Christmas is already over?!!

Highlights from our trip to Branson:

*Silver Dollar City

*Cooking class

*A Christmas Carol

*A trip to a wax museum--what trip to Branson would be complete without it?!!

As I contemplate 2011 I'm looking forward to a great year of sports, another round of senior pics (Andy has already asked if he has to have them taken), college visits, teaching, seeing new places and most importantly, growing in the Lord!

May 2011 be filled with Blessings and joy!

Branson, here we come!

We're off to Branson for the week! We've never been and are looking forward to a week of relaxing, playing cards, looking at lights, taking a cooking class and riding some rides! Lilli and Joel will also be doing a college visit---yes, she's already in college, but is now looking for one for nursing school. Rather than spend a ton of money on gifts, we like to take time to spend together. So, we're staying at The Chateau on the Lake (with a spa) and can't wait!

Merry, Merry!

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

There is nothing as special to me as spending a night at home with my kids--even more now than when they were little, because now they choose to be with us. When they were little-what choice did they have? This weekend I got to do that and it was awesome. It doesn't mean that we sat around singing carols and finding new ways to express our admiration for each other--we were just together doing "what we do" and I love it! Do that this weekend with your family!

This year, especially, I have been reflecting on how blessed we are to have a church, a family, a home, jobs, opportunity to share with others, and laughter. As I think about, and plan for, 2011 it is my wish to live a life that reflects my Creator and to view others as reflections of that Creator. I won't be perfect-far from it! But, if each day is only a little bit better than the one before it, than yea God because it's not me, it's Him!

Now....off to grades papers, bake cookies, do a little gift wrapping and pack for a little family adventure to Missouri. Merry Christmas to all!

Uh, thank you, thank you very much....

Thankful for......

*Our church

*Healthy, happy family

*Good jobs

*Time to spend with people we love

*Kids we love and like

*Turkey and all the extras-like Devilled eggs!

*Things that make us laugh

*Our home

*The Pilgrims? :)

*Most importantly--Freedom to worship Our Savior

Play-offs!!!

As of Friday, Andy's team is officially in the playoffs! They had the opportunity to play a team from a state training school Friday. It was a great experience. On the way home on the bus, he texted me that it was the best game he'd ever played in. He told us that they helped them up, told them good job and after the game, told them "Good luck in the playoffs!" It was encouraging to see young men changing their lives for the better and getting a chance to change their future.

We just found out that our high school was chosen to do a "High School Game Day" on TV tomorrow. The kids need to be at the school at 5 AM and will be interviewed and have a chance to mimic "College Game Day"--it will be a great memory for them. (The football coaches aren't thrilled to say the least--loss of focus, loss of sleep, etc., but they told the boys they trust them to make the right decision about being a part of it---Andy took that to mean he should go. :) )

My Moss Roses A Lily in Our Pond My Rose Tree

The seasons are changing, it's time to clean up the yard for winter and my hummingbirds and finches won't be around for long. So, I thought I'd share a few pictures of summer before it's gone for a while. I have a fascination with the little hummingbird, so tiny, yet so industrious. We have a few types that frequent our backyard and I never tire of watching them flit from our apple tree to the feeder to the flowers and back again. The thought of battening down the hatches for winter is not something I like to think about, because I so love being in the yard, walking Betsy, and fishing. Having pics like this help me remember that the next season is always just around the corner!

All back to school....

The school year has started for the kids and me (Laura). It's always a bittersweet time. It's exciting to have everything starting up again--sports, school activities, UNI games, etc. but I also get a bit sad that another summer is gone and another year of having the kids at home has passed.

Andy had his first game Friday. We won 34-7 and he did well. Pete's first one is tonight. We'll be traveling quite a bit for the next few months. (That also means I'll be praying a lot for safety for them and the other boys. :) )

Yesterday I was reminded of the importance of being a Christian Monday-Saturday where I spend most of my time-at home and at work. I'm going to be more intentional about showing Whose I am through my actions in those places. It's easy to do that at church, not so easy the other 6 days!

Blessings

Craziness!

I love the craziness of having 3 teenagers--it's kind of like having three kids under the age of 4 again! Someone is always coming, going, needing something, eating, laughing...you get the picture. As they get older, we see the adults they will be someday and it's exciting. More importantly, I love that they love Jesus and each other. This weekend they are going on a road trip to Minneapolis together--yes, I'm a little nervous, but I'm so happy they like to be together. As the boys battle the 100 degree heat at football and Lilli finishes a summer of taking 15 college credit hours, they find time to have fun together and that does a mother's heart good.

(Andy attempting to help his siste and brother tube at the lake-he was very patient!)

Football time! This is our favorite time of the year! The boys started 4-hour practices this week and will have them until school starts on August 18th. Then when games start, we'll have 3 HS games a week and one college game. I love it! We had our first football injury last night-Pete came home with a 1-inch long gash in his mouth from where his braces connected with his lip and someone else's head. (I think he'll be wearing that braces mouthguard from now on. :) )

On a different note, today Joel and the boys put a roof on Pops' garage (that's Joel's dad), so they could learn how to roof. They did a great job and now they'll be ready for when they buy their own homes someday.

Helping with RAGBRAI

Yesterday was an awesome day! Joel, Pete and I got the privilege of helping when RAGBRAI came through Waterloo. Perfect weather, great location, and 25,000 people riding or helping riders makes for a fun day. We got to work at Hawkeye Community College-the "quiet" camp. Over the day we talked to people from Canada, Texas, Florida, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa--not to mention all of the people we talked to, but don't know where they're from! (I think there are people from every state.) It is amazing to see that many people having fun together and seeing our state.

If you like to bike, you should definitely give this a try. If you don't like to bike, but want to be a part of it anyway--you should also think about volunteering or being a support person.

Today we're helping a friend move in a torrential downpour!--wishing for yesterday's weather. :)

Yikes, could I be a worse blogger?!!

Just a quick update about the family and sharing of a blog post that will change how you look at your kids or grandkids I think.

Update: We are just back from "our cabin" in Minnesota. We had a great time, great weather and great fishing. We all are sad to come home every year, this year maybe more so because next year it may just be Joel, the boys and me. Lilli is thinking of spending the summer overseas. Change is hard for me, I just don't like it!

The kids are all detasseling right now--90-100 degree weather, bugs, mud, and corn do not make for a great combination, but the paycheck helps a little. Lilli is planning to replace her third car, Andy needs money for gas and spending money as he's heading to Florida next week on a youth conference, and Pete is looking for a small fishing boat. We are encouraging saving a little and giving some to others. Parents--ughh!

Joel and I have been redoing a few rooms in our house--not a surprise---and are planning to start redoing our walk-up attic. (the heat is putting that on hold a bit) We are also counting the days for football season to start---each week will consist of a Freshman game, a JV game, a Varsity game and a UNI game. I love this time of year! Thanks for reading. If you're out there, let us know

Here's the blog post I wanted to share--you might need some kleenex:

A mom, dad, and two little boys sit down at the table next to me.


The dad is kind of serious looking. Dark hair, tall, broad shoulders, scanning the room with an empty stare, completely unaware of the breakfast discussion that is happening right next to him.


Mom is feisty. She has the rough and tough mannerisms of a mom who is raising two boys and has been away from the female race long enough to lose joy in picking out the perfect muffin. "Whadya want to eat? Come on? It's not that hard... just pick something." She points to something in the pastry case for herself and orders without truly looking.


The little boys, probably eleven and nine, are dirty and sweaty, fidgety and totally bored. It's Saturday morning and although they aren't sporting a baseball uniform, I'm quite sure she has just scraped them up from some park and put them in the car against their will. I think she's put the husband in the car against his will for that matter too. And there they sit, distracted and totally uninterested in pastries, muffins, and one another. Their faces say, "Saturday is for sports, for hobbies, for guy stuff... not these stupid muffins and family talk time."


Three men. Three islands.


Any minute I expect her to stand up, slam her hands on the table, grab the attention of the men in her life and say (with a fiercely threatening voice that makes you think she might not cook ever again or that she might pull her girl card and cry right there in front of God and everyone), "WE will enjoy this *&*$%^* breakfast as a FAMILY whether you want to or not!"


But she weathers the silence with grace and patience and somehow she draws everyone in with a series of questions and jokes.


Suddenly they are talking. The three islands are talking. This woman is amazing.


I think to myself... if I had been her I would've spewed my venom at them for their lack of interest and for making me do all the emotional, conversational work. I might have clamped my lips shut in a passive aggressive protest of their little care and concern for me and my family breakfast plans.


"Poor me. My boys won't talk to me. I'll show them." And then, as only a woman can do, I would make them endure my brutal silence as punishment for not loving me well. But she didn't do any of those things. She didn't get her feelings hurt. She didn't retreat. She didn't punish them with her silence. She fought for her children's words. She won a small victory.


an aside:
This mom showed me that no matter what your child is: boy/girl, shy/personable, angry/happy, interested/uninterested; a diligent effort to emotionally engage your children, will, more than likely, pay off.


Now, the conversation is marked by the laughter of these two little boys and the dad's full attention.


And me?
Well, I am the creep sitting at the next table watching them... but in my defense I am a very happy creep who just witnessed a mom being a really good mom. And I am relishing in the moment of this ladies victory.


Of Course...
This is all ruined when the nine year old kid, who, by the looks of his wild impulsive eyes suffers from some form of attention deficit, grabs a rock from the fountain behind him and throws it.


I'm not sure what it hit, but it ricocheted, it's path of destruction eternally long and it was loud enough that the entire restaurant stopped and took a collective breathe.


The morning was, yet again, ruined.


The dad instinctively grabbed the son by the leg in anger. The mom shot straight in, "What are you doing? What are you doing? Why would you do that?" People's eyes bore into them. All four of them. The dad's grip tightened. His stern look was debilitating even for me.


It stemmed from embarrassment of course. That's what I'm learning. A lot of times we parents are reactionary. What deserves a normal- don't do that- turns into a swift and militant response when the kid is 'doing that' in front of lots of people and we find ourselves cringing.


Inevitably this response, though, leaves the child embarrassed. And this nine year old followed protocol.


He looked down at his legs and his eyes burned with tears that he kept sucking back. I watched his whole body sink and deflate as his little brother stared at him. In his mind, I guess the whole world was staring at him. He kept his head down like a dog who had been scolded and wouldn't make eye contact with anyone. He went to his own universe. And they to theirs.


Mom acted like nothing happened, but the tension came all the way over to the creepy girl's table and I was as stressed as she was.


The mom did as many moms do. She tried to make it better. Tried to talk to the little boy and ask him questions from across the table. But he wasn't buying, he wouldn't raise his eyes above table level. Dad tried to smooth things over by talking to mom, laughing about something terribly not-funny; he was keeping the pep in the deflated family breakfast trip, but he was failing miserably too.


I had written the rest of the story in my mind. They will leave. Mom frustrated- which always leads to tears. Dad frustrated- which sometimes leads to throwing the towel in and making the rest of the day a "personal day" as Ryan calls it. Big brother either smugly satisfied that the blame could all lie on his counterpart or angry that that his counterpart ruined the morning. And little guy... hurt and angry, embarrassed, would spend his Saturday sulking.


I was all torn up. It was like watching my own reality show except no one won any money and they all ended up going back home empty handed. I freaking hate reality shows. I scolded myself. Why do I watch them? They came so close. I stopped watching and went back to writing my book.


The Touch
And then it happened. A human touch.


Something came over the father's face. His countenance changed.


He turned his body towards his son who was sitting one bench over. He put one arm around his shoulder, another under his knees, and with one big swoop he lifted the little boy up, put him directly on his lap, wrapped his arms around his chest, and bear hugged him. He whispered into his ear and kissed his cheek. He held him there. Not letting go. And there they sat. In the middle of a busy restaurant. A shamed nine year old boy. In his dad's lap. A grown man. Putting himself aside. A human touch.


It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen a dad do. Ever.


And, in one moment, that human touch redeemed the entire morning.


The boy, of course, fought it in the beginning. Still sulking. Head down. A little scowl. But the longer the dad held on. The longer he hugged. The more this big, strong, grown man whispered into his little boys ear... you could visibly see it, the wall of shame and defense began to crumble. The embarrassment was left on the other bench. The little boy let go of the anger, came out of hiding, and felt safe again. Loved. Liked, even.


I no longer felt creepy. I felt honored. I found myself with tears burning my eyes as I watched what grace looks like. Grace with skin on it. And I found myself, in that busy restaurant, sitting in my own father's lap as he hugged me, told me I was beautiful, told me to forget about what happened, told me he loved me. I fought it, of course. I wasn't even sure that I had done anything to make me feel like I needed to be lovingly taken back into the family (like throwing a rock that made a whole restaurant stop and gape) ... still, I had an overwhelming sense that I needed it. Right then. Right there.


I squirmed a bit and felt way too grown up for what was happening. I suppose I'd much rather be left alone to sulk. I tried to get my shoulders free. But that whisper. Leave me alone, I'm the one who screwed up and everybody knows it. But that kiss. A feeling of annoyance. Please just stop. But that gentle squeeze. A denial. But that acceptance. A rejection. But that hug... the one I didn't want... right there in the middle of the restaurant...


intimately, strongly, lovingly I was swooped up unto my father's lap


before I knew it, I was smiling


I am loved.

Prom 2010

Prom 2010 has come and gone. Lilli and Bryant went to their second Prom this year. Andy went with a friend from youth group that is a junior. In my humble opinion, they were the best looking siblings there. They had fun!

The Prom is held in a small town between Reinbeck and Gladbrook. Everyone from both towns comes to watch the kids walk into the dance. The kids drive the coolest car or biggest truck they can talk someone into loaning them and parade around town, making several passes by the crowd before going in. As they leave the car and walk toward the dance down the street, their names are annouced over a loud speaker and a group of dads parks the cars. It is really a fun time.

Lilli and Bryant talked my dad into borrowing his Miata. Andy wasn't so lucky. He isn't 16 yet, so he didn't have many car options. He thought about taking the moped, but I don't think his date would have approved.

We're finishing up plans for Lilli's graduation party. I finally got the video done. It is really great to look back at all of the old photos and remember all of the good times we have had as a family. I won't go into all that again...

I hope you enjoy the photos. I'll try to post again sooner.

Joel

How time flies

Tonight I was downloading some songs we are going to use in a digital scrapbook for Lilli's graduation and I started reminiscing. For those that don't know me, I tend to dislike change and wish for things to slow down. I guess that's why I like antiques, Norman Rockwell paintings, keep boxes and boxes of pictures, and we just now are on Facebook. At one point a few years ago, I really was considering if it would be possible to sell everything, buy an RV, home school the kids, and hit the road. As it turns out, only Pete was on board with that plan.

As we are getting ready for our first child to "leave the nest", I am reflecting on all that has happened over the last 18 years. All the school events, games, parties, vacations, etc.... Although, it is sad to think this season of our life is beginning to end, I feel so blessed to be married to such a wonderful wife and mother and to have such great kids.

Early on, Laura and I made a commitment to live our lives in such a way, that when the day came that our kids left, we would have no regrets about how we did things. I never wanted to say, "I wish we did this, or that when the kids were little." We felt our mission and ministry through these last 18 years was to create a home for our children that would allow them to stay innocent as long as possible, a home where they would feel loved, a home that they could see God's love even through two imperfect parents :), a home that would lay the foundation for them to take off into the world, follow God's will, and make it a better place.

Parenting is certainly exhausting work, but I can honestly say that we don't have any (well, maybe a few :)) regrets. So, for those of you just beginning this journey, I encourage you to really think through the next 18 years, pray and decide on a family mission. Follow God's promptings. Be intentional. Have big birthday parties, make crazy Halloween costumes, go on vacations together, go to every school play, every soccer game, every school conference. Take your kids to Sunday School, church, youth group.

Finally, I just wanted to share a poem that Laura and I found one day by Karen Kingsbury. It kind of sums up what I'm trying to say:

Long ago you came to me,
a miracle of firsts,
First smiles and teeth and baby steps,
a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts…

The last time that I held a bottle
to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you
and held you on my hip.

The last night when you woke up crying,
needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket,
wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me,
still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you’d marry
me when you grew old.

Precious, simple moments and
bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held on longer if
I’d known they were your last?

Our last adventure to the park,
your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite
faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten,
those last few days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League,
last colored picture made.

I never said good-bye to all
your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow-
will I recognize your lasts?

The last time that you catch a frog
in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot
across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images
will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures,
never quite sure of your lasts…

The last time that I comb your hair
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.

The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two.

The last piano lesson,
last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school,
last soccer goal you make.

I look ahead and dream of days
that haven’t come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss
today’s sweet, precious lasts…

The last time that I help you with
a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes,
your room is still a mess.

The last time that you need me for
a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night
with your old tattered bear.

My life keeps moving faster,
stealing precious days that pass,
I want to hold on longer-
want to recognize your lasts…

The last time that you need my help
with details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for
advice about romance.

The last time that you talk to me
about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey
for your high school team.

I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed
seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time,
I’d hold on to your lasts.

For come some bright fall morning,
you’ll be going far away.
College life will beckon
in a brilliant sort of way.

One last hug, one last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you’ll be missed.

I’ll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer, God,
to every precious last.

More ramblings

It is again 11:00 and everyone is asleep. Seems to be a common thing around here. I stay up a little later than everyone just doing nothing. The house is completely quiet and I can just sit. And do nothing. I usually surf the net a little, or read a little. I cruise through Ebay and check our sales. We are currently selling my CPCU textbooks(boring insurance stuff). 9 of 12 books have bids. That's always fun. Then, I check out the cabins for sale at Lake Vermilion in Minnesota. I dream that some day we will buy one and create our own Camp Meyers for our kids and future grandkids and family to enjoy. Even though I said I was trying to cut back on the political stuff, I usually check out the Drudge Report to see what's up.

Lately I have been researching used conversion vans. I made the mistake of taking Andy and Pete to a used car lot and letting them get into a conversion van. They could not believe the recliners you can have in a car. Not to mention the cool mood lighting and TV. Andy will need a car to drive in a few months and is begging for a conversion van. Since our Santa Fe is too small for five adults to go more than about 20 miles, I am actually considering it. I really am getting old, aren't I? I also have to take into account that Bryant will be joining us now on some of our trips. We are planning a trip to Chicago in March and he is coming with us, so that is six adults.

Speaking of Bryant, he is in India right now on a month long mission trip. Lilli hasn't spoke with him in weeks and she is leaving in two weeks for Cambodia. So, she will be there while he is in India. Last night her cell phone rang and she didn't hear it. Unfortunately, it was Bryant calling and she missed it. His opportunities to use a phone are few and far between. She was really bummed about that.

That's about it. I guess I'm done rambling. I have to get back to Autotrader and look for that van.