Birthday on the fly

Wyatt is fifteen!  Give me just a second to wrap my head around that one.

We returned this year to celebrating a week early so as to put some distance between Wyatt's birthday and Christmas.  There's no way to win this battle of when to celebrate. Last year we celebrated on his birthday. Most of my side of the family missed it because they all work in an industry that is busiest at this time of year and requires seven day work weeks.  However, this year Savannah missed it because she was still away at school, and she was not happy about that. It was impossible to celebrate on Wyatt's actual birthday because he had three finals the following day - including his two hardest ones.  It has been mentioned that we should celebrate when the family gets together for Christmas Eve, but that hardly seems fair to the other side of the family or to Wyatt.

All that to say that time got away from us, and we literally pulled together Wyatt's birthday celebration two days before it happened.  We keep birthdays simple, so it was not hard to do that.  He had a great time, but before the guests all left, he was studying.  I am so proud of how hard he works in school.

So what does 15 look like for Wyatt?

His only gift requests were for a Google Play card and a Nintendo Switch.  Even with a combined budget for his birthday and Christmas, the Switch is out of reach.  We are trying to figure out if we can make that happen if we stick with small gifts and then try help him save for the system with Christmas and birthday money he receives.  I still owe him $100 that was supposed to be for last year's birthday.  That's what Dad would have given him, and since he died just weeks before Wyatt's birthday, my siblings and I agreed that the two grandkids with birthdays close to Dad's death date should still get the gifts he would have given.  I just haven't had it to give him yet, so that's one very delayed gift.  Andy and I disagree on that one as he thinks Wyatt's fine, and it is unnecessary. I agree that Wyatt is fine without it, but I think it would bring honor to dad to do it, so as soon as things ease up financially, I will give it to Wyatt.  If I die before that happens, obviously Wyatt won't be getting it :)

Wyatt worked hard for his finals.  On his actual birthday, I told him to plan his studying so that he could go out to dinner for some traditional Chinese food. Even so, he was too stressed that day, so we had to postpone our plans. 

Wyatt still loves Minecraft and spends ample time doing it.  He's enjoying his high school C-group and despite himself he enjoyed cross country this fall.  Wyatt was very anxious to join the track team but now seems hesitant.  I think a friend had planned on joining and said friend may be reconsidering now because of other sports.  Track will also be interrupted by Wyatt's upcoming surgery, so there is that to consider as we don't know how long full recuperation will take for his hip.  Hopefully, that surgery hurdle is is biggest one in the coming year.  I have already warned him that he will be taking his permit test next year on Christmas break because I need another driver :)  

We are crazy about this guy!  It's so hard to believe that this is the year that he will celebrate 10 years of being a part of his forever family.  

Making Memories- a funny one

Savannah and Julia went shopping yesterday.  I needed them to pick up something while they were out, so they had my debit card.  Julia called to ask if she could buy a jacket at a discount store similar to a TJ MAXX.  I quizzed her on the need for said jacket and then told her to call her dad and ask him.  Julia needs a coat.  It was in the twenties here last weekend, and she went shopping with Zach wearing nothing more than a flannel shirt over a t-shirt.  She came home freezing. However, she does not like anything bulky, and every option we've shown her has been vetoed.  I know her well enough to know that she won't wear something just because we buy it, so we've been in this stand off about a coat. We finally bought a North Face type jacket, but it is not something that will keep you warm when the temperature dips to the twenties and below.  Anyway, the jacket she wanted was a Nike athletic jacket.  From the description on the phone, it did not sound very warm (Andy had told Julia that if we could find a thin, lined athletic jacket with a  temp rating for single digits, he would let her get that instead of a coat). Julia begged, saying it could be a Christmas gift. Andy conceded, and they used my debit card to make the purchase.  The jacket is a thin one that I can't see keeping anyone warm, but she's thrilled with it.

Last night Julia brought the jacket to me so it could be wrapped for Christmas. Then she proceeded to wrap it herself and told us she's pretty sure she can forget what that is between now and Christmas --  in 8 days? She cracks me up!

Julia went ice skating with friends last night.  We are experiencing lots of firsts with her.  She always ice skates with friends over Christmas break, but the moms always stay and chat.  This time no mom stayed. It was her first awkward middle school experience where she was approached by a stranger who said, "my friend thinks you are pretty, what do you think of him?'  Julia was at a total loss about what to do in the situation, and listening to her tell the the story is hilarious.  I am just so glad she was not mean.  No numbers were exchanged, and that attempt to meet someone new did not work out this time for this guy.

Making Memories

I have to write things down to remember them.  That means every appointment has to go on the calendar even if it's highly unlikely I would forget.  It also means that every memory has to be recorded, so for those of you visiting, these two things about which I am writing today are important to me but may not be so to others.

1.  Our church handed out advent devotional books for the Christmas season this year.  Andy works through the devotions with Wyatt and Julia on their way to school (hey, you have to squeeze these things in where you can in a busy household). Each devotional includes a Bible reading, a commentary and a task, and each week has a theme.  One day the task was to make a list of things for which you are thankful.  Andy and the kids did this out loud in the car, and Andy was touched that Wyatt's list included adoption.

2. As mentioned before on the blog Savannah changed her major to architecture this year.  God has been so good to provide her with some breadcrumbs to assure her she's on the right path.  The latest came last week after she did her project review for the semester.  Savannah ran into two of her professors who shared that the director of the college of architecture, who sat in on the reviews for Savannah's class, mentioned her specifically and stated that he's anxious to watch her and see if she lives up to the her potential. Her God-given potential - I would add.


As is typical for really good news, there's always some bittersweet in life.  We are watching our neighbors live out their faith as their four-year-old daughter fights cancer.  Some of our sweetest friends, a truly amazing couple, are grieving right now as the wife has been completely healed and is in the presence of Jesus this week.  I am so sick right now that I could not even get up to see Savannah yesterday when she got home and drug myself out of bed this morning because this is a funeral I cannot miss.  Jackie planned it herself, and she desired to leave a legacy of giving which is exactly how she lived her life. The visitation last night was precious.  They had Christmas trees filled with ornaments tagged with various ministries they supported.  Visitors were instructed to take an ornament and give in Jackie's name to the ministry on the tag.  That's how they lived. I know you can't outgive God, but Jackie and Mark sure tried!  This was truly a couple who made each other better people, and many lives will now have a huge hole in them without our sweet Jackie.

Hug your people.  Love out loud. Give generously. Merry Christmas!

Observations on trimming the tree

Trimming the tree thus far has been a three day process this year.  Other than the fact that Andy helped choose it and set it up, it has been a solo process, so here are my thoughts as I string lights, ribbon, and hang only a handful of ornaments (literally few ornaments adorn the tree, and it still awaits a tree skirt)

1. Last year was so different.  I had little to nothing to do with decorating the house.  This year we are back to normal where the majority of the effort resides on me.

2. Last year was overwhelming and different, and I was sort of braced for the holiday ahead.  This year, other than decorating and an initial impulse to shop, I can't seem to motivate myself to get to the shopping.

3. Last year the loss was fresh and raw but not all of the loss seemed permanent.  This year it's very permanent, and holidays and family celebrations are forever altered.  I've heard that it's hardest the second Christmas because you busy yourself so much for the first one.  The second one is the one where you have to determine the new normal.  Last year I did not realize I had lost twice, now I know.

4. While stringing lights, this amusing thought occurred to me.  I remember many years ago when my sister Tiffany mentioned that Dad had given her a hard time about her ribbon garland for her tree.  "Who does that?!" seemed to be his attitude.  The irony -- I had been using ribbon garland on my tree, and he never seemed to note it as an oddity.  That man never held back, so if he found it strange, he would have told me.

5. Our space has changed. The inheritance of some furniture has caused us to rearrange some rooms in our house including the one where we typically have our tree.  We had to look for a tree that was not so full as a result.  It's growing on me now, but oh how pitiful I found that tree to be when I first started trimming it!  I kept telling myself there's nothing wrong with a Charlie Brown Christmas.  After all Linus had it right when he recited the true meaning of Christmas.  The tree is still concerning as it did not drink up the water on the first day as our trees of the past have done, so hopefully it makes it to Christmas.  I usually start putting everything away on New Year's Day.  I think our tree will have to go earlier this year.  That's unfortunate since we got it up later this year.

6. It's an oddity this year that I am more concerned with outdoor decorations than indoor.  I think I enjoy them more as I come and go throughout the holidays. We've never had outdoor lights, so we added some solar lights along the sidewalk this year.  It never occurred to me before that I have a perfect place to string garland with our iron hand railing.  I tried it this year and am pleased with the result.

7. I might be allergic to the tree - lots of sneezing while stringing lights -YIKES!

That's all my random thoughts for now.  I think I have some ornaments to hang.

I added some ornaments and the tree skirt after typing this post. This is a sad tree, but we will either look back on it with endearment or laughter.  Making memories here!

The Challenge - Day 7

Today's Winner



I was not up to the challenge on this day.  It was a day with some not so great surprises and my first day back at work after the holiday.  

Challenge Day 6

Today's winner! I gave up challenging others, but I am still having fun.  Just one more day, and I am sick so...

Challenge -Day 5