I’m ready for a little cheer to start the new year, and I’ve found it in a Christmas video from the Feenstra family, back — for the time being, at least — in their home province of Ontario, Canada.

After the long, long flight across Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, and a sizable chunk of North America, the family had about ten days to catch up on some sleep, spend time with the grandparents and cousins . . . and prepare for Christmas.

Last year’s holidays were spent in their new home on the farm in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, with new friends, good food, and a focus on the spiritual meaning of Christmas. This year, back for a visit with their extended family, Anneesa’s parents set the theme by introducing the littlest children — and re-introducing the older ones — to a typically Canadian Christmas, filled with the sounds of activities and laughter and the aromas of freshly-baked cookies and a newly-cut tree.

While Arend busied himself with carpentry and electrical work for his in-laws and one of his own brothers, Anneesa took the kids sledding on her favorite childhood snow hill . . .

Grandma and the kids baked dozens of cookies . . .

There was always an ample supply of nourishment . . .

A tree to be brought home and trimmed . . .

Grandma’s miniature Christmas village to be set up . . .

Time out for a visit with Arend’s even larger family, who had commandeered the local school to hold them all . . .

Games to be played . . .

And, at last, gifts to be exchanged on Christmas morning.

*. *. *

But of all the hustle and bustle, one activity — seemingly unique to this family — that stood out for me was a group art project organized by Grandma, who exhibited an unsuspected creative bent. For the two large windows in the living room, she made two huge drawings of a village on heavy-duty rolled paper. She and eldest granddaughter Cora then took the drawings outdoors, where they taped the perfectly-sized sheets, picture side facing indoors, to the exterior of the windows . . .

The eight children were then given pens containing a sort of liquid white chalk, with which they each traced a section of the drawings onto the inside of the windows . . .

. . . producing these beautiful murals:

*. *. *

It was at that point in the video — watching eight children ranging in age from 17 to just 3 years old, engaged together in a creative activity, enjoying each other’s company, wrapped in the warmth of a loving family — that I finally came to understand the essence of the Feenstra clan.

Their religious and political beliefs and their chosen lifestyle are vastly different from mine. Their decision to live in Russia is something I will never fully comprehend or agree with. But their devotion to one another, and their ability to find true joy in the smallest of life’s gifts . . . these are the qualities that first drew me to them, that have impelled me to follow their progress over the past two years, and that inspire my admiration and envy.

For, no matter where they live, they have each other; and that bond gives them the strength to face whatever challenges life may bring. And that is indeed something to be thankful for.

So, for the coming year and beyond, I wish Arend, Anneesa, and their entire family good health, prosperity . . . and the ability to differentiate between fact and fiction in their adopted homeland.

С новым годом (Happy New Year), Feenstras!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/2/26