Photo blogs are really so much easier for me to post, (and more fun too!) So to document our first Christmas together here's a variety of photos from our first Christmas season, and then, and update on the lives of two busy newlyweds in full time ministry.
Since Mark and I are really outdoors-y type people and love farmhouses and rustic decor, we wanted a similar feel for our Christmas card, (first one's gotta be good!) So we called upon Uncle Bill, our executive director here at camp, because he's awesome and does a really great job with a camera. It was quite sunny on this particular day, but I still like the way they came out, all squinting aside.
We were really busy up until Thanksgiving at the camp, and Trader Joe's was crazy busy every single day! So I worked 5 days a week, crazy, inconsistent hours, (So I also got my hands on the best of our Christmas goodies! Candy Cane Joe-Joe's, anyone?) and we still managed to get everything done for Christmas, including chopping down our own tree!
It was a little Charlie Brown looking, but we loved it anyway!
Ok now, since it was our first Christmas as a married couple, we made an attempt to be everywhere, with everyone. Which means, three places on each day. Despite the craziness of work, I still had a decent vacation from the store and had off Christmas Eve and two days after Christmas.
So for Christmas Eve we started out at Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop Horner's house in Glassboro. We ate, opened a million presents, and spent time with our cousins, Ryan and Whitney, (also married this year!)
Then it was off to Aunt Roe-Roe and Uncle Lar-Lar's house in Sicklerville! (Yes, we like nicknames. No, we haven't grown out of calling them that).
Typically each of our families lines up in front of the Christmas tree to take pictures for Grammy, so it was a little weird not to do that now that she's gone. But we still took couples pictures.
Matchy-matchy in stripes
The lights mess up the flash every year, and the room is incredibly dark so a flash is required.
Oh yea, and the there's Michael!
Finally we went to the Visceglia's house for some more food and merriment. They are fantastic friends of our parents' and we love them so much! Mark and I got tired around ten or eleven so we went home to open stockings and watch a movie.
We woke up Christmas Morning! and went o my parents' house right away for presents and breakfast, then off to the Horners' house to give gifts there too! I had so much fun shopping for everyone I couldn't wait for them all to open gifts. Everyone loved them!
Then we headed to Grandom Gray's house in Pitman to see the Gray side of the family, and finally back to my parents' house for Rojs family Christmas.
Family wrestling match?
Aren't they sweet? My lovebird parents.
Lovebird newlyweds.
Some kids we found somewhere? Just kidding, Grady, Sam, and Emma of course!
Love these three.
And that about wraps up Christmas. Mark had off all week, I worked a few shifts, and then we headed up to NYC for a low-key (believe it or not) NYE with friends Kris, BriG, Steve, Erin, and John. We made food, played games. made PEANUT BUTTER S'MORES! and banged pots and pans on a street corner. It was a really fun and memorable time.
Thank you, God, for all the many blessings we've been given! So yes, speaking of the Lord, we've been mightily blessed here at Camp Haluwasa. This year of being here has been a blessing and a challenge. We are challenged to walk circumspectly at all times, be on high guard against spiritual attack, and walk closely with the Lord. He is only as far away as we make Him to be. I am so thankful for all that we are learning together, and the different convictions we have been given.
We are also challenged to bring new things to the table for our programs. Mark has attended quite a few conferences, (in fact, he's at one right now) and he has been given new contacts, new ideas, and refreshment for his soul. He has also been given many opportunities to lead worship, which is really great for him to get back into. Mark is incredibly gifted with musical abilities and leading the congregation in worship. We hope that the Lord presents an opportunity for music ministry someday too. We've been spending more time with our church family, and we've also decided to make that top priority, and give up karate. We love it, but it's not the wisest use of our time and money at this time.
Time to venture off through the snow to my parents' house again.
peace.
Since Mark and I are really outdoors-y type people and love farmhouses and rustic decor, we wanted a similar feel for our Christmas card, (first one's gotta be good!) So we called upon Uncle Bill, our executive director here at camp, because he's awesome and does a really great job with a camera. It was quite sunny on this particular day, but I still like the way they came out, all squinting aside.
We were really busy up until Thanksgiving at the camp, and Trader Joe's was crazy busy every single day! So I worked 5 days a week, crazy, inconsistent hours, (So I also got my hands on the best of our Christmas goodies! Candy Cane Joe-Joe's, anyone?) and we still managed to get everything done for Christmas, including chopping down our own tree!
It was a little Charlie Brown looking, but we loved it anyway!
Ok now, since it was our first Christmas as a married couple, we made an attempt to be everywhere, with everyone. Which means, three places on each day. Despite the craziness of work, I still had a decent vacation from the store and had off Christmas Eve and two days after Christmas.
So for Christmas Eve we started out at Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop Horner's house in Glassboro. We ate, opened a million presents, and spent time with our cousins, Ryan and Whitney, (also married this year!)
Then it was off to Aunt Roe-Roe and Uncle Lar-Lar's house in Sicklerville! (Yes, we like nicknames. No, we haven't grown out of calling them that).
Typically each of our families lines up in front of the Christmas tree to take pictures for Grammy, so it was a little weird not to do that now that she's gone. But we still took couples pictures.
Matchy-matchy in stripes
The lights mess up the flash every year, and the room is incredibly dark so a flash is required.
Oh yea, and the there's Michael!
Finally we went to the Visceglia's house for some more food and merriment. They are fantastic friends of our parents' and we love them so much! Mark and I got tired around ten or eleven so we went home to open stockings and watch a movie.
We woke up Christmas Morning! and went o my parents' house right away for presents and breakfast, then off to the Horners' house to give gifts there too! I had so much fun shopping for everyone I couldn't wait for them all to open gifts. Everyone loved them!
Then we headed to Grandom Gray's house in Pitman to see the Gray side of the family, and finally back to my parents' house for Rojs family Christmas.
Family wrestling match?
Aren't they sweet? My lovebird parents.
Lovebird newlyweds.
Some kids we found somewhere? Just kidding, Grady, Sam, and Emma of course!
Love these three.
And that about wraps up Christmas. Mark had off all week, I worked a few shifts, and then we headed up to NYC for a low-key (believe it or not) NYE with friends Kris, BriG, Steve, Erin, and John. We made food, played games. made PEANUT BUTTER S'MORES! and banged pots and pans on a street corner. It was a really fun and memorable time.
Thank you, God, for all the many blessings we've been given! So yes, speaking of the Lord, we've been mightily blessed here at Camp Haluwasa. This year of being here has been a blessing and a challenge. We are challenged to walk circumspectly at all times, be on high guard against spiritual attack, and walk closely with the Lord. He is only as far away as we make Him to be. I am so thankful for all that we are learning together, and the different convictions we have been given.
We are also challenged to bring new things to the table for our programs. Mark has attended quite a few conferences, (in fact, he's at one right now) and he has been given new contacts, new ideas, and refreshment for his soul. He has also been given many opportunities to lead worship, which is really great for him to get back into. Mark is incredibly gifted with musical abilities and leading the congregation in worship. We hope that the Lord presents an opportunity for music ministry someday too. We've been spending more time with our church family, and we've also decided to make that top priority, and give up karate. We love it, but it's not the wisest use of our time and money at this time.
Time to venture off through the snow to my parents' house again.
peace.
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