Simple Traditions

When we were in Haiti we could almost always find a snickers bar downtown....so for Holidays there we always gave each Snickers bars.....getting one inside your stocking or Easter basket or opening a gift and finding a Snickers for your present was such a delicious treasure. 
Growing up for Valentine's Day my father always had us 4 kids go on a scavenger hunt and at the end would be the standard heart box full of chocolates for each one of us.  Sometimes you could even find those in Haiti.  I thought it would be fun to get those for the kids this year.....but in St. Vincent we could find no chocolates in a box that were not at least $10 US for a mini box.  So...we scrambled.....
Pink pancakes for breakfast (what 5 yr old does not love pink?), decorating homemade heart cookies and icing, making Valentine's for each other from construction paper, and even making a Valentine's box to put our cards in.  (Kleenex boxes are great for this, since the hole is already precut and that is the hardest part!)  All this was done together (even a 2 yr old and 7 month old included).  We had a blast.....and while originally I had thought how nice would it be to go out on a date with Brice (we don't yet know anyone well enough to have asked to stay with all 3 kids), this turned out to be such a special family tradition we will continue each year.  

"I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them"  John 17:13

Our family was ecspecially thankful this time of God's love He has shown us as He grows us here.  We had a great time reflecting on that this month and we can see in His word how He wants us to have His joy.  We are filled with joy at the work He has called us to here and pray that for you where you are at too.