2025 was a whirlwind year for the House of Lancaster. The year began with busy-ness as usual, in April, Naomi graduated from Horizon College & Seminary with her Master's Degree in Ministry Leadership. In May, Doug and Naomi celebrated their tenth anniversary with a trip away, without the kids! Zach was home for a couple weeks, filling in at the church and taking care of the rest of the clan.
In June, Ethan graduated from grade twelve and received a few scholarships too. Both he and Zach are moving towards pastoral ministry as they attend the same school, Zach in his third year, and Ethan commenced first year in biblical theology. Emerald and Sapphire have both grown up so much, and grown in their musical abilities. Emerald has turned into a pretty impressive drummer over the last several months, and Sapphire has continued playing bass, learning riffs and has taken up learning the piano, which she can play fairly well already!
In the spring, they hatched out 4 more ducklings, and inherited 5 chicks, and two kittens, bringing their farm-life total to 14 chickens, 8 ducks, 3 cats, 2 dogs and one house ducky named Quackley! (See other posts for the life of Quackley!) Doug says he doesn't enjoy this hobby-farming life, but secretly he does! In any case, the eggs alone are worth having all the birds... the rest of the animals are just for entertainment.
Over the last year, Doug has had a few scary moments, beginning the year with four-surgeries-in-one on his sinuses, to only have a blood clot in his leg a few weeks later, but has been cleared with a bill of good health. He has continued to pastor and lead the church in their community, alongside Naomi, all while staying on top of chopping wood for the winter boilers, for home and church, and all the projects that Naomi has "ideas" of. (follow her for more tips on #howtomakeyourhusbandcrazy) He wouldn't complain anyway.... much...
Naomi spent the summer relaxing and determined "not to read any books aside from the bible" over the summer, and succeeded! She is now in her "sour-dough" era, learning homesteading from valuable people in the community and her family. She was exceptionally excited to receive the Mennonite Cookbook from her parents for her birthday! She has also amazingly managed to keep her hibiscus plants, and ten indoor plants alive!! *knock on wood* She would say "plants come here to die" but manages okay with the majority of them, even revived one after leaving them in the girl's care for a week...
Toward the end of the year, Christmas is always anticipated with joy and excitement, even as they all have grown older, they look forward to traditions of "tree day", making cookies and homemade egg nog, and celebrating with several parties and events throughout the season. However, one of the greatest joys that each one of them would say they love the most, is attending Christmas Eve church service together, playing games together and doing puzzles while munching on all the Christmas goodies. And lets not forget, finding out who had who for their gift exchange! And knowing Doug can't keep a secret that long!!
They all enjoy focusing on Christ, the miracle of His birth, His life and why Jesus came to earth. It's this time of year that permission is granted to share the Gospel a little more freely, and little more boldly and declare Jesus everywhere we go. So, this as we end this year, 2025, let us go into 2026 reminded of the reason for the season, reminded to take any and every opportunity we can to share Jesus with others, and stay focused on God in and through everything, because He will see us THROUGH it all, not just to it.
