but I am not sure for what. Marc and I were talking yesterday and realized we are both homesick. I couldn't even admit it without tearing up. I know most people think we are brave living so far from home and family. Maybe we are, most days, but some days, you just want what is familiar. I realized this is probably why I have been so BAH-HUMBUG about the holidays. (That and Marc has to leave again for all of January on Sunday.)
As I have thought about what exactly we are homesick for, I am not quite sure. I know we miss things like Sonic size drinks, drinks with ice, drive-thrus, tasty food, well organized roads and highways, being able to call people when you want without having to worry about time zones, and countless other things that made our lives easier in the USA. I know we miss these things, but I don't think that is what we are really homesick for. I am sure it really boils down to being able to feel connected to those we love. Our friends and families. And yes, I think that ultimately, we are homesick for our connection with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
I think that at this new start time of year, I am going to try and reconnect better with those relationships that really bring peace into our lives and meaning to our days....
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Marc loves to tell a story about when his brother Joseph was in high school. Joseph went to visit a friend and the father of that friend was hanging Christmas lights. Apparently annoyed, Joseph wished the man a "Merry Christmas!" The man's reply was "Merry Christmas. I am spreading Christmas frickin' Cheer. Merry Frickin' Christmas!" I think it is a funny story, mostly because I can picture it. I realize that there are traditions and customs that we follow at Christmas time. I think we can let the carrying out of those traditions rob from the original purpose of those traditions.
During a holiday dedicated to the most charitable person in all of mankind, our Savior Himself, should we be running around so crazy that we are too tired or stressed to be courteous to our fellow man, or worse, our own family?! Do you think he would want us to take the next six months paying off the "Joys of the Holidays" because we couldn't just simplify. Why do we feel the need to overcomplicate things?
Christmas really is a simple holiday, even if you do include Santa. We celebrate the "birthday of Jesus" as Sergio likes to say. We give gifts because "Heavenly Father gives us gifts" answers Giovanni. The whole point of this holiday is to celebrate the greatest love of all time. To remember that if it weren't for Jesus Christ, we would have no purpose and no hope.
After we put the boys to bed tonight, both boys suddenly called out for us. I just assumed it was the first of many on such an exciting night. They just wanted to remind us to put out the plate of cookies for Santa, and to not forget the carrot for the reindeer. I sadly told them that I didn't have a carrot, but could put out extra cookies. Giovanni, after thinking a bit, said, "You can put an apple. Horses like apples, I bet reindeer do too." I thought that was smart and started to close the door, Giovanni again called out that I should include a note to Santa. I was a bit annoyed because he has already made a couple of lists and I was beginning to worry that he had missed the point of the holiday. He then told me that I needed to write a thank you note to Santa to thank him for coming and bringing us our nice presents.
I was so relieved. That is really what this season is about, especially if you count Thanksgiving. We have a great opportunity to be grateful. To remember all of our blessings and truly thank God for them.
So Merry Frickin' Christmas. I hope it was simple and peaceful...
During a holiday dedicated to the most charitable person in all of mankind, our Savior Himself, should we be running around so crazy that we are too tired or stressed to be courteous to our fellow man, or worse, our own family?! Do you think he would want us to take the next six months paying off the "Joys of the Holidays" because we couldn't just simplify. Why do we feel the need to overcomplicate things?
Christmas really is a simple holiday, even if you do include Santa. We celebrate the "birthday of Jesus" as Sergio likes to say. We give gifts because "Heavenly Father gives us gifts" answers Giovanni. The whole point of this holiday is to celebrate the greatest love of all time. To remember that if it weren't for Jesus Christ, we would have no purpose and no hope.
After we put the boys to bed tonight, both boys suddenly called out for us. I just assumed it was the first of many on such an exciting night. They just wanted to remind us to put out the plate of cookies for Santa, and to not forget the carrot for the reindeer. I sadly told them that I didn't have a carrot, but could put out extra cookies. Giovanni, after thinking a bit, said, "You can put an apple. Horses like apples, I bet reindeer do too." I thought that was smart and started to close the door, Giovanni again called out that I should include a note to Santa. I was a bit annoyed because he has already made a couple of lists and I was beginning to worry that he had missed the point of the holiday. He then told me that I needed to write a thank you note to Santa to thank him for coming and bringing us our nice presents.
I was so relieved. That is really what this season is about, especially if you count Thanksgiving. We have a great opportunity to be grateful. To remember all of our blessings and truly thank God for them.
So Merry Frickin' Christmas. I hope it was simple and peaceful...
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
School pictures 2009
England has a couple of traditions that I really like. I LOVE that my kids go to school in uniforms. It really saves on the fights in the mornings and I like that all kids, no matter their economic status have the same clothes. I also like that they take sibling pics at school. I know that both boys are really chees-ing it up in these pics, but don't we all have a school pic like this in our albums?!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
They don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in England. Why would they celebrate the pilgrims leaving?! I am sure they have some sort of "celebrate the harvest" holiday, but not that I have noticed. As soon as the Halloween decorations are down, Christmas goes up. I love Christmas, but I am grateful for Thanksgiving. I think we all need a holiday to help us to stop and really think about what we are thankful for. I also like, that for the most part, Thanksgiving is a giftless, dedicated to food (and Marc would add football), family and friends get together. I like that. It is hard to over commercialize Thanksgiving.
Marc and I were sitting on the couch last night and I asked him what he was thankful for this year. He said he was thankful to be home for thanksgiving (he missed two in a row in Iraq). I told him that is what he said last year, he said it is still top on his list.
I sat and thought for a minute and I said that I was thankful for Marc. Not because he is such a great husband and father, which he is. I am thankful for Marc because I am lucky to have a daily reminder that there really are people in the world who are willing to risk EVERYTHING for freedom. He will forever be changed by what he lived and saw in Iraq. I may never know just what because he still cannot talk about some of it, but I can see in his eyes the change. He knows what is worth fighting for and what is not anymore.
So, this year, as I go over to his boss' house for turkey and all the fixin's, I will sit with just a few of the soldiers that have allowed me my life of freedom. It really is the soldier that allows us freedom of religion and freedom of speech. This year, in a selfish world, I am thankful for all people who put their own needs behind the greater good...wasn't that what the pilgrims left for in the first place?!
Marc and I were sitting on the couch last night and I asked him what he was thankful for this year. He said he was thankful to be home for thanksgiving (he missed two in a row in Iraq). I told him that is what he said last year, he said it is still top on his list.
I sat and thought for a minute and I said that I was thankful for Marc. Not because he is such a great husband and father, which he is. I am thankful for Marc because I am lucky to have a daily reminder that there really are people in the world who are willing to risk EVERYTHING for freedom. He will forever be changed by what he lived and saw in Iraq. I may never know just what because he still cannot talk about some of it, but I can see in his eyes the change. He knows what is worth fighting for and what is not anymore.
So, this year, as I go over to his boss' house for turkey and all the fixin's, I will sit with just a few of the soldiers that have allowed me my life of freedom. It really is the soldier that allows us freedom of religion and freedom of speech. This year, in a selfish world, I am thankful for all people who put their own needs behind the greater good...wasn't that what the pilgrims left for in the first place?!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Vacation PT2
Here is the second set of pictures. There are none of our London trip. Marc and I are both BAD at remembering to take photos.
Vacation PT1
My parents were here for two weeks. I have to say, this is probably the best vacation we have ever had with my parents. My mom and I didn't have one fight. We went to the ocean and did a couple of carnival rides on the boardwalk. Giovanni had about three birthday parties by the end. My dad was bound and determined to build a lego plane from pieces scattered in five different bins. My mom found some long lost, and long dead, ancestors and got to visit their graves. Marc and I got a two day, kid free, vacation to London. It was an all around great trip. YAY!!
PROJECTS
Leave it to my mom to actually get pics of some of my projects. I painted two old dressers for the boys. I spray painted the handles bright red. I had to rearrange their whole room to get the dressers to fit. Now, I think I might steal them for the nursery and think of something else for the boys. The last pic is of my latest project. Originally it was for the boys too, but I think I will make it Marc's dresser. We could all use more storage here. England has a closet shortage.
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