First, happy winter solstice! Today is officially the shortest day of the year, which means that from now on until summer solstice each day will only be yawning wider and wider into more light! Hurrah!

Second, we had some really beautiful snow recently! Most of it melted on the 40 degree day a few days ago, but there's more in the forecast, so my fingers are still optimistically crossed for a fresh, white Christmas day. 

Third, what this post is really about: these guys. When we were in premarital counseling, when asked why I wanted to marry Alan, one of my main reasons was because I knew he would make a great father. Indy has such a special affection for her daddy. It's his lap that she asks to sit in if we watch a movie. It's our hope that for Indy, and any future daughters, their relationship with Alan will be so filling and set the bar so high that they won't even need to be talked out of any male suitors that love them any less. It fills my own heart. I would almost rather see him being affectionate towards her than me (though the two really go hand in hand). That said, dear girls of the unmarried variety: do not consider a man who would not make a good father. No one can know what the future will hold for you, perhaps you will never have children, but I think the exhortation still holds true; it's not just about having a good father for any children you may have, but about a man who possesses characteristics that will also make him a good husband, namely: patience, gentleness, thoughtfulness, humility, playfulness, delight, and selflessness. And for those things you will be oh so grateful. 

Last Friday we drove out to Kuipers Family Farm with Joel an Kate to cut down our Christmas trees. It's hard to believe it has been a whole year since we did this last year, and yet a lot has happened as well: we had Tenny (who is now 6 months old!), found and moved into our house, and had a whole summer's worth of adventures. What's the saying, the days are long but the years are short?

It was oh sooo so cold! Poor little Tenny's nose and cheeks were all rosy. I found abandoned bird nests in mutliple trees (should those be a discount or should they charge extra?) We found a nice tall and skinny tree, a perfect fit for the space, since we have rather tall ceilings and also needed room to walk around it. This year we didn't have to sneak the tree in and nervously sweep pine needles off of the back steps! Now that we live in our own house we can declare fresh trees for everyone, always and forever! Then we went into the farm store for hot apple cider and donuts.

What a wonderful tradition: bringing a whole living tree into your house and stringing it with twinkling lights, and seeing Indy's excitement renews my appreciation and wonder.