Christmas in Clark

Clark was the first stop for Family gatherings for us on Christmas Eve Eve.

This year the celebration was especially wonderful!

In addition to the usual family games, exchanges, and loud talking,

we added caroling to the family tradition and blessed many
neighbors and elderly people with some Christmas cheer.

Kate & Elaina

The feast was a Fiesta! That is a table full o' kids!

And no, they are not all mine :o)

I gathered the grand kids for a picture in the stairway.

Two are missing :o(

Angel, Elaina & Kate

Andrew & Elli

We started singing carols (the acoustics were awesome in the stairway),

and that is how it was decided to go out caroling!

Olivia & Evie give it their all.

Shane

Mom, me & Mara

All the ladies!

The guys

The dogs

Santa made an appearance on his Harley.

Not something that could typically be done

on a SD Christmas!

We even went out walking.

Christmas begins at Home: Family Celebration Night

On this night we had our own family celebration of Christmas.

I prepared a traditional Christmas meal, and we opened gifts

to one another at home.

The tree.

Dad & his boys

Dad & his girls

Mom & her boys

Mom & her girls

Annual self-timer family photo.
It only took 5 or 6 tries. Notice Elli's priceless face!

Can't forget Bobbi.

Christmas begins at Home: gifts between siblings

Every night during Advent our family gathered around

the Advent candles/wreath. We sang a few Advent songs,

read scripture relating to the Jesse Tree symbol of the day,

and prayed together.

Because of our travelling schedule during the holidays,

we usually begin opening gifts several days before Christmas.

This is the night we opened only the gifts

that the kids got for eachother. They exchange names each year.

Christmas re-lived in pictures: take one

All five before the school Christmas program.

This was Andrew's FIRST full school program.

This was Nicholas' LAST gradeschool Christmas program.

The kids of second grade.

(I have been their sub several times, they are a great group of kids!)

5th graders performing.

Check out my choir boy.

And Kate is behind him, to the left.

Ms. Olivia is on the top row

Nic had a lengthy, memorized, speaking part.

(Over which he agonized for weeks!)

The 2nd graders are always the Nativity Scene.

Kate was a 'Freaking".

No, Bobbi wasn't in the program.
But I couldn't resist sharing this photo.

Listening

I use to sit down in front of my computer and my thoughts would pour out of my mind trickling to my fingertips quicker than I could type them. I felt like I had so much to say and share.

Now I sit down and stare at a blank page.

Nothing. I've got nothing. Or do I?

What happened? Did I suddenly go from so much relatable material to nothing of significance? I mean, more kids should mean more material...right? And it isn't that they have gotten less entertaining....believe me. So what is it?

After much pondering and evaluation I have developed a theory. I am in a listening phase of my life right now.

Stop laughing. Seriously.

No, listening doesn't necessarily mean an absence of talking. Ask my husband...or my children. Second thought, don't ask them, they wouldn't necessarily agree with my theory as they tend to be the only people for whom I NEVER run out of language.

But this 'lack of interesting thought' is not isolated to just my blogging hobby. I have noticed that in other areas of my life---the other stages on which I perform, I am stepping farther and farther backstage, out of the lime-light, not meant to imply that I have ever been a star. At least anywhere but in my own mind.

So this new phase, listening; I don't know that I chose this pattern. Like most everything in my life, I tend to believe that there is an Almighty directing my choices far more than I could imagine. And apparently He thinks I have done talking quite long enough. I guess maybe it is a bit more difficult to listen effectively if you are already thinking of something to say in response. At least for someone with border line attention deficit, like myself.

Listening. One of my favorite songs is an unknown track by a Fargo, ND native, Dave Lubben. It's called, "Speak to Me". The line that speaks to me the loudest is this: "if there's anything in my life, that doesn't honor You tonight, I'm listening Lord, speak to me, speak to me."

Learning a new bag of tricks

There are things with which I am not especially familiar. Or enthusiastically comfortable with. Or entirely good at. For example:

~Fully dressing myself at the start of the day. You know, like something other than pj-pants, a hoodie and slippers. I can handle the task quite well when I have a five or six hour delay. It gives me time to build the outfit layers slowly in my mind. At 7AM, I need Geranimals.

~ Readying myself already an issue, doing so while readying the four school kids and the one lazy sleeper, who is not always such a sunrise of happiness, is a completely new art form. (So thankful it is not an every day experience.)

~ Thinking about supper before the 3 o'clock hour---never, ever been good at this one. But when leaving the home for the day is part of the plan, it becomes necessary.

~ Dropping off one of the loves of my life into another's care. Not easy for either one of us. We're learning. And we are exponentially grateful that it is into the care of a trusted and loving person. It doesn't make the parting any sweeter, but much less painful. And let's be honest, it isn't every day, all day. That would kill me.

~ Making time at home for my own 'work' preparations. Seriously? I have to forgo "Castle" some nights to prepare for my 'other' work the next day?

Yes, life has brought changes to my version of normality. At least normality of the last eleven years. And trust me when I say, I use the term 'normality' loosely. It has felt closer to 4 years of normality and seven or so of insanity. But it's been the best way, I know of, to lose my mind. But as I learn these new traits and attempt to follow God's direction in my life, I am at peace with all of my inabilities.

After all, the skills I have were at one time unfamiliar and uncomfortable. I am trusting that the skills that I lack can be learned as well. Although, you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks.

HaPpY bIrThDaY bAbY!

Happy birthday to the one I love.

What I am thankful for today

Over the past six years, you have heard me use endless adjectives in an attempt to describe all that encompasses a short, 45 pound, dimple-cheeked, strawberry-blond boy. All words that intend to give you a small taste of the sweetness that is Andrew.

And here we are, the day of his sixth birthday, and I am feeling a tiny bit speechless. But I'll get over it...just long enough to share some thoughts.

We moved to our current home when I was 6+ months pregnant with Andrew. This is the only home he has ever known. When I think of it in those terms, it makes time seem to have stood still---and been in hyper-drive, all in the same breath.

There is not a day that passes that Andrew does not find a way into the deepest place of my heart. Whether it be from simply a glimpse at his cherub like features or from an unexpected peck on my cheek and "I love you mom" given at a time when only God could have known I most needed it, he works his way into the heart of a person.

He has such a unique way of relating to what many would see as the un-relatable (at least from the perspective of a child). Some of his biggest fans are found far outside the walls of our home. He holds a very special place in his heart for the elderly and forgotten. Showing deep love through un-restrained hugs and lap time for those who may have almost forgotten the joy that a child's affection can bring.

I love this boy. But that is not surprising. Of course, I am his mother. But of all my children, I am certain that Andrew...above all others has the characteristics that would endear him to a troll. I have always said that with his face AND his personality "that kid should be selling something". And although I have always thought that his charm could bring a profit to someones pocket, I am most proud that his charm and love bring a profit to many a heart.

Happy 6th Birthday to the boy who makes my heart happy.

I love you!

Not sweatin' it, but not neglectin' it either

You know the saying, that made someone a ton of money, by-the-way, "Don't sweat the small stuff"?

I would say, "Don't neglect the small stuff".

I believe that the first statement and the many books that followed its theme were driving home the importance of not getting worked-up about, stressed-out about, and overly-concerned about the little stuff that disrupts our neat and tidy lives. I get that. And I agree.

However, we can just as quickly neglect the small stuff in our life because we are waiting for the bigger things. In our attempt to keep our eye on the prize, so to speak, we can become blind to the good things surrounding us daily. The moments (and people) that will come and go in the blink of an eye, whether we choose to recognize them for their greatness or not.

Being faithful (and grateful) in the little stuff....that's what I am talking about.

That is what I am working on. Little by little every day. Big stuff can be good, but it's the littlest of things that bring the greatest joy.

Happy 40th Anniversary Mom & Dad

How frequently do I take for granted the example of love demonstrated by these two people? How quickly I assume that my perspective on love is a product of my own experience. How foolish of me.

My parents started out together as many do. Very young, very in love, and very naive. I guess not so different from my own beginnings in marriage. The road of their marriage has been marked by many joys and many trials. But the course has remained steady because of a love even greater than theirs. A love and commitment to the One who brought them together. And the trials never threatened to weaken their faith in one another or God, only serving to strengthen their resolve to love more deeply.

My parents are inspiring in their love and commitment to one another. Not only to me, but to the many lives they have touched throughout their 40 years of marriage. Whether it's my mom's seemingly unshakable joy or my dad's deep conviction of faith, something about their life speaks volumes to those around them.

I have been blessed. My siblings have been blessed. We have been taught, not only through word but by action, the true meaning of unconditional love. Some...nay many, are not as fortunate. For many the leap of faith required to enter into marriage is something they face with apprehension and fear, having seen first hand the devastating effects of divorce. I do not count myself as a lucky statistic. I consider myself blessed to have been a product of a love that refused to break. A daily decision making process on their part to stay the course. Choosing instead a love that would bend, mold, be re-shaped...but never be broken.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. Thank you for your witness of love.