Whirlwind

So you might be wondering where I've been...It's been a whirlwind the past couple weeks.

Christmas Eve we traveled to Elkhart, where my family lives. So most of the day we were traveling. It's a 5-6 hour trip... and of course we stopped at Lee's famous recipe chicken!

Christmas day, of course, was quite busy. We usually have a Christmas at my parents house and then a separate Christmas at my Grandma's house. But this year it was combined at my parents house. Double the presents. Double the chaos. But we had fun.

  

Thursday...the day after Christmas...Jon and I went on a date for lunch before he left to go home. The girls and I stayed with my parents for a longer visit. 

Saturday...my brother and his family came over to my parents house and we took the kids sledding! (my parents house sits on a hill, so we have grown up going sledding right outside our door!) 

This was the first time I was able to take my just turned 3 year old sledding!

The kids really enjoyed it :) 

My youngest watched from inside. 

Tuesday morning we went to my grandparents house to visit with them. I praise the Lord I was able to go and take my girls for this visit. 

We didn't do anything for New Year's Eve...I value my sleep too much...New Year's day it was just a lazy day with the whole family. 

The girls and I were supposed to go home on Saturday, Jan 4th, but decided to stay...I'm very glad we did.

Sunday evening into Monday Elkhart got quite a bit of snow. Monday and Tuesday were the really really cold days. In the negatives. The real feel for Monday was -45. So of course we stayed home...especially since there was a ban on driving. 

The driving ban was lifted just in time for me to have to take Emma to an urgent care for an ear infection on Wednesday...and of course that evening she started looking like she might have pink eye. 2 days later of waiting it out I decided it was just a cold in her eye. It seems to be better now. 

Saturday evening...Jan 4th...my Opa (Grandpa) went home to be with the Lord. He fought cancer for over a year...and now he is walking the streets of gold!

The funeral was on Friday...it was beautiful, he would have liked it. He was 90 years old. An amazing example and role model for everyone who knew him. My grandparents had been married for 63 years! What an amazing example of a God-centered marriage! 

Such a bittersweet time...Life is so precious. Cherish every minute you have with your loved ones. I am so blessed that I was able to see him one last time...and take my girls to see him too. We will miss Opa always, but heaven has gained a true warrior for Christ. We have comfort and peace knowing he's with Jesus.