tal's sis) helped to coordinate... and we were on our way.  We were so grateful to have a much- needed get-a-way for just the cost of gas.  Truly a blessing.

First stop:  Lovely Bako (Bakersfield).  Actually it was lovely.  Just really flat, but that's no revelation.  We visited with Terra & Kathy (their sil) and the three cute neices... Lorea, Mikela, and Saioa.  Wish we lived closer because when we see them, the kids have always just meshed.  Said our goodbyes, got the key, and headed up the mountain.  

You drive through beautiful Sequoia National Forest and pass a big 'ole dam to get there.  It was a long day of driving and sitting in LA traffic.  We were so giddy and tired, we started telling the kids, "look at all that dam water over there!  Oh, and see over there?  A dam bathroom!"  We went on and on, cracking ourselves up.  We had to calm down because the roads get pretty raunchy with sharp turns and steep cliffs.  Then we rolled into Lake Isabella to find  Dam Tacos and Another Dam Korner.  So obviously, we weren't the only ones taking liberties and thinking we were so funny.  Oh, the small town crack-ups.  It was amusing at the time.

This is Thanksgiving in about 50 pictures.  Because it tells our Thanksgiving story.

We rolled in after dark... after everything had iced over from the last big snow.  What an adventure it was to unload six kids and all stuff that goes with six kids... and make our own path with snow up to our knees, and hop the fence since the gate was frozen in place.  It was the same thing with the front door-- had to pry it open since it was frozen in place with a wall of snow.  Good times.  Especially when we couldn't find our mittens and gloves.  

But it was absolutely LOVELY.  And another adventure awaiting inside...

The biggest treat was to walk in and meet the blaze king, ie wood burning stove... only to find there was no dry wood!  The last people to stay hadn't filled up the chest... so we'd have to go in search at dawn... since we couldn't see a thing in the pitch dark and were kinda snowed in.  Needless to say,  we froze our tail ends off that first night and were grateful to have brought a dozen blankets with us to bundle up with.

It truly was a pub... and the girls kept busy calling out orders while playing 'restaurant'

So much character like this 3rd floor loft to shove a couple kids.

 View from the top of the loft to the landing below, and the family room below that.

Master Bedroom off 2nd floor loft w/ deck

Cozy guest bedroom

family room... the only real thing it was missing was seating.  Over the last couple years, they've rearranged things and taken out furniture they needed elsewhere.  So when we can afford to replace our sofas, we're going to see if they want our leather sofas for the cabin.  Perfect fit.  Because we plan on going back if they'll have us.

Of course, the big thing we were warned about over and over... was that the blaze king was in the middle of the room... so to watch the kids and warn them, threaten them, etc. about safety.  You go anywhere near there and you'll burn yourself.  BADLY.  Guess who was the one to burn himself?  Curt.  Not thinking... he put his hand down on the surface to brace himself, and got a nice burned surprise in return.  Poor guy. Good thing there was plenty of snow and ice outside to sooth the pain.

OH, how lovely was the morning (and afternoon)

Just about every 5 minutes, one of the kids looked just like this:

frost-bitten hands because mittens just won't do... and lovely snot frozen into place.  They'd come in, thaw off.. strip down... only to re-suit up and head outdoors 15 mins. later.  annoying.  But they had loads of fun.

snowball fights from the main deck

Serious snow-pack

We were not prepared for all the fun to be had... and the cool sled hill right outside the front door.  We needed snow toys-- so we went down the mountain into town for some real gloves and sleds.  This is only a couple miles from Alta Sierra ski resort-- something we'd love to check out when we have extra $ to spend.  For now, sledding and hot cocoa is the main attraction.

Alexandra making snow angels

 McKenzie catching air?

oops... it snapped when she raced into the tree.  

But that made a third sled!  They used it anyway, until it snapped into three!

Our simple Thanksgiving Dinner.  Simple is good... especially when it comes from Mimi's Cafe!  Yes, still continued our tradition and splurged a little.  I brought homemade rolls with us, and a couple bottles of Martinelli's...  a Thanksgiving tradition continues even in the mountains.

We played lots of games by the light of the oil lamp, and taught kids to play scrabble-- their new favorite game next to chess.  There were three TV's in this cabin, so we could tune into the Macey's parade and the boys could watch football 'til their hearts were content.

We drove into town to see Kernville... great small town charm.  Fishing would be a blast here on Lake Isabella when it thaws out, and next time we'd be better prepared and bring our friends with us that weren't able to make it this last time.

 We want to return again soon... 
we Love  the little A-framed cabin in the forest...