Favorite Moments of 2012

 This past year was very busy. Homeschooling three children, playing chauffer, having a preschooler, and living with the demands of ministry took up almost every spare moment. I wasn't able to blog much, and many of our photos never made it here. However, God was so good to our family and gave us many great moments together. These are some of our favorite moments, favorite people and favorite places from 2012.



 

 

 

 







 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 Happy New Year!

 

Season's Greetings

May you know the incredible joy that comes from knowing Christ, and may your celebration of His birth be filled with beautiful moments with family and friends.

 

Merry Christmas,

From our family to yours!

Christmas in 3D

We're driving home from school when the littlest says to me, "Mom, I can't wait 'til Christmas. It's about getting presents." I almost slam on my brakes. "No, honey, it's about celebrating the greatest gift God has given us. He gave us Jesus." I go on to explain why we give gifts this time of year.

A few days later, the kids and I are driving around town when little man announces proudly that Christmas is about giving. Again, I almost slam on my brakes. Feeling a little proud that my talk had finally clarified things in his mind, I was taken aback when the next thing out of his mouth was, "The more you give, the more you get!" I asked him where he heard that, and I should have known it was from that great theologian SpongeBob. As I sat trying to think how to rephrase his poor theology, my oldest says matter-of-factly, "Bennett, you don't give just to get presents." I'm so glad someone in this house gets it!

In the middle of this crazy season, we finally find a few hours when no one has to be anywhere. The blizzard has left a white blanket all around us, and it feels like Christmas. We make the 40 minute drive to see our favorite Santa.  He's our favorite because he's held every one of our children every year since that first little chubby one sat on his lap. He knows us. Who wouldn't remember the odd family with the three Korean faces and the little blond boy who seemed to arrive out of the blue. Every year, we wonder, "Will he still be there? Will it be the same Santa?" And this year we have to whisper it because the 4-year-old still thinks he's the only Santa. We smile when we see him - same beard, same sweet man.

The two middle boys each take a knee. The young one is a bit shy. (He says he's not scared!! Actually, he screams it!) He takes a seat next to Santa, and to mom's delight, the oldest one decides it's not totally uncool to be in the picture. Santa asks them what they would like for Christmas, and each one whispers his wishes. Every year, I wonder why we ever started this tradition. Why do we continue it? I mean, we all know (except for the smallest one) who really brings the presents. And we all understand (except maybe the youngest one) the life-changing meaning of this season; the significance of the birth of our Savior.

We spend the rest of the evening, eating Japanese food (another favorite tradition) and helping each child think about what his brothers would like and what they can give. One teases his brother with words about how he 's going to love his gift so much he might explode. Another one begs me to let him open his brother's gift first thing on Christmas Eve. It 's not a quiet night, but when we fall into the car to head home, we all sigh and agree it was a great night.

As the boys settle in for the long ride, I think about all the Christmas Eves my siblings and I would lie in the back of that old green station wagon looking through the moon roof to see who would be the first to see Santa's sleigh. I love that old tradition. I smile at the thought and wonder what my kids will remember. What memories will they cherish? What traditions will they carry on?

I pull out a few pairs of 3-D paper glasses from several years ago - the kind that makes every Christmas light look like it's wrapped in snowflakes or stars, etc... 

The boys fight over who gets to look first. I wish, for a brief moment, I had never pulled them out, when all of a sudden the little one screams, "I see snowfakes!"

Then someone in the back seat screams, "I see Noel everywhere!"

When they finally tire of the glasses, they pass them forward, and I decide to put on the pair with Noel. And there it is! He's right. Every single light we pass is wrapped with the word Noel - every stop light, every brake light, every street lamp and every Christmas light.

The word noel is French for Christmas. Some say it stems from the Latin word natalis (birth)referring to the birth or nativity of Christ. Others believe it stems from the French word nouvelles (news) referring to the good news of Christ's birth. Either way, when everything is wrapped in Noel, when we see everything through the lens of the good news of Christ's birth, even the simplest of  traditions, wrapped in the true meaning of Christmas, can point to Christ. May you see Christ in everything you do this season, and may everything you do and say point to Him! Joyeux Noel!

A Christmas Photo Shoot and a Little Snowball Fight

Last week, we headed to one of our favorite spots to take our Christmas photo. We wanted a snowy picture, but after three days of 40 degree weather, there wasn't much snow.Trying to get four boys (five really) serious enough for a family photo is like trying to herd cats, but we did get a few nice shots until the chaos broke out. Apparently, there was enough snow to have a little fight. We finished off our day at one of our other favorite places, as if we weren't already cold enough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Tomorrow I'm Mommy, Tonight I'm Me

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in..."Graham Greene

If I had been a child, this past Saturday evening would have been my moment. The Milwaukee Symphony performed the music of Rachmaninoff with guest pianist Joyce Yang. (She's from South Korea, and you know how we love South Korea around here!) She played Concerto No. 2 in Cminor, and she took my breath away.

Click here to listen to her perform Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 in Sydney Australia.

If I had seen Ms. Yang perform when I was a child, I feel certain the trajectory of my life would have been forever changed.

Oh well, since I can't make music like that, I'm thankful to our dear friends Brian and Linda who made the lovely evening possible.

Thanks guys!

For those who don't get out much (me!), here's a recap of the best evening I've had a long while.

We started the evening off with a little taste of Ireland at Milwaukee's County Clare.

First we tried the Irish Battered Sausages with curry sauce and the Brown Bread and Bleu Cheese Dumplings with creamy Gorganzola Sauce and crispy Sweet Potato fries. Then we dipped four spoons into the Root Soup which was a smooth puree of Sweet Potato, Carrots and Leeks topped with a perfect cream Shamrock. (Next time we might not share!)

When it came time for our entrees, nothing says Ireland more than Shepherd's Pie and Corned Beef and Cabbage, which is what Ken and I had for dinner. But the absolute best part of the evening (aside form Ms. Yang's performance and the taxi ride we took to the PAC when Brian locked his keys in the car) was the perfect bite of Pumpkin Creme Brulee we had at the end of the meal. (OK, I may have taken three or four bites, but I wanted to lick the plate. I came to my senses just in time!) I don't get out much! (Did I say that already? At one point while I was looking at the menu, Ken asked if I wanted them to order some chicken strips and French fries just so I would feel at home.)

We headed over to the PAC where we sat spellbound for an entire evening of beautiful music (no "Brady Bunch" theme song or Thomas the Tank Engine music playing in the background).

I didn't have to yell at someone to pratice their piano or grade a single paper or cook a single meal. It was a true grown-up evening. I've forgotten what that is like.

After four standing ovations, Ms. Yang closed out the evening with an encore of Chopin's "My Joys." It was like a little lullaby, and it was the perfect ending to a perfect night!

Click here to hear that beautiful piece!

~ When Nothing Seems to Stick

We start the day out as we try to do most days, reading words that are living and active and relevant. And then we recite our verses for the week. This week’s daily bread is from I Corinthians 13, and we go about setting it to memory. We’ve talked about what it means to be a resounding gong and a clanging symbol – just filling space with noise. We’ve discussed what it means to be able to fathom mysteries and knowledge and possess incredible faith. And today, I try to explain what it means to give everything we have to the poor and to surrender our bodies to the flames. So much is meaningless if there isn’t love to back it up! Nothing we do means anything if we don’t love people.

We read the words three times, and I am amazed at how the words spill out of my mouth without looking (the result of hours spent Bible quizzing as a child). Then I hold up our little cheat sheet, and each boy fills in the verses from memory. We finish by seeing who can add today’s verse to those we’ve learned so far. The hands fly into the air as each one begs to be the first to prove he knows it. Then we review all the passages we’ve learned so far this year about the kind of character we want to have: verses about being alert and guarding our hearts (Proverbs 4:20-23), about being generous people (2 Corinthians 9:6-8), about being content (Philippians 4:11-13), and about living innocent lives (Philippians 1:20) and more.

We continue our day. One struggles with Algebra, another has trouble with math (fractions), and when we get to grammar, one acts like he doesn’t remember anything he’s learned in the last year-and-a-half. I sit there wanting to pull out my hair, and in my heart I think, “Is anything I’m teaching making a difference? Are they retaining anything they’re learning?” (I know! Every teacher has those moments!) I am full of self-doubt and discouragement until I remember the words of Isaiah 55:10-11.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

There are some things that are making a difference. They may not remember how to simplify fractions or diagram a sentence. They may forget from day to day how to solve equations. But every life word that they committ to memory is sharper than any double-edged sword and penetrates to their very heart. They may forget them for a time, but the words are shaping and molding in them a character that will bear up during the storms of life, a character that will help them stand firm when no one is looking.

I may not be the best teacher, but the best Teacher is preparing them for a glorious future. His words are watering the soil. His words will bring that seed to bud and flourish and bear fruit. His word is accomplishing in their lives what He has determined is His purpose.

Quite frankly, that just takes some of the pressure off!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

For an effective memory aid to help you commit His word to your heart, click here. Just type your verses in the first block and hit convert. It will remove all the letters except the first of every word. Somehow, it tricks your brain and it works! We love it!

Want to ponder the words of I Corinthians 13, download this e-chart.

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping your 2012 is full of joyful moments with those you love and an extreme committment to a radical faith in Christ!

Here are some of our favorite family photos from 2011.