Entering the Christmas season is an opportune time to give you a taste of what the Beacon onsite team members and their families are up to at this time of year! This week, we get insight into the life of Office Coordinator Suzie Rofaiel and her family as they answer a series of questions.

1. What kind of decorations are your favourite to put up or see?

We love putting up all the different ornaments on our Christmas tree. We have ornaments from our time in Colombia in 2019, various kids' crafts from over the years, and different ornaments that we have received as gifts over the years...Lots of fond memories wrapped up in the ornaments! We also love our WillowTree nativity set, which Audrey is in charge of setting up each year. And finally, we love our Nativity Scene Advent Calendar, with a different character of the Christmas story for each day of the countdown to Christmas!

2. What’s a favourite holiday treat?

Homemade gingerbread cookies that we decorate with candies and icing, Daddy's eggnog, and Advent calendar cookies by Aunty Maggie!

3. What is a Christmas activity or event that your family likes to do together?

One of our favourite traditions is our Tree Hunting expedition! We gather with all of our extended family on Suzie's side at a tree farm in Bowmanville, take the tractor ride to the top of the hill, hunt and cut down our Christmas tree, and then drink hot chocolate by the bonfire while Daddy ties the tree to the top of the car. Then we all head over to our house where we decorate the tree and the house. We have lunch together, and then usually watch a Christmassy movie (this year we did Dreamwork's “The Grinch”). It's a busy, happy, loud, and fun day of family togetherness!

4. How does your family keep the focus on Christ in this season?

We love celebrating the season of Advent. Our Nativity calendar helps us to remember the Christmas story, and we follow the Jesse Tree scripture readings each day. Our church is a huge help too! Another fun activity we also do is our Christmas Alphabet colouring sheets, with little poems for each letter of the alphabet that relate to the Christmas story.

5. Do you have a word of encouragement to the Beacon community for Christmas 2021?

God is with us! Jesus came to earth to open up the way for God to dwell with us, and for us to be his people! No matter what circumstances we may be facing, it is comforting to know that God will always be with us, helping us and strengthening us along the way, giving us hope and peace and joy as we trust in Him.