For Christmas, I asked Mark for an opportunity to attend a conference with a friend about Biblical counseling for women and the theme was on suffering. He immediately agreed and signed me up right away. It was a wonderful time with my friend and her friends’ from church who were so welcoming. And the speakers. Ya’ll, if you don’t know who Katherine Wolf is, go to Hope Heals and grab her book. She’s got good stuff to say about praising God in the darkness and the unknown. Very encouraging for me.

While I was gone, Mark manned the fort solo and did a wonderful job. I so enjoyed seeing the pictures of my kids having a blast and making memories.

Forts were built and I didn’t have to be the one to tell them to clean them up.

Outside play. Note the four year old is without a jacket and the bigs have one on. Not Mark’s fault…these kids don’t notice climate differences (and seriously, she has a big ol’ brace on that holds in a lot of warmth).

At least she got bundled up for s’mores.

Needless to say, Tobin has no qualms about getting dirty and marshmallows are now on his happy list of foods (which is quite long).

Fire pits! Yes! See the 13 year old, in the middle of the polar vortex, in a t-shirt.

Babies bundled up and ready to go are my weakness.