2020 Annual Gherkins Gingerbread Competition

On the 6th Day of Christmas, many of the Gherkins met to celebrate God's faithfulness in 2020 and to celebrate the start of 2021.  A part of this celebration is the annual Gherkin Gingerbread Competition. Highlights of this year's competition are the new participants. Cory was able to participate from start to finish as he is still on paternity leave. This is Danny's first holiday season. Carrie, Olivia, and Luke joined the fun this year! Reno, Luke's English Mastiff, created excitement of his own. 

The winner of this competition hosts Mr. Gingerbread all year.  Both teams started with the SAME budget and the SAME Gingerbread kit. Both teams followed all rules and used the same amount of Gingerbread. 

Check out the photos and vote for your favorite team. You may do that by leaving a comment below, or on the Courageous Joy Facebook page. Only one vote per person will count. Voting will run until 9 p.m. AKST on Saturday, January 9th. 

Team A  - Alaska Christmas Express

This year’s offering features the majesty of the Alaska Railroad system as it cuts a path through the towering forests of The Last Frontier. We created a range of mountains with the sun casting alpenglow rays across their snowcapped peaks and with a waterfall cascading down the mountain slopes that create a river with roiling waters. At the fringe of the scene stands the train station and the entrance to the tunnel cutting a path through the mountain’s side. 

Note the tunnel in the corner and the alpenglow. 

Note the details on the tracks...

Danny, this year's youngest participant! 

Team B - The Four Seasons of Alaska

Join us for a year in Alaska! From the cold, dark winters full of fun in the snow (to include ice fishing, sledding, skiing, and snowmen!), through the muddy break up we fondly call spring, into the glorious summer and fall months full of hunting, fishing, hiking and basking in the midnight sun. Alaska is truly a unique state full of wild, breathtaking beauty and one we are blessed to call our home through every season. 

Note each season's platform is representative of the season; a snowman, a flower, a dip net, a leaf....

In case you can't read the "bill boards" I'll post them below: 

Past Competitions: 

2013 Competition - Men won with their Town square complete with a clock tower.

2014 Competition - Women won with their sweet Chapel; Men's Night Before Christmas disqualified them according to judge Michael. ::snort:: 

2015 Competition - Women won with Mad Hatter's Tea Party over the Men's rendition of Santa's Village.

2016  Competition - Women won with their  "Portrait of  2016." 

2017 Competition - Men won with "An Alaskan Getaway," over the women's offering of "Snowman's Lodge." 

2018 Competition - Men won with "An Iditarod Checkpoint." I must admit even some of our men voted for the women's "Family Oasis," and we were rather surprised the men won. 

2019 Competition - Women won with "Dipnetting - An Alaskan Theme." 

6th Day of Christmas - Goodbye 2020

2020 ...yes, it's had hard aspects...pandemics, killer bees, aliens and all. Honestly, it has not been our hardest year. We have had wonderful joys in the midst of 2020...tonight, we gathered to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021. 

Before we gathered, Krista drove Michael to Anchorage for a procedure on his foot. He is now supposed to stay off it a few days....you'll see many more sitting photos than typical of this night. 

We began with dinner. 

Followed by fierce competition....yes, the annual Gingerbread Competition. 

Girls Team!

Krista, Arielle, Olivia & Carrie (dating Cy)
and Stacia

Bella, Annie, Bre and Larissa were missed. We hope they can join us next year. 

The Boys Team 

Cy, Alex, Luke (dating Krista) Jamin & Cory 

Izaak, Gideon, and Jared were missed. Check out the plans below! Blueprints for gingerbread competition....

The work began - everyone got involved...

Even Danny played a part...

G G needed to offer his advice

Papa had the best job. 

Reno is not the typical lap dog! 

Checking out the fireworks...

But first - the family gift exchange. We draw names and exchange gifts on NYE. This frees everyone to do their own thing, or visit with in-laws on Christmas. Benny is suitably impressed with the gifts showered on him. 

The dino cup was a hit

Jamin not only got Alex a Tundra comic book, he had it signed by the author when he interviewed him for an upcoming podcast. 

Krista is told her squatty potty stool is on it's way. ::snort:: 

After gifts there was another hour of gingerbread building and then it was time for bonfire and fireworks.  Before photos - we were safe. There are adults by children - even if they are cropped out of the photos! NOTHING was catching fire in the middle of all this snow. We were also legal. Alaska allows this on New Year's Eve. 

Benny enjoyed the fireworks this year

Josiah was busy manning fireworks

Michael bundled Dad out and they came to the deck. Josiah loaded them down with Roman candles. Michael is reaching down to dad in his wheelchair. Yikes - I still think that awfully close to the top of the stairs. LOL 

Baachan's shadow

We ended our display around 11:30 p.m. so the Eagle River crew could get on the highway before midnight.  It took a bit of time to round everything up before CoRielle left for home. Where could Benny be? 

Resting with Papa. All the kids did so well tonight. 

3rd Day of Christmas - Investing in Relationships

 On the 3rd day of Christmas we took time to invest in friendships. It was good.  This Covid season can leave one feeling disconnected and isolated. In our state we are not on lock down.  We ARE to social distance (the big 3....wear a mask, wash your hands often, stay 6 feet apart). 

Krista greeted me today with the idea she would take Dad with her to get her flu shot and I would have  time to grab a minute with a friend.  Michael pointed out Krista would need to take the van. He and Stacia were heading out shopping (household gift exchange comes late for us). They dropped me at Sophia's at 12:15.  I welaxed.  My friend, Brenda, works next door. She came over on her break and we shared a cup of tea. It was the quickest 30 minutes in the week! How does time shift like that? Some moments fly by and some stretch on and on. 

Krista and Dad picked me up. Dad was happy for the outing, and really happy he talked Krista into a romp through the McDonald's drive-through. I was grateful for family that made it possible. 

This evening Caitlyn, a friend who is "going outside" for a few months, came over and played games. Unfortunately, we played Quelf. I understand some love this game! I am not one of those people. 

I didn't take one photo - but it was a good day invested in people and our relationships with them. 

1st Day of Christmas

 Whut? Christmas was yesterday! 

Yes. 

Yes, it was. 

And after Christmas comes....the 12 Days of Christmas.  That period of time between Christmas and Epiphany (Jan 6th).  

Epiphany?

The day on the liturgical church calendar when the arrival of the wise men is celebrated.  This is the day we  "aim" for a household gift exchange....which frees us up to slowly savor all the other gift giving opportunities throughout the season.  The kids do laugh about the year we didn't exchange household gifts until March! That was 2017. We just didn't feel like it that year.  

I'm quite sure there is a proper way to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas. I know there are certain focus' for each day...we simply choose to stretch out Christmas beyond the 25th. This helps us focus on the ADVENT of Jesus before Christmas and all the gift giving and such after Advent. 

We find these days to be busy...we love it.  Most family members have some time off work so we take time to reconnect at every opportunity. 

Today - the first day of Christmas - was full of visits from our kids.  Jamin stopped by when Arielle and the boys were by....Benny was quick to enlist Uncle's help in a nerf war of epic proportions. 

Jamin is never far from his mobile office! This has been a great year for his real estate business - despite Covid.  We never know when he'll have a showing out here in the Valley and pop in. We love it. 

Carrie and Olivia have been visiting family in Florida. They got back late on the 24th. Today was our first day to see them. It was fun to catch up.  Carried made up Danny time. 

Cy, Carrie and Danny

A rousing game of Dixit developed. 

Stacia, Carrie & Danny, Arielle, Benny, Livie

Nolan and Alex worked. I believe Krista spent the day with Luke. Maybe.  Michael, Dad and I "never work," however, we LOVE days off when the kids can visit. 

Not the best presentation - but Michael got a spread of smoked salmon, salmon jerky, summer sausage, cheese and crackers out!  

Thus ends Dec 26th.