Unless the Lord Builds the House: A New Year

I love holidays. I do, really! I'm also usually ready for them to be over and to get back to our regular routine. This year is no different. We have had so much upheaval to our "normal" in the last month (and in the last 2 years even!) that I am more ready than usual this New Year to get back to school. Back to routine. Back to normal. I'm not sure what this will look like in terms of the blog. It has been a useful tool to keep our family and friends up to date with our building progress and to give the glory to the Lord for the work that He has done and continues to do in our lives. His mercies are new every morning. I will continue to write, but if there are large breaks in between posts, you will know why.

In the meantime...

Not just since the beginning of this building project but since the beginning.

I cannot even begin to tell you how happy this makes me! We decided not to put closet doors on but to do this instead...

A pocket door allows us to close off the laundry/mud room from the rest of the house. It also saves a blast of cold air from coming down the hallway whenever someone opens the door.

We've been keeping an eye on the humidity level. The heat pump is the last thing to be installed, hopefully this month. In the meantime, so far so good.

Still not quite done but the girls are very happy with it.

A good reminder.

Gingerbread making with Matt.

Let's just say they were pleased with the results.

So blessed to have great neighbours! And not just because they bring us treats!

Jammy day? Sure, why not?

Outside, the snow continues to fall.

The animals are snug in the barn.

Keeping warm and feasting.

Except when they go out for some exercise.

We need to get out for exercise too especially after a large turkey dinner! How about by lantern?

A pretty view from the hill!

It looks so pretty but it does tend to pose some problems...

When we are not digging the van out from under it...

...we are digging the van out from in it!

It causes other problems as well. This was our treat tray to share at church! The chickens ended up benefiting from our baking day instead. Chickens like treats too!!