Remembering 2012

1st and 2nd Christmases

 Since Caleb and Laura went to CA for Christmas this year, we decided to have a "2nd Christmas" with the Vaughan side when they got back...we are so blessed to have so much family around!

1st Christmas!

The Young festivities tend to get a little crazy without sorting stations- hence all the laundry baskets!

E

Evolution proved wrong: if it were true, mothers would have developed a third arm a long time ago. :)

 

 Modeling pretty new dresses and necklaces from Auntie Faith and Uncle Gary

Corin's face just made me laugh here.

Our resident jedi

In-between Christmases...

Anne lost yet another tooth on top while she was eating chips and guacamole- my those are crunchy onions!

2nd Christmas!

We 3 Siblings and some others... it seems like we're sitting how we did much of our childhood- separate on different corners of the couches- at least we didn't get sent to our rooms...

 Real-life 4-wheel roller skates! She really is more excited than she looks. :)

Ransom! Yes, we live in AZ. But we grew up in Northern CA. Go 9-ers!

Skyping with Marmie and Boppa

This picture is a good reminder for me for the new year- how many little eyes are watching me!

Annual Newsletter

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Youngs!  It has been quite a year-full for us.  With a family of seven there is never a dull moment!
Christian has kept up with his gardening efforts.  Every year, the garden has doubled in production.  This year, the kids had fun setting up an organic vegetable stand on the street corner.  We never guessed that fresh veggies were in such demand!
Aimee has also ventured into new frontiers.  Having kept chickens for a year already, and seen how good the eggs are, she procured Dairy Goats.  The milk is quite good, and the baby goats are simply adorable.  Within hours of being born, the new kids were already attempting to jump over things.  Wow (I’m glad human kids take some time before that stage :)!  The secret to milking a goat is don’t send Christian to do it--it requires finesse. 
It was a busy year in the shop.  Christian built a few kitchens, this and that, and a large wine cellar.  He also had a busy tour guide season, and somehow found time to photograph a wedding, teach a theological class on craftsmanship, and give a geology seminar on the Grand Canyon.  Will he ever slow down?  Sure.  Between breaths. 
The kids had every bit as much activity.  Their chores include housekeeping, firewood splitting, animal husbandry, and each one gets assigned a garden crop to oversee.  All are bright when it comes to school--often brighter than interested in it.  Peter got closer to manhood, earning an axe and a pair of gloves; Anne is currently losing the front row of her teeth--simultaneously.  Elijah can’t stop building things, nor can he stop talking (just like one of his parents, but I can’t say which).  Tirzah simply won’t stop wearing a tutu; even in winter.  Berea is someone who can often be found making things with Elijah, or drawing things with Anne.   She is very methodical.   What a fun bunch! 
If I put it all into one word it would be life.   Things are lively; we love being alive.  More than that, our lives are bigger than us, having been bestowed by the Giver of life.  That gives us so much to live for, and make the most of life.   Those who are greedy for their lives find that they lose what they seek to keep.  This brings us back to Christmas, because in it the the greatest gift ever is found: LIFE.  “For as the Father raised the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives live to whom he will” John 5:21.  Merry Christmas!

Hello, my name is Peter. I’m in 5th grade and am home schooled. My least favorite subject in school is Math, but my favorite is Science.
I want to probably be a policeman when I grow up.
I have braces. Right now I’m just waiting to get them off- hopefully in January!
My favorite sport is soccer, and my second favorite is probably football.

Hi, I’m Anne. My favorite hobby to do is reading and running super fast. I sometimes like sports; sometimes I feel like I can do the splits, though I really can’t. My favorite fruits are clementines- those little oranges. I like dressing up. My favorite movies are princess movies. My skill is making Valentines. My favorite music is Christmas music. I have a loft bed- my Daddy carved a picture of a heart with swirls around it (it’s really pretty)- I sleep under it. Though I can’t see you, I know you’ll like this note!

Christmas is Coming!

Two more days!!!

Processing

Having my own 6 year old, this shooting in Connecticut has really hit me hard. Telling my kids why I was crying was difficult. Elijah seemed the most affected- he joined me in the tears and asked if we could pray for the families right away. Christian very wisely reminded us later that this isn't the end of the story- that one day this evil will be judged, and that TODAY we can have hope- because Jesus did come and He will come again. While we may grieve with these families so far away, it is still right for us to have joy in this season. And yes, I am definitely hugging my littles extra hard these days. The following Christmas songs have been a comfort to me...

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high, and order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go.

O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, and be Thyself our King of peace.

                                                                                         

I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play.
And wild and sweet, the words repeat of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

I thought how, as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

And in despair I bowed my head, "There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, goodwill to men."

Then pealed the bells, more loud and deep "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep-
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, goodwill to men!"

First Good Snow

Yes, he is wearing bunny ear muffs. 

 The twins actually enjoy the snow this time!

 No snow pants doesn't stop this girl from making a snow angel!

Some lone, brave chicken ventured out early this morning- not finding any olive branches, it returned to the warmth of the coop.... :)

 Tribble and Nick briefly come out to visit.

Nora says there's no way she's coming out. 

Funny faces

 Here comes trouble!

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...!"

Talent Show

Last night our church hosted its 1st Annual FCF's Got Talent (or does it?) show! There were some pretty interesting entries- from pianists and violinists to Marshmallow Man and singing Weird Al's Star Wars song... but my two favorites were Christian's rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Peter's joke telling! Wish I had video footage of it, but I had to at least put these up for posterity. :)

Christian dedicated his song to Kale'a and every other kid under the age of 2. :) He's playing the harmonica and guitar at the same time!

Peter getting interviewed by the MC

My personal favorite joke that he told last night:

Why do sea gulls fly over the sea?

Because if they flew of the bay, they would be bagels!

Great job, kiddo- it took a lot of guts for you to go up there in front of all those people!