We're a camping family! (officially)

After 3 years of attempting to be a camping family with no previous camping experience, reading every book and article we could on camping, dreaming of being a camping family, talking other campers, camping with friends, buying every camping accessory available to mankind to make it easier, better and more fun, toughing out the bad weather, flooded tents, raccoons, midnight potty runs, thunderstorms, and all that comes with it, having a great time and making many wonderful memories, we took the plunge and bought this yesterday...

a 2009 Rockwood Mini-Lite Travel Trailer.
We are so excited! When we took the kids in, they squealed! It is very small - only 20 feet or so long, but it can sleep about 7 snugly, has a little kitchen with microwave, stove and oven with double sink, a shower, toilet and sink in the bathoom, a couch, dinette, heat/a-c, heated mattress for me and Mike and plenty of storage.

Actually, it is only just enough room to turn around in, but for those of you who know us well know, this is just how we do things! Love grows best in little houses! Mike got it today and we can't wait to start using it this spring!

We have absolutely LOVED our tent-campting experiences, and have learned so much about ourselves and enjoyed the time with our children so much! We actually regret that we waited until we had children to start tent-camping because we enjoyed it so much. But, we have realized that tent-camping experiences for us were about to soon be over because it was just too rough on Michael's back, shoulders and knees. So, in order to preserve our dream of being a camping family, this was our only viable option...and we are thrilled.

Now, we embrace the coming winter months and look forward to playing in the snow, making snow angels, building men and women out of snow, wearing our new toboggans we got for Christmas, and drinking hot chocolate on cold nights. But, you can bet we will be dreaming of being together in the spring in our small camper castle - the Bell family - a camping family - officially!

It's all about you, Jesus...

...it really did happen. There really was a night that you were born. There really was a day that Mary and Joseph looked at you and wondered where this would lead. There really was a moment in time that you, God became a man...for me...for everyone who would believe. It seems like such a bizarre way to - but your ways are higher than my ways...and going higher is my hearts desire this Christmas Day! We love you, Jesus! Thank you for coming to earth for the Bell family... for everyone!

Christmas Eve Morning...opening gifts...

Last year, we started letting the children open their gifts at home on Christmas Eve morning to allow them to have more time to open gifts and let us play with them at home before we begin doing alot of local travelling to visit with family in the afternoon and on Christmas Day. Abigail had a very difficult time sleeping last night (which is not unusual these days), so we had to wait until almost 3:00 a.m. to get things ready! One wonderful blessing in not having children who believe in Santa is that they know and appreciate that Mommy and Daddy provide Christmas for them and we get tons and tons of hugs, kisses and thank you's...genuine gratitude...which we just love!

...2008 tree...at 3:00 a.m. while the children are all nestled snug in their beds...FINALLY...

...and by 3:30 a.m., everything is under the tree and ready!

This is Isaac and Jonah's side.

Abby's, of course, you can tell by all the pink, huh?

HMMM?? Wonder what this surprise is behind the tree? I'll never tell...oh, well...maybe I will because if you know me well, I can never keep a good Christmas present secret very long...

It's a Nintendo Wii...a total surprise...Isaac said about a week ago, "Mommy, I wish we had thought to ask for a Wii for Christmas, but I guess it's too late now." (Little did he know we had already gotten them one ;)

We also added this Mario Brothers at the Olympics Game as a special surprise!

Abigail fell in love with her My Little Pony that dances, sings and plays games, as well as her new doll, doll clothes and Graco Stroller. We had to change it's clothes all morning.

Her travel AquaDoodle was also a huge hit as well as her Disney Princess Barbie Dolls and dress up clothes!

...and now the unveiling of the secret gift...drumroll please...

sheer delight!

(check out Jonah kissing the box and Isaac digging through the controllers and the games as fast as he can in the back as he squeals!)

Two VERY EXCITED LITTLE BOYS!

What fun times...we had a great morning!

The boys and Abby are still going strong...Mommy and Daddy are exhausted!
We look forward to spending the next two days with our wonderful families celebrating the birth of Christ as we visit, open gifts, eat and enjoy one another!
Merry Christmas, everyone!

My heart leaps...

...at the thought that Jesus Christ was born over 2000 years ago, is my Saviour (and can be yours as well) and now I have the privilege of celebrating His birth...

...it's 2:30 a.m. and I can't sleep...isn't He amazing! It still takes my breath away...

Guess who's 7 today???

We can hardly believe that you are 7 years old!!! Where has the time gone, Jonah? You are growing so fast and are the most delightfully, funny child we know. We can't wait to celebrate your big day with you!

Happy Birthday 7th , Jonah!

Christmas musings #5...a growing family...

"1997 First Christmas - Michael and Melisa"

"2002 Michael, Melisa, Isaac and Jonah"

"2006 - The Bell Family - Mike, Melisa, Isaac, Jonah and Abby"

"The Bells 2008 - Isaac, Jonah, Abby, Michael, Melisa"

It always amazes me that God can take one person, join then with another...

1 + 1 = 1 (God's design for marriage)
...then take 3 incredible children from various parts of the world and bring them together to form a family. Only an awesome God could do such a thing and make it work so beautifully.
I have so much fun placing these ornaments on our tree and remembering how much God has
truly blessed me and my family!

...shhh...must be Santa!...

I was so excited tonight to be able to attend my employee Christmas party at the long-term care facility at which I have worked as an occupational therapist in the rehab department for the last 6 years. I absolutely love my work and am blessed to work with four of the most wonderful Christian girls in the world. How many people can say they work with an entirely Christian department??? Well, I can! And, hopefully, we are a light in, what can be, a very dark place at times...a nursing home! But, to me, it is a beautiful place and I am honored to be able to spend my weekdays with these delightful, elderly community leaders, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, veterans, Christians...people who have loved and lost, fought life's hardest battles, and are dependent upon us to get them through the toughest times at the end of the road.

Tonight, however, we had a great time visiting as employees and celebrating the Christmas holiday together as a team. It was fun to see and spend time with each other, our spouses and our children. Then, the highlight of the evening was a visit from Santa. But, you see, this was no ordinary Santa...there was something different about him. He seemed extraordinarily handsome...something drew me to him. (I must admit that I was actually sort of attracted to him...in an odd sort of santa-baby way). I snuck a few pictures of him secretly to post so I could always remember this night. Somehow...he had a striking resemblance to...well...I don't know...something about him seemed remarkable like my...oh, well...thanks, Santa! It was nice!

...preparing to 'wow' the children who waited for the gifts...

...quite handsome, don't you think? Who is that masked Santa?

My children just seemed automatically drawn to him...Abby felt so comfortable with him that she called him daddy! (Don't tell Michael...he might get offended;)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!