That's the meaning of Christmas Charlie Brown......

I love Charlie Brown's Christmas special and the sad Christmas tree and especially the part where Linus quotes Luke 2. "...For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a savior which is Christ the Lord......" I aim to encourage my boys to appreciate a simple Christmas, giving to others, not expecting everything on their "list" to be under the tree on Christmas morning, you know "it is better to give, than to receive....." I am not sure I am getting through to them, but I don't want to give up trying.


I am reminded of the cardboard box walls of the homes of some of the families we served and treated, acting as the hands and feet of Jesus in Honduras this summer, or the destitute in Haiti who are dying (literally) of Cholera in less that 12 hours if they are unable to get IV fluids or homeless families in this country, even Des Moines, who will wake up Christmas morning without any presents. My heart hurts to imagine how hard it is for a mama to not be able to give even the smallest of gifts to her children. I feel amazingly rich compared to most of the world's population.


My first attempt was to have the boys each pick out something out of the World Vision catalog to give to the "least of these". Nick picked out chickens, Jake picked medicine for sick babies and Sam picked a goat. I am not completely sure Nick didn't think he wasn't going to get the actual chickens himself to give away,but I am hoping they each thought of the people all over the globe who will appreciate the items each picked out.


I need to "walk the walk", not just "talk the talk"....... I can be obsessed with making sure I "make a memory" for each of my sons each Christmas morning. Sadly, it usually doesn't work out as I planned, and I am pretty sure I have passed on the obsession to my firstborn. He has his own (secret) expectations, that he forgets to share with his mother so I am sure it will take years of therapy to overcome most of my attempts at "tradition".


Christmas has become a much more Italian event compared to the Beattie (Wistrom) celebration with Swedish fare that no one really liked nor had the heart to tell Grandma Ellen that we all would rather have something besides luetfisk or pickled herring for Christmas Eve dinner. This year, as in years past, we will be having Christmas Pasta instead. Yummo! Tomorrow it will be TEN years since my mother-in-law went to Heaven VERY unexpectedly. It is hard to believe that it has been that long. Her dying changed Christmas forever. Jake has never known anything different, Nick still doesn't remember how much he adored Grandma Ellen, and Sam refuses to give up any of the toys she ever gave him. She was definitely a "giver". She thought through each gift she bought. That was what was so hard about Christmas 2000. She went to Heaven while she was wrapping presents and we had to guess who she bought the remaining, unwrapped presents were for. God has healed our hearts and we do know that we will see Grandma again and are looking forward to her giving us our tour of the Golden Streets.


The Advent Conspiracy has affected me, so my goal is to "Worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all". Jesus came to earth as the son of a teenager who wasn't married and He did it all for me. I don't want to forget that he came to this earth only to die for my sins so I could spend eternity in Heaven.


"And there were with the angels a multitude of Heavenly hosts, singing 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to men".


Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCitZPr2oD0

With Thankful Hearts

I have thought of tid-bits to add the last few months, but never took the time to update or put my thoughts into words.  Fall seems to have turned to winter, but the wonderful weather of September and October was so much appreciated.  Sam finished his first Highschool Cross Country season, was named 'runner of the meet' on the week I thought he had his worst race, but he took 3 minutes off his time.  Shows you how much this mamma knows.  He got to know some really great guys and is now considering running track in the spring.  He enjoyed cheering on a senior who was ranked second in the state.  I am very thankful he had a coach who encouraged him and really instilled confidence in him.  Owens really could be a Coach Sam never forgets.  



Nick has been making HUGE improvements in Math.  The transition from the Downtown School to Southeast Polk was difficult, but he is doing so much better.  He made mostly A's, for which he is very proud.  It is hard to hear him compare himself to Sam and wanting to do just as well as his older brother.  Nick still loves his games and Ted the dog.  I would like to find something for Nick to be involved in either sports or music or a hobby of some sort.  It may be that computer games are it.  Or maybe board games.  Maybe he can be a dog walker for the neighborhood.  Nick has his own style and wanted to wear a bow tie and his sport coat at our nephew Drew's wedding.  Cousin Ben loaned him one of his bow ties for the occasion.  So darling!

Jake had a great time playing football this fall.  Until the last week of practice when he broke his wrist.  He ended up with a compression fracture of his left radius and had to wear a splint for 3 weeks.  He sort of wanted a cast, but was glad he ended up with the splint he could take off for showers and such.  Much better.  He played safety mostly, not much offense.  We will have to see if he decides to play next year.  He is playing piano, still and is getting better.  He is playing Fur Elise.....  ah, the classics.  His teacher, Zeljka just loves him.  She is so sweet.  He would like to stop, but I am going to really encourage him to keep it up so he has that skill for a lifetime.  School is fun for him and he has the same teachers Sam and Nick had.  He can be a bit dramatic at times, but he is also a friend to everyone and talks to anyone who will listen.  Probably not always appreciated in the classroom.  It is hard to believe we are in the final 2 years at the Downtown School.  I remember bringing Jake with me when he was in preschool and he fit right into Nick's class.  The boys are growing up before my eyes.  

This Fall found me and Scott at FXB (or as I like to call it, Fat Camp).  I was in dire need of working out and really need accountability to accomplish it.  It has actually been fun and I have been able to keep up my daily class.  I have gotten to know some great friends and though I won't share photo documentation of before and after, I have lost some pounds and body fat, feel tons better and have a wicked round house kick.  

I am truly thankful for my family, our health and the love of friends.  I think of the families in Honduras who live with dirt floors, not knowing if they will have food or water each day or even families here in Des Moines who don't have homes. I forget how much I really have and all the blessings that have been bestowed.  I miss my mom and dad, sisters and far away cousins.  I wish we had the option of spending holidays with them every year, but I love that I talk to my mom and dad almost daily, and I am thankful for technology like this fair blog or facebook or email that keep us involved in each others' lives.  God is good and I never want to take for granted even the little things.  

We are traveling to Chicago for Thanksgiving with many of the Beattie sisters and cousins.  A destination holiday should be fun.  May not be as traditional as we would have here, but we are looking forward to being in the city and being with Ohio cousins.  As we enter the holiday season, my I always remember how much I have been given and be willing to share any of what I have with others who do not.  

Happy Thanksgiving to the four people who may read this.  :)

A Time for Everything......

Lately, we have been so busy with life.  Sam has weekly cross country meets, Jake has football practice 3 nights a week and games on Saturday mornings and I have to work on weekends, so I feel like we are just keeping our heads above water.  


I forget how life can become more than just the mundane without even realizing it.  There are "high" highs and "low" lows that can cross our paths.  One friend is welcoming her new and unexpected baby this week.  She is beautiful and will undoubtedly be lavished with love, no expense spared.  Another family has been hit with the equivalent of a Mac truck finding out that the husband and father of their family has been diagnosed with cancer.  Another completely unexpected diagnosis.  I am so ensconced in the day-to-day life that I am unaware of the tapestry we are a part of weaving, the Big Picture.  


It is so easy to accept the blessings and highs of life and so much harder to see how the Creator of life can decide it is time to bring a speed bump into our lives.  Amazingly, both seem to be considering each experience as a blessing.  I hope I would be able to feel the same way, but I am not sure my faith would withstand the same situation.  I pray for both families as life as they have known it is changing in ways unimaginable.  I pray for peace and wisdom as this new life, becomes the new normal.  


Our God is too good to be unkind and too wise to make mistakes.  

Let the Games Begin

Fall is officially here.  Labor Day is coming to an end, the air is cooler and football has started.  Jake will be playing his first year of tackle football.  I was surprised to hear he was interested in playing.  He is probably the most adventurous of he boys.  He is bound and determined to succeed at anything new he tries.  There are neighbors up the street who play football and Jake is actually getting better each practice.  He is learning plays, has better equipment than Scott claims to have had in highschool.  He is a Viking this fall.  He seems to be gravitating to Safety as a position.  He recovered a fumble after assisting on the tackle during his scrimmage last week.  We have team photos tomorrow night, game faces required. 

Sam is running cross country, again.  He is staying committed to practice and even ran this summer with the highschool team.  He has made goals of not walking during the race and not being last.  He is learning perseverance and how to really be part of a team and family of athletes.  I like the coach and he is getting to know some nice guys to be friends with.  


Sam has also transitioned to highschool very well.  He still rides the bus, but in very short time, he would be able to drive himself to school.  It is hard to believe we are already to that point.  WOW!


Nick is adjusting to Spring Creek 6th Grade School.  Seems like we are on a roller coaster.  The first day he said it was fantastic, but then he has also come home frustrated with the homework and having to remember assignments from two different teachers and multiple subjects.  I remember Sam having a tough transition, too.  We are hoping it will all go well.  I am easily frustrated with what to do to maximize his academic experience.  He struggles with any abstract concepts.  He has 'high' highs and 'low' lows.  He doesn't want to play any sports this fall.  He sporadically plays with the neighbor kids, but would far rather play on the computer or on the Wii.  Our goal is to find Nick something he is really GOOD at and foster that.  


We will start being pulled in many directions with rides to and from practice and games or meets.  I need to pray that I will remain a good example to my boys and those around me.

Gettysburg + NYC

Historic Gettysburg is chocked full of history.  So much happened over three days in 1863.  Nearly 50,000 lives were lost from both the Union and Confederate Armies.  We saw the battle fields that have become hallowed ground and there are even two "witness trees" that were there during the war and later to hear Abraham Lincoln give the Gettysburg Address.  Nick was a bit bored, but Sam and Jake enjoyed the double-decker bus ride with the taped story through the headphones.  Jake especially loved climbing on the ginormous rocks around the battle fields.

We couldn't truly do Gettysburg justice in one day, but we did get a great overview about all that history that happened, enjoyed lunch at one of the many "haunted" buildings that still had the bullet holes in the wall from that July, 1863 and found some AWESOME ice cream.  


Then we were off to Princeton, NJ for Drew and Alison's wedding.  Before the festivities, we did make a trip into the Big Apple to explore Gotham.  We took the train into Penn Station and walked out to see Madison Square Garden and looked up to the Empire State Building.  The boys were overwhelmed at first and it was wicked HOT!  We swarmed with other tourists to the hotspots.....  Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, and even Central Park.  We rode the subway a bit to avoid walking an additional marathon.  We even made it down to Ground Zero.  Lady Liberty was ensconced in haze, but we could still see her and Ellis Island out in NY Harbor.  Wish we had time to take the Ferry to have a better view.  If we hadn't had our map we bought at the train station, we would have been lost.  Sam liked Times Square the best, Nick was thrilled with Nintendo World and Top of the Rock, and Jake loved climbing on the rocks in Central Park.  All the boys loved riding the subway and the train.  I know they were all exhausted after all the walking.  Between Washington DC and NYC, they were spent.  

Drew and Alison's wedding was gorgeous.  They are truly in love and absolutely darling together.  It was wonderful to not only have our own family together for the weekend, but to meet Alison's family.  The Princeton Chapel and campus was truly unbelievable.  Again with all the history that has taken place there and the shear number of years the University has been in existence, it was a treasure trove of information.  I did not know that Princeton had briefly been the nation's capital, and the Continental Congress met there.  I wish I had taken more time to explore.  I loved the architecture and all the ivy covered walls.  Actually, each graduating class plants an actual ivy plant around one of the buildings and there is a plaque designating that year next to their plant.  The class of 1900's plant is to the roof, while the class of 1992's, only a sprout.  Absolutely, Ivy League.  


Alison was a stunning bride and her attendants were beautiful.  Drew was an adoring groom and even a bit nervous during the ceremony.  I think it will be an everlasting love.  The wedding was really the inspiration for our trip.  Thanks, Drew and Alison for planning your wedding in such a great location so we could enjoy the history.  

The long overdue update on the rest of our vacation has been completed.  I am still working out of laundry hell even from the vacation and trying to get the boys ready for this new school year.  Summer always goes by too fast.  I love fall as the weather cools and the leaves change color.  Good-bye summer vacation.

Walking, Walking and the Spy Museum

There were a billion people in DC today

Love the simplicity of Washington

Abe is my favorite!

Remembering the ultimate sacrifice

Today we attacked Washington DC.  Scott reserved tickets for the Spy Museum, which proved to be very smart.  We went to the Natural History Museum, Air and Space and then walked the length of the Mall to see the memorials.  We had never seen the WWII memorial.  It was spectacular!  i know we wore the boys out with all the walking, but seeing the White House and dinner at Bertucci's was a wonderful way to end a tiring day. 

Washington's not so tall

not even for Sam

Amazing wall of stars at WWII

Gorgeous

Navy Memorial

Tomorrow we are going back.  We are going to try to catch church at National Community Church.  Can't wait!