POLAND 365 :: WEEKS 51 & 52

Well here we are at last...finishing up the blog series "Poland 365". If you have missed any of the stories and pictures from some of the weeks we have posted, you can click on the label at the bottom of this blog "POLAND 365" and it will bring up all our blog posts in this category. Thank you for following along in 2016 (our first full calendar year living in Poland). We hope you enjoyed hearing more about our experience, the culture here and a glimpse of what life is like in Poland.  In this coming year, we will post more of our experiences through writing, telling stories and sharing experiences and the moments God is using to draw us closer to Him through our time in Poland. Without further ado, on to the last few pictures from 2016...

December 23 - More cookie baking with grandma. Can you see the delight of
decorating these sugar cookies on the kids' faces? Olivia especially enjoyed
liking up the extra sprinkles that fell off each cookie ;)

December 24 - One of our family traditions at Christmas is making
a birthday cake for Jesus. So we made one on Christmas Eve and
had the joy of hosting some neighbors and other friends for the
Christmas Eve dinner. It was such a special evening.
December 25 - On Christmas morning, we light the last candle for Advent.
This has been a really helpful way to help teach our children about Jesus
as foremost during Christmas time, and a very tangible way that helps
them (and us) get excited to celebrate His birth. This is my most favorite
time of the year, the anticipation of celebrating Christ's birth...and I can not
wait for his second coming, come quickly Lord Jesus! 
December 26 - It's really starting to get cold
here. Jenny is not a huge fan of cold weather,
but to have a climate change is pleasant enough.
December 27 - We had the joy of being invited over to friend's house (to be with
their family) so my mom could experience some traditional Polish dishes.
It was such a joy to be in their home and we are thankful for these friends.
December 28 - We got a good laugh about these
little name license plates that were in the book
store here! I have to admit, I was a bit caught
off guard walking down the aisle.
December 29 - Double date with these precious friends. We were out celebrating
birthdays for Jenny and Graham (next to Jenny). These two people showed up
in Poznań in July, yet we feel like we've known them forever! They have become
some of our dearest friends here and we thank God for their friendship. They
are a true God send to us and our family.
December 30 - Well this was a first for us.
The door bell rang, the post man handed us
a paper to sign and then reached into his satchel
and started handing us money. I have never
experienced that before! This was money that
was overpaid for something (from our land
lord) and they were bringing it back for him. 
December 31 - Celebrating Jenny's birthday with
her mama. As we said before, it was such a special
visit with my mom and I'm so glad that she could be
here during my birthday as well, after all she's the
one who did all the work so many years ago on this
day! Her trip to Poland will always be a very special
memory for us, and one that we will never forget.
Mom, I know it was hard to be here while your own
mom passed away from this life into the sweet presence
of Jesus, but my heart wants to burst thinking about that
you chose to come and visit us at this time and love on
us so well. Love you! 




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