The Living Legacy of Love

The mistletoe is dead and almost falling, but the memories of Christmas this year aren't. Especially memories of so many kisses under this doorway; some passionate and some stolen, some for the first time ever and some with everyone watching.

Matthew: Was that your 2nd time mom?

Me (after some thought): Well, yes, it actually was Matthew and thank you.

Matthew is pretending to be Santa with his plastic bag filled with gifts of paper airplanes. This year he asked if Santa was real. My mom always jokingly said if you didn't believe in Santa, you didn't get presents. I explained to Matthew about St. Nick of Turkey, and how he went about giving gifts, which inspired others to do the same. One man inspired at least one person, and over generations of time created a living legacy of red and white and gifts and kindness.
My ornament from my childhood made it on the tree this year. Her one leg is burned from years ago, and I still call her Christy as in Christy Knecht, my best friend growing up.

This year we got a new Christmas tree brought to us by my friend Karalea. She just so happened to find it at an estate sale and knew it would fit perfectly in our living room corner and display our family ornaments of Christmases past.
This year we were blessed and we celebrated Christmas morning together opening our abundant gifts from Grammy, Brother and Sister Crook, Santa, and each other. Our first gift to open was the baby Jesus; reminding us of His perfect gift. That one man inspired at least one person, and over generations of time and throughout all eternity created a living legacy of red and white and giving and kindness. The gift of LOVE.

It's Official...Our Christmas Letter

I'm reconsidering sending out Christmas letters again after receiving so many this year from friends and family. This picture would have been a good one to send with the letter.

Here is Travis asserting his decision to be in the picture, and yet, not part of the 'dogpile'. He has a loving and strong willed spirit, which keeps me active, exhausted, and filled with love all at the same time. Which you might not have imagined possible, but it is; and I wish everyone could experience it. This picture doesn't show, but his pants are 2 inches above his ankles because he's growing and is in denial. So am I. I'm holding on to every last memory this year at preschool while I watch him choose to be friends with the 'mean' kid and manage the girl crushes. He's doing so good at both.

Matthew is laughing hysterically as he spanks me. Once, for Mother's Day, Tom recorded an audio bite of Matthew's laughter, which is a fitting remedy for anything. Usually Matthew laughs at his own jokes and gets us laughing too, but sometimes, he laughs at gross boy things, which I usually allow because the laughter comes from the belly and is so infectious. Matthew doesn't have a serious bone in his body and is invariably in character at any given moment. At every given moment. My favorite character is a Jedi knight, probably because I get to be the princess.

Makayla is most likely turned away from the camera to encourage Travis to participate and maybe also to tell Matthew to stop spanking me. I'm enjoying that she is old and mature enough to babysit, and she is enjoying spending the money she makes. Saturdays you might find her playing soccer, shopping, socializing with friends, or traveling to Utah visiting her dad. She's learning to juggle family, school and soccer well, which is a skill required for someone who wants to be a mom or a hairdresser or both when she grows up.

Tom is steady. Here he is bearing the weight of the family without straining and with a handsome grin. Even though I'm balancing as much weight as I can, he still is steady under the pressure; more than just the weight in this photo too. Tom may be similar to the character in the fable, The Tortoise and the Hare. Tom is slow. And even though Tom is destined to win, he refuses to admit it's a race.

I believe it's always a race. Why not? It might just be fun; like this picture. It also might be fun to become a licensed massage therapist or a treasurer on the board of the preschool or a leader in primary or the soccer coach or creator of the next adventure. Because life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

We are back in California and are blessed to be around family and near the ocean again. I shouldn't have cropped out the word Family etched in the sand at the bottom of this picture. Because that is exactly what we are. From ours to yours...Happy Holidays!

Everyone Should Get A Wrist Shield for Their Birthday

Every birthday deserves a celebration, especially Tom's 36th. My plan was the usual breakfast presented in bed while singing the Happy Birthday Song followed by gifts, cards, dinner out together, and of course his Honor Board.

Matthew had other plans and even made his own invitations. I was doubtful about pulling off a Surprise Party, but my friend Karalea offered her home and talents for Friday, December 4th. She not only cleaned and decorated her house, supplied snacks and hummus for dipping, and made the Rice Krispie cake (a new favorite in our home), but she also made 14 dozen peanut butter cookies just in case...

Matthew used careful thought in choosing the guest list, consisting of the Goldsteins, the Richards, Tom's whole family, and even the Bishop. The Bishop, mostly because Matt noticed Tom talking with him more during our daughters' soccer games and probably not because of anything else.

From the time the invitations went out, I noticed the printer paper tray getting smaller and smaller and Matthew tucked secretly in his room. His best imaginative creation was a birthday hat and matching wrist shield, which everyone should have for their special day.

Mandy helped keep the secret by taxiing our kids to the Richards' house just in time for the SURPRISE. And we almost made it without Tom suspecting a thing, which is a miracle after the clever maneuvering, lying, and cheating I did all day.

The party was a success, the food excellent, the company perfect, the host gracious, the planner satisfied, and the guest honored. Happy Birthday, Tom.

Celebrating the Emptiness

Tuesday I went to Massage Therapy School for 9 hours while Travis and Tom stayed home and put gum and peanut butter in their hair. Tom kept up with photos for this post; I need all the help I can get. I've lost 12 hours a week and started another journal entitled My Experience As A Student in Massage Therapy School.

Recent posts include my fascination with the quadratus lumborum and the erector spinae and celebrating the fact that I am getting a 90% in anatomy. I celebrate in class when I recall what I've previously learned, which seems an inappropriate response because of all the odd looks. I'm going to celebrate anyway. If those teenagers only knew.

I'm also celebrating the time I found this week to finally finish my wedding gift project for a treasured friend who was married in July. Celebrating the empty corner of my dining room, it's completion after having to start over once, and that the gift will make it to the happy couple within a year of their marriage. They should expect it to be wrapped to look like a gift from the heart because it's from me.

Speaking of a gift from the heart...Panjo's new owners emailed today letting us know how much fun she's having running on the trails, eating pig ears, and playing with the other dogs in the snow. Apparently, the other dogs are light weights, and her heavy coat has finally found a use here in California. We're waiting for a tiny video clip showing her trip to the "beauty salon". And when I told Matt and Travis about Panjo, my heart filled and started celebrating the joy of her freedom.

Trading Green for a Whistle

Some things work out like when I went to get a cake for the end of the season soccer party and the bakery suggested 24 cupcakes in the shape of a soccer ball, which looks like a cake, instead. Brilliant, isn't it?

I fell in love with each of these boys. From left to right and back to front:

Leandro for his growth in soccer skill and attitude. Jacob (blocked by Luca's head) for his leadership and heart. Dean for his huge kicks and great manners. Adam for his energy and defense skills. David for his fun personality.

Luca for his natural instincts in goal. Matthew for his love of the game and measurable improvement. Johnny for his spunk and speed. And Max (not pictured) for his team spirit.

And although my favorite part was getting to know the boys, this was my first and last year as assistant coach. I wanted to run off the field at the first practice and quit. And I would have if the team banner hadn't been made with my name above the words assistant coach.

Next year, I'll make a good team mom or I might even volunteer to be a line flagger. Or better yet, I could get licensed to referee and Tom can take a picture of me in a referee uniform with black knee highs and a whistle around my neck. Can you picture it? Green wasnt' my color anyway.

Jacob, my heart, on the left next to Dean, with thumbs down.