Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Christmas Eve was spent shoveling snow for 4 hrs. for my poor husband. I was able to clean off the car and the patio but due to my weak back I wasn't able to do anymore without putting my back out and then that would lead to a migraine and I didn't want one of those over Christmas.

Even with all the shoveling we were snowed in for the day / night. So we didn't get to the Christmas Eve service but thankfully our plans after that were upstairs to our landlords for dinner and presents. They have adopted Lance and I like family and we are so priveledged to spend Christmas Eve with them and their family.

Christmas day morning was nice and relaxing as Lance and I took our time opening our stockings, making brunch and thanking the Lord for Christmas day through our Advent wreath, opening gifts and calling all of Lance's family to say MERRY CHRISTMAS and THANKYOU for the gifts. We are so blessed!

In the afternoon we dug out the car again and Lance shoveled so we could try to head out to Ben & Heather's place for Christmas dinner. We made it there thanks to the roads being okay in the afternoon. We had a fun time of feasting on turkey dinner, singing christmas carols, playing games and of course more presents for the kids.

It was a wonderful Christmas that I will never forget. We are so blessed from the Lord and look forward to a wonderful new year of more promises coming to pass and growing deeper in Him.

So that was our Christmas, how was yours? :)

Snow, Snow and more SNOW

The following Wednesday was our Staff Christmas Party! Always a lot of fun but all day it snowed and snowed! We didn't know if we would be able to get there but thankfully the Lord drove our car and we were able to enjoy the fun evening.

Some of the prizes given out were vests, ties and jackets made out of the old orange pew material. Lance got a tie!

The snow kept coming on Saturday and Sunday of that week. We had the Lang (My mom's side of the family) Christmas on the Sunday in Abbotsford! So we were able to drive to my Mom & Dad's place to us all carpool into Abbotsford together. This festive event was a BLAST. There were around 45 people with the newest little Great Granddaughter (Brooke) born a week before. We have so much fun catching up with Aunts & Uncles, cousins and spending time with Grandpa.

We got home okay to a week off work which was a good thing as more and more snow kept coming! Here are a few pics.

Birthday celebrations & Christmas Train

Next on the calendar came Lance's birthday. My family had a special birthday celebration for Lance but I forgot to bring my camera. AHH! But on his actual birthday a bunch of friends along with us headed down to Anton's restaurant in Burnaby for a feast of PASTA and then back to our place for gifts and cheesecake. It was a very fun night.

That evening it snowed over night and dropped to -15C. Super cold for the West Coast! We had my parents over for dinner and then headed down to the Stanley Park Christmas Train. This is a tradition of my family since I was a child but this was the first time I remember it being so cold and snow on the ground. It was picture perfect! We bundled up and enjoyed the train with all the lights and the snow dusting each display. What a fun night.

Decorations

Lance and I had fun decorating for Christmas this year. We usually decorate the 1st weekend in December or the weekend before December. I didn't get around to our 'Christmas House tour' that was going around in the blogging world, but here are a few photos of our decorations.

My husband's amazing Christmas Tree


Decorations on top of the piano


More fun decorations







My nativity set I got in New Brunswick this past summer along with all the Christmas cards we have received.

New cousins

I come from a LARGE extended family. My Mom is one of 6 children and growing up we all lived near by and the majority of the cousins were around the same age. As time has gone on we are now starting families of our own and welcoming the next generation of 'Langs'. My cousin Katie just had her first child, a baby girl in November. We went to a shower for her in early December. We met another little new cousin born in October and 1 more was about to arrive any day. To date there are now 14 great grandchildren with 2 more on the way for the New Year! I didn't take very many pics but here are a few.

Cookie and a Gingerbread house

At the beginning of December we received a phone call to see if Lance and I could watch our nieces for a couple hours while Heather went to pick up an early Christmas present. We knew what it was but the girls had no idea what 'errand' Heather was doing that they couldn't go as well. We had fun playing with them until Heather came home with a surprise. A puppy named Cookie! The girls didn't get it at first when Heather handed out a card with his picture in it (Yes, finally another boy in the house for Ben), but then Heather brought out the dog and the girls went crazy. He is the cutest dog you have ever seen and fits into their little family perfectly. Here are a few photos of their reaction.



The following week we had our 4 little nieces over for a 'Christmas project - the gingerbread house' We did it together and then they got to take it home. Ben was away a lot over December and this gave Heather a chance to do some Christmas shopping while we took the girls for a while. We had a blast as Lance and I hadn't done a Gingerbread house since we were kids.

After the gingerbread house we pulled out my little 3 foot tree and they helped decorate it. It was a great afternoon to kick off December.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Just a quick note to say MERRY CHRISTMAS! I have so many things to blog of this fun December here on the west, snowy coast, but due to time running out this will have to do for now. I'll try to post more between Christmas and New Years.

As I look at the snow coming down outside I'm reminded of another way God's shows us His beauty through creation and nature. What a picture outside our front door of the beautiful snow. Unfortunately this has meant travel plans for so many canceled but from our home we pray you have a wonderful Christmas full of God's love and celebrating His miraculous birth.

Merry Christmas from the Rourkes!

Happy Birthday LANCE!

Today is my hubby's birthday! He is quite proud of the fact that his birthday is in December. In his words, 'You get to celebrate and party ALL month long!'

There are so many things I love about Lance but I think one of my favourite things is the kid in him. :) He can find the joy in any situation and has such a gift in compassion and care for people. He makes anyone feel 'at ease' when you chat with him and you feel like you are the only person in the room. My life is so rich with Lance as my husband.

Let today be a day where not only people celebrate this amazing Man of God, but a day to be thankful for who he is! I know I thank the Lord daily for him as he truly is a gift.

I love you Lance, more than words can say! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

December 11 already?

I love this time of year as the Spirit of Christmas is everywhere, yet the other part the season seems to fly by with something happening every evening and every weekend.

I can't believe we are already 15 days away from Christmas! Let's see what I have accomplished, shall we?

- Gifts bought?....check
- Stockings stuffed?....check
- Parties planned?....check
- Decorations up?....check
- Gotten a cold?....CHECK! Why this happens every year I know not! Thankfully I'm at the end of it and I got it now instead of Christmas day!
- Christmas Cards done?...check
- Christmas cards mailed?...No
- Baking done?....NO
- Gifts wrapped?....NO
- Actually enjoying the chaos?...CHECK!!

I LOVE everything going on and in the midst of the craziness my mind is at peace celebrating Christ's birth.

So no matter what has been checked off your list, still enjoy this season and what it represents.

Christmas Traditions

A few of my fellow blogger friends have posted their Christmas Traditions. This is something I love to hear from others what they did as a kid and what they do now as Christmas Traditions. So I thought I would post a few of my favourites from when I was a child and some new ones today.

1) CHRISTMAS TREE - When I was a kid we would have the 1st weekend in December the time to decorate the house for Christmas. This included pulling out the tree and all of us decorating it together. From lights to tinsel, homemade ornaments to beautiful store bought, every touch made the tree beautiful and ready for Christmas. Since I got married my husband and I had to come to a compromise. That meant setting up 2 trees. I have my own little 3 foot tree that I decorate with fun, tacky ornaments. My husband on the other hand has his 'show home tree' that takes him 3 days to do, but WOW it is incredible. :)

2) CHRISTMAS TRAIN - Sometime in the month of December, our family would travel down to Stanley Park in Vancouver and ride the Christmas Train. We would get our tickets, go for dinner at the White Spot downtown and then drive over to Stanley Park. This is still a favourite as the lights are spectacular and the train plays Christmas music while you see different Christmas displays on each side of the tracks. Loads of fun for any age!!

3) DATE WITH DADDY - My Dad and I go on our annual date every year to Christmas shop for my Mom. He spoils me with dinner out - usually at the Pantry - and then we shop till we drop finding everything for Mom's stocking and gifts from Santa and Dad of course. :) I look forward to this every year spending quality time just me and Dad! Long, FUNNY, story how it all came about but I'm thankful this still happens every year.

4) LANG CHRISTMAS - My Mom comes from a LARGE family. She is the second kid of 6 and all us cousins, Aunts & Uncles and Grandparents live near. We have the Lang Christmas usually the Sunday before Christmas. We are now a group of about 50 people. 6 siblings with spouse, 14 grandchildren that are all married except for 4, and by 2009 there will be 16 great grandkids!! We all get together and have fun as family! As we have gotten older it is harder to see each other throughout the year so we all really make an effort to be there for Christmas. We play games with fun gifts, eat incredible food, and enjoy catching up with each other and enjoying the blessing of 'family'. We come from an amazing heritage and I love to see Grandpa 'beam' as he watches all his kids. :)

5) ADVENT CANDLES - This is a new tradition that we have started since Lance and I have been together. Every Sunday night we spend with our landlords and their family. They have Advent candles that they light each week of December and each candle represents a different meaning and theme for that week. It is a great way to bring the focus back on Christ in the midst of the busyness of December. I look forward to it every year.

6) CHRISTMAS EVE - When I was a kid we had a fun tradition of getting all dressed up and going for Chinese Food at the Rickshaw in Surrey. It has the BEST Chinese food around. From there we would go to the Christmas Eve Service at CLA and then back to the house for delicious desserts. Usually Cheesecake or Mud Pie. Yummmm!!! Now that I'm married, Lance and I still attend the Christmas Eve Service but then spend Christmas Eve with our 'other' family. Our landlords and their family are such close friends of ours and we enjoy spending Christmas Eve with them.

7) CHRISTMAS DAY BACK THEN - When I was a kid we spent Christmas morning just our family. We would wake up early but weren't allowed down stairs until after 7am. That was never a problem for me as I wasn't a morning person, but my brother would make sure I was awake WAY before 7am so we could wait on the top stairs for Mom & Dad to say, "Okay, come on down!" We would race to see who could get to the family room first! :)

We would open stockings together in the family room by the fire place, then have breakfast that Dad & my brother would make, and then get ready and open gifts under the tree in the Living Room. After that Dad usually read the Christmas story and then it was Turkey Dinner either at our house or at a relatives house. Over the years we have had others spend Christmas with us that didn't have a place to go. Missionaries, friends, adopted 'Grandmas', etc. That made for great memories as well. Such a fun day.

8) CHRISTMAS DAY TODAY - We have kept the tradition of having just our family Christmas morning. That now means Lance and I have a great morning starting with sleeping in (we aren't morning people) A cup of coffee by the fire and taking our time opening stockings together. Then we both have fun making breakfast and then opening gifts. After that we talk to all of Lance's family across Canada to say MERRY CHRISTMAS and hear about their Christmas and wishing they were near. :) From there in the afternoon we head to my family's place for Turkey dinner. We usually end the night with music (played by some of us), games, puzzles and treasuring family.

Well there are some of ours, what are some of yours? I would love to hear about them.

I gave in

When it comes to the holidays I'm a December 1st girl. No decorating, no baking, or listening to music until December. Otherwise I find I'm sick of it all by Christmas and I want to enjoy it. Well this year I gave in and today started listening to Christmas music at work. Part my own fault, part my husband's (He is a Christmas FANATIC!), part my family's as they start listening to music from Thanksgiving on! So I guess I was destined to listen before December.

Shopping is on a different rule for me. I try to have all my shopping done by Dec. 1st! I have been shopping the past couple weeks on lunch hours to find stocking stuffers and I'm getting quite a bit done. But I just couldn't do any more shopping without hearing the songs of Christmas!

So if you give in this year to starting Christmas a bit early . . I'm saying its okay for anyone who needs permission . . . .just don't tell anyone I gave you that permission. :)

Routine

I know I haven't posted any new blogs lately due to life being 'routine' the last little while and not much new to post on here. Life keeps going as work, teaching, home, husband, friends and family fill each day. I wouldn't change that for the world!! I am so thankful for 'life'! And especially life in Christ. We have had some hard news hit around us this past week that makes you appreciate each day God gives us.

So while some people think 'routine' is boring and nothing happening, I see it as blessings to have 'routine' and appreciate each day filled by Christ.

Enjoy 'routine' today and thank God for His blessings. :)

Happy Birthday Heather!

Today is my sister's birthday! We had a fun night yesterday celebrating Heather and everything she is to us. Heather has always been my best friend from growing up till today and I'm so thankful for her life. She is an incredible woman of God that daily lives out Christ to others. She blesses anyone who comes in contact with her due to her friendliness and joyous personality. She has been blessed with so many talents and abilities that she uses in everything she does.

Heather we pray today would be full of people celebrating YOU as your life is a gift to so many around you! May this next year to come be full of great things. We love you so much!!

Celebrating 1 yr of marriage bliss!

It's hard to believe it has been a year already since Lance and I got married. October 27, 2007 was a day we turned a new chapter into our lives. Seriously the year has flown by full of ups and downs but especially full of so many memories and blessings. People told us right before we got married, "The first year is the hardest but if you get through it the rest will be a breeze." Our reaction has been, "If this year was the hardest, then we are in for a GREAT marriage!" God's plan really is the best for our lives . . all we have to do is choose it. :)

A friend blessed us with the use of their time share in Whistler for the weekend. We have wanted to go to Whistler all year and just haven't made it there so this was such a treat. If you ever want to go to Whistler and not face the crowds but want to enjoy INCREDIBLE scenery, go in October! It is their slow time and there was hardly anyone around. The weather was PERFECT and we were in awe of God's magnificent creation through nature. We enjoyed reflecting back to our wedding day, the days that led up to it, and the people involved in our day that mean so much to us. What a blessing to know this is only the start and we are excited and anticipating what God has for us in the next year.

Our visitors when we arrived at our condo in Whistler

The sights of Whistler in the fall - breath taking

Fun at the hat store and in the village

Card, gifts and a romantic dinner at the Keg

A great book for a day like today

Today on the west coast it is very damp, dark, pouring rain and a bit windy. It is a day to curl up on the couch with a blanket, listen to the rain, have the fire place on, listening to classical music while sipping a cup of tea, and reading a great book. 'Sigh' how nice that would be. :)

I'm currently reading a book I received for my birthday back in the summer. It is 5 stories in one from Francine Rivers called 'A lineage of Grace - 5 unlikely women who changed eternity'. It is the story of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba & Mary. The line (women) that Jesus came from. I've never read her books before (I know - how could I have not until now) but LOVE how she has taken 5 stories from the bible and written them in detail including the culture of that time period. WOW! It has made scripture come alive regarding these stories and shown how God can use anyone who is willing. I highly recommend it. I have another one of her books waiting for me to read once I'm done this one. My Mother-in-law let me borrow it. It is the story of Gomer from Hosea in the bible. I'm excited to read it next.

So if you have time this weekend, pick up a good book and let me know which is your choice to read.