We had a lovely Advent and Christmas season celebrating the birth of Christ. We started on the first Sunday of Advent with our nightly candle lighting and carol singing. This year our three oldest children each learned a few piano accompaniments, and it was a special joy for me to sing while our children played.

We started our Christmas countdown calendar two weeks before Christmas. It included three different ornament makings (we made polymer candy canes this year for our tree…no rats or ants will eat those!), movies (we watched a lovely performance of Handel’s Messiah), cookie making, reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and other activities.

Christmas Day we had the Crowleys over for the kids’ play and Christmas lunch. It was a day full of activities and traditions – sibling gift giving, cinnamon rolls, Becca’s recitation of the Christmas story using Little People, gifts from parents at night, etc.

The next day, Sunday, was a full for us. Josh preached at our church in the morning. In the afternoon we had a neighborhood Christmas party with games, singing, and a piñata. In the evening we had a meal for our Khmer Bible Study.

Monday afternoon we headed to another province, Stung Treng, for an EMU get together. We had two meals together and a wonderful time of singing. Tuesday afternoon we headed home and had our church Christmas celebration Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

We are thankful for the wonderful season God gave us. Thankful that we could meet with God’s people to worship. Thankful for our kids and our family. Thanks be to God.

We couldn’t make it to the annual expat Christmas bonfire, so we had our own, right in our backyard. My biggest concern was providing enough food so our kids didn’t feel cheated. We had hot chocolate with marshmallows, cut-out Christmas cookies, gingerbread cookies, candy cane cookies, popcorn, banana muffins, hotdogs, and stuffed bread. The kids were stuffed and there was still leftover food (we did eat supper first). After we were done eating we sang carols. A success and perhaps a new tradition…only time will tell.

Advent has begun in the Jensen household. Singing every night around the Advent candles. The Jensen Christmas Countdown Calendar. Baking. Gift-making. We love this time of year!

We had a great two weeks celebrating Becca’s 12th birthday. The Saturday before her birthday we had a visit with the Carson ladies, complete with lunch, 12 cupcakes, gifts, and painting together.

Her countdown calendar included: making tie-dye shirts, watching The Ten Commandments, small gifts, a mommy/daughter sleepover, snacks, and her yearly haircut. Becca decided to try something new this year.

This year Becca chose to decorate her cake based on the book Sweep: The Story of a Girl and her Monster. This was a last minute decision and the first year Becca had something other than a panda or horse. She did a great job capturing the setting and main characters. Pizza was the meal of choice!

We’re thankful for our Becca. She gets up at 5:30 every morning (her own choice) to read her Bible and drink coffee and then practice the piano. This year she has excelled in playing the piano musically. She continues to develop her art and craft skills. She’s been teaching Anna and Clara Sunday school on Sunday evenings – she plans lessons and craft for her sisters during our Khmer Bible study. Becca also has grown in her love for her little brothers – she spent a lot of time this year preparing Ezra to give a poem on raccoons and a presentation on sea turtles. We’re definitely seeing Becca grow in her teaching skills. SO thankful for our firstborn – Becca!

It only lasts 10 days between Micah’s and Becca’s birthdays!