Christmas Traditions

Growing up, my family had a few Christmas traditions that we would do every year.

1. My parents would give us a new ornament each year
2. We were only allowed to open 1 present on Christmas Eve...our Christmas pajamas
3. As a family, we would go pick out our Christmas tree and then bring it home and all help decorate it as we watched White Christmas
4. Christmas morning before opening our presents, my Dad would read the Christmas story and do a devotion and we would all pray...this was torture when we were little:) but very special as we grew to appreciate it!

Matthew and I have carried on a few of those traditions since we've been married and have our own children now. These are pictures of Jake and Benjamin in their Christmas pajamas. I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep last night and I was trying to think of new traditions that we could start as our own family and as our boys are still young babies. So I would love to hear of your family traditions and any ideas that you might have:)

A Blessed Thanksgiving

We had a very blessed Thanksgiving. David, Jenna and their kids, Chuck and Linda (Matthew's parents), Levi, Amy and their boys (Matthew's sister's family) and Rob (a friend from church), all joined us at my parents home in Cave Junction. If you know my mother, you know she is the best cook ever! She spent days in the kitchen preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. She blessed us all so much with a yummy dinner. Her and my dad also blessed everyone that came with a Christmas ornament. My parents every year gave us a Christmas ornament that had to do with us and at my Nana's house each Thanksgiving my Nana would do the same with my mom and my aunts and uncle. So it being my mom's first Thanksgiving away from her family, she wanted to continue the tradition and bless us all with ornaments. It was very special! It was a day filled with great fellowship and food. We topped off the night with a game of gestures, which is always hilarious to play! And now begins my favorite time of the year...Christmas!!

A Heart of Thanksgiving

"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pastures.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name,
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations." Psalm 100

From the Shrewsberry family to yours, we just wanted to wish all of our family and friends a "Happy Thanksgiving". May the Lord bless each one of you and your families this week as we dwell on what we are thankful for and all the blessings the Lord has granted to us. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name, for the Lord is good!

What I am thankful for...
- Jesus - His saving grace, His love for me and you, His faithfulness, His provisions
- My wonderful husband Matthew
- My boys, Jake and Benjamin, and the joy they bring to our lives
- My family
- My friends
- Our health
- The Lord moving my family close to me this year

We pray that the Lord will bless all of you this Thanksgiving! We love you all!

Kristen's 26th Birthday!

Today is Kristen's 26th Birthday! When she was here last week celebrating her birthday with us, my mom had a birthday dinner for her and her favorite cheesecake. In these pictures you can see that she didn't even get a chance to blow her candles out because Caleb and Grace beat her to it:) I am so thankful to the Lord for my sister Kristen. She is such a joy to be around. She has the best personality and loves to laugh and have fun. You can count on a great laugh whenever you are with her. She loves the Lord with all her heart and is used greatly by Him. Her love for Chris and her family and friends is so evident in her life as well. Happy Birthday Kristen! We love you and miss you so much!!