You can't beat home sweet home

Oh there's no place like home for the holidays! I have spent Christmas's freezing in blizzards and sweating because of the heat. Christmases walking on the beach and Christmases huddled around the heat. But it is always the best Christmas with family to share it with. Because we figured we would still be in Michigan, I have treasured this chance to be near family.

After Thanksgiving with the Franklins, we next enjoyed a week with Uncle Josh, Aunt Valerie, and Noah and Eli. It was so fun to be with them. If you are reading this, I have to thank you for the wonderful time we had with you! I just love and admire you both, and it is so hilarious seeing those cousins together. One favorite memory was when the three kids were decorating cupcakes. Bekah (the oldest) enjoyed decorating one after another. Kyle smacked as much frosting as he could on the cupcake and then just ate the top of it. And Noah skipped the cupcake all together and just ate the frosting.
We had a big family gathering with the Bassetts last Monday. Dear Grandma Bassett! She is always one to have a party with tons of people over. It doesn't matter how crowded or chaotic or messy, she welcomes you in. Grandma, I love you! It was so fun seeing Sid, Stef, Casey and Ben, and the rest visiting from out of town.

We have really loved doing stuff with Uncle Richie, Aunt Caroline, Alex, and Jonathan. It's meant a lot to me to get to know Caroline so much more this past year. You are a great mom and an amazing woman!

I'm so excited to see Jared, Tonya, Jons, Celeste, Mary, this coming week! I feel so grateful to live near my parents. I didn't grow up near grandparents and I remember as a little girl having friends visit their grandparents and wishing that I could visit mine. Now it is an answer to prayer to see how close my own kids are to theirs. They talk about them all of the time. They even recognize the way to their house (and EVERY time, Kyle always says "keep your eyes open fer Charity Hill, okay!" and then acts so excited to point it out as we pass). I am especially grateful for my parents, who made our Christmases special no matter where we lived. I always felt the sweetness of the holiday because of their preparation and their open hearts. My parents, away from their own families at Christmas, opened our house to others: whether it was to missionaries, or a Chinese visitor (I still remember us kids told him he had to eat the 12-layer jello layer by layer...bless him), or a foster brother.

So to all of my loved ones who will be far away this holiday: Josh, Val, Jannene, Kevin, and my dear friends, I pray for you, that you will feel the warmth of loved ones and you will feel at home this Christmas.