Best Laid Plans

This has been a crazy holiday season. Crazier than most. My son and I are in a community theater production of "A Christmas Carol". Twenty-two performances are scheduled and we are just over half way through. I find myself asking, "What was I thinking?! I try to make this season restful, so why would we audition for a show that runs through Dec. 18?"

For my son. I did this to give my budding, 6-year-old actor a chance to discover live theater. Karsten is thriving! He is good, a natural. And he is having fun. That has made the craziness worthwhile (mostly).

I had hoped to write a blog entry at least once a week during Advent, but it isn't going to happen. So instead, I'm going to post some past Christmas letters. These aren't so much newsy as reflective. My grandfather inspired this writing with his yearly missals that always leave me contemplative and smiling. I'm hoping these letter will do for you what Grandad's have done for me.

Have a joyful, peaceful and hopeful Christmas!

Lessons My Children Have Taught Me This Year

Sweetness and grumpiness do not have to be mutually exclusive (Anni).

The best way to start a day is with 5 to 10 minutes of snuggling (Anni).

Doing a show with your child is very time consuming, but if he is enjoying himself, it’s well worth the effort (Karsten).

My children are more talented than I am.

Spring break is only fun if you get to be with friends and don’t leave off learning something (Karsten).

Being late to school is usually more about my poor planning than their pokiness.

A six-year-old can make beautiful music on the piano even before starting lessons…truly.

Three or four chocolate chips in the morning taste better than at any other time of day.

Gameboys, iPods, iPads, and other small electronics make books seem dull. These devices should be banned from all public gatherings because they foster discontent (Karsten).

Facebook and surfing can be temptations to neglect my children who need me far more than my “friends”.

Communion looks like a snack despite its size (Karsten).

Running laps around the house is good exercise, even though the course is short and little feet are loud. It also wears kids out so they sleep well.

I need to say I’m sorry and really mean it, even if the owie happened by accident. My kids will learn that best if I set a good example.

Some days, I simply need to set my work aside and play with my children.

Listening to an Early Reader read by my son is some of the most enjoyable listening I’ve done of late.

Playdates need to happen much more often.

Little bladders hold a lot of “water”. You realize that most when it’s all over the bathroom floor.

Correctly spoken R’s and L’s are overrated (Anni).

Unsolicited smooches are gifts from God (Anni).