Winter Storm...

A winter storm rolled through Michigan on Friday, 12th January. It quickly dumped four inches (10 cm) of heavy, wet snow late that afternoon. The snow was accompanied by strong, gusty winds and transitioned to rain as the temperatures warmed a bit. The rain then turned back to snow later in the night. We bundled up warmly that weekend - enjoying the beauty of the snow in multiple layers!

The road quickly became thick with snow.

View towards our house in the back garden.

Anya loved the snow.

Beautiful snowy tree.

Car covered in wind-blown snow.

The front of our house on an icy morning...

So icy that there was an icicle hanging from our light!

Best Bokkie...

 Someone loves our little Bokkie - the mascot of the Springboks, South Africa's national rugby team. :)

CROSS 2024 Conference...

Despite having a nasty sinus infection, I was able to spend a day down in Louisville with fellow Horizons staff members for the CROSS conference. This conference brought together over 10,000 students for a time of teaching, worship, and learning about international missions. Horizons had a stand at the event, and the team and I were able to talk with many students about serving in ministry both at home and abroad.

The theme of the conference was "Undefeated."

A view towards the main hall.

This is truth. Praying that all would come to know Jesus.

There was an extensive bookstore here as well.

Engaging students at the Horizons stand.

Trip to Daviess County, Indiana...

We started 2024 with a trip to visit family and friends down in Daviess County, Indiana. I was heading down to Louisville for the CROSS conference that week, and so we thought we'd combine a family visit with my work trip. I worked from our favourite Cherry Ghost Coffee House for most of our time in Daviess County.

Unfortunately, both Candace and I were still suffering from raging sinus infections, which somewhat disrupted our plans, but we still had a wonderful time seeing so many family and friends. We also celebrated Christmas with our Indiana family on Saturday, January 6th. We came back to Michigan late that same day - with all three children fighting tummy bugs. :(

Opening stockings. :)

Eliza was not well and opened her presents downstairs.

A new wall mural in Washington, Indiana.

Christmas Day 2023...

Our first Christmas Day in Michigan was a pretty quiet one. We were all fighting off bugs and flu and apart from a family walk in the afternoon, we spent the day indoors. The children were up early to open stockings and presents - and they spent most of the day playing with their new presents. 

Stockings hanging ready to be opened.

The joy of Christmas stockings.

Eliza received some wooden Tinker toys.

Anya received some magnetic shapes.

Riaan got a build-it-yourself Music Machine!

Simple fun on Christmas.

The process of assembling Riaan's Music Machine. :)

The walk later that day. The Rouge River flows through the area.

Beaver activity is evident here.

Heading down the trail on a mild Christmas day.

Christmas Eve 2023...

Despite the majority of us being under the weather with flu and sinus infections, we continued with our annual Crawford Christmas Eve dinner. We played games and read stories throughout the day, while I also worked on preparing the meal.

True to tradition, I stuffed a chicken and roasted it together with a mini leg of lamb. We also enjoyed roast veggies and, a couple of hours after the meal, Christmas pudding with brandy butter. We ate our dinner down in the basement, as there is more space around that table.

Eliza was so excited for Christmas! She wrote this card herself. :)

Playing The Lord of The Rings Monopoly game. 

The annual photo of my dinner plate.

Christmas pudding with brandy butter. Yum!

Gingerbread House Fun...

Candace and the children spent a fun late afternoon decorating a gingerbread house - one of our family traditions - before Christmas. Of course, the children also helped Candace make our favourite mince pies for Christmas, too!

The back of the house.

The front view of the gingerbread house. :)

Cutting out shapes for the tops of the mince pies.

Hmmm, yum! Mince pies are the best.