For reasons I cannot figure out, these pictures are out of order as always! But here they are anyway... the past of 2020!
This was on Christmas Eve... Eli worked so hard and learned "Carol of the Bells" and "Silent Night" and played for us.
We were "quarantined" during the two weeks leading up to Christmas (due to COVID-19 close contact exposure), so Eli sadly had to miss his karate belt test that he's been working so hard toward for the last year. He will test in January and become a "black/red belt," which is the final step before becoming a black belt! We had him perform his "katas" (series of karate moves, etc.) in the backyard for us and gave him an honorary ribbon belt. :)
And fast-forward to New Year's Eve! :) Because of all the COVID in our family, we weren't able to celebrate Christmas together until New Year's Eve... and we all had a BLAST!
Timothy and Eli played Christmas songs for us, and we got to listen to Jacey and Cooper's band concerts online, since they had to miss them in person due to COVID.
We played some silly games and had a blast.
Christmas 2020!
And way back to Christmas Day. :) We couldn't be with family on Christmas (or at least not in close contact), but we had such a nice little Christmas with just the 3 of us. On Christmas night we cooked filet mignon and scallops.
On Christmas Day, those released from official quarantine got to play football outside.
This is all in reverse order, but this is Eli's Christmas present- a little bass boat!
Christmas morning 2020.
Here's Eli right after he went outside to discover his Christmas present. :)
And this is right before that- he opened a little box saying to follow a string outside to his final gift (the boat).
Christmas Eve night.
On Christmas Eve, the three of us had appetizers, played some silly games, and ate Thai food takeout for dinner while watching "It's a Wonderful Life." Then we put on new Christmas jammies and read the Christmas story before bed. It was a sweet little evening together, despite missing our normal Christmas Eve plans with my sisters and their families.
Going backwards again... this is dinner on my birthday. :) COVID messed up plans, but it ended up being a very special day! Eric and Eli took me out to a fancy dinner that evening.
Eli played me "Happy Birthday" and took me out to lunch.
This was in the restroom in the morning. :)
I got up early and took a long walk at sunrise- it was so meaningful. I'm so thankful to be right where I am at age 40, and so grateful to the Lord for leading me here.
Presents set out early in the morning... such a sweet surprise to wake up to!
And here we are in mid-December when we were all quarantined. I worked from home, Eli did virtual school, and the only contact we could have with non-sick family members was distanced disc golf, for which we were very thankful!
During Eli's quarantine, when Timothy and Charlie were sick, Eli spent a LOT of time throwing this bounce-back football at the house. :)
Virtual school during quarantine...
He spent long hours practicing guitar too, and it sure paid off!
And here we are at the beginning of December. :) This was at the youth group Christmas party at the beginning of the month. The kids had a blast!
And that, in reverse order, wraps up 2020. What a year, eh? :) Despite the difficulty and unexpectedness of this year, we saw the Lord work in steady, faithful ways. We are deeply thankful for the fact that He is absolutely trustworthy and always has our best at heart, whatever that looks like. We enter 2021 with hearts full of gratitude and a desire to know Him more deeply in 2021. Happy New Year!
