Category Archives: Holidays

Grandparents, Holidays

Happy Easter

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After a beautiful (early) Easter service at church, we piled into the van and set off for the Duckabush. Time to spend the day with Tim’s parents. Such a treat for us! Family time, delicious food and literally NO WORK for me as Tim’s mom did all the prep work and cooking. Yum!

Can you say SPOILED!

I’m so SPOILED! Thank you, G’ma, for doing ALL the cooking!

We had a wonderful family lunch with lamb and hot cross buns, a huge salad and a platter piled high of vegetables.

First they work, and then they nap!

First they work, and then they nap!

The girls helped Grandma with lunch while David set the table and provided some dinner music.

Thank you, David. The table looks good!

Thank you, David. The table looks good!

Play on, David!

Play on, David!

Who would like some lamb?

Who would like some lamb?

After lunch we relaxed. Daniel picked out a sad movie for us to watch. I think I fell asleep on the couch at one point. Tim helped his dad with computer work. It was a perfect way to end the Easter weekend. That evening we gathered with some other friends and celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection with a mini-drama and Easter hymn singalong.

Daniel starred as Thaddeus and David as Cleopas.

Daniel starred as Thaddeus and David as Cleopas.

On the Road to Emmaus, the boys (aka Thaddeus and Cleopas) met Jesus (played by Tim).

Tim has the beard, that pretty much qualified him to play Jesus in our drama.

Tim has the beard, that pretty much qualified him to play Jesus in our drama.

In between acts we sang Easter hymns. Some I knew (Christ the Lord is Risen Today, There is a Redeemer, Crown Him with Many Crowns) and several I didn’t (Only Believe, Jesus the Very Thought of Thee, and I Gave My Life for Thee). Obviously I have not been spending enough time listening to traditional hymns.

Dessert time!

Dessert time!

Sarah, Rachel LOVE seeing Tirzah and Sharon!

Sarah, Rachel LOVE seeing Tirzah and Sharon!

Afterwards we celebrated with more delicious treats and some time with friends. It was a nice break from the busyness of life and a chance to reflect on the wonder of Christ’s gift to us – conquering death and offering us LIFE FOREVER!

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Holidays, Parenting, Tim

Best Valentine Ever

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Strangely enough, this isn’t a post about my Sweetie, who often gives me funny (or sometimes sizzling hot) Valentines. This, in spite of the fact that Kathy celebrated V-Advent this year by hanging little bags of candy and Valentines for each of us in the week before Valentines’ Day.

Kathy left at least a half-dozen bags of nuts and candy for me, as Valentines' Day approached.

Kathy pinned-up at least a half-dozen bags of nuts and candy for me, as Valentines’ Day approached.

Hard as it is to compete with chocolate, I actually think that the best valentine I have received so far was from my youngest daughter, Sarah. I’ll post a picture of it so you can be the judge.

The hearts on the outside of the Valentine were a good sign, I thought.

The hearts on the outside of the Valentine were a good sign, I thought.

One of the problems with being a Dad, is that you often seem to be doomed to failure. You will inevitably make mistakes (some of us make them every day) and you will not always be loving, faithful or wise. Even when you do succeed by any objective standard, you will often be rejected by children who are blinded by their own sin, or misunderstood and resisted by the spouse that you thought was on your side. No, being a Dad is not for the faint of heart.

Sarah got a kick out of Kathy's silly V-Advent messages.

Sarah got a kick out of Kathy’s silly V-Advent messages.

One of my favorite illustrations of this is from the movie, While You Were Sleeping. In the course of the film, we discover that one of the main characters, Jack, does not want to continue in his family’s business, yet he feels trapped, wanting to please his father. Now that his brother has come out of a coma, Jack catches his Dad in a wistful, reflective frame of mind. He senses that it is time to get things out in the open. Sitting down one morning with his Dad, armed with a box of donuts, Jack seizes the moment:

Pop: “You work hard, try to provide for the family, and then for one minute everything’s good. Everyone’s well, everyone’s happy, and in that one minute, you have peace.”

Jack: “Pop … this isn’t that minute.”

Jack goes on to tell his Dad that he wants to quit working for him, but rather seeks to go into business for himself, making rocking chairs.

Rachel seems to become more beautiful, every year!

Rachel seems to become more beautiful, every year!

I often feel like the Dad in the film — this isn’t that minute. It seems like we constantly move from crisis to crisis, battling 18×7 for the hearts of our children against a hostile, worldly culture and other evil forces that want to devour them. But there is a part of me that is desperately weary of the struggle, and really yearns for that minute.

A few days before Valentine’s Day, Sarah came up to see me in my office upstairs, where I work from home several days a week.

“Hey, Dad, I made you a Valentine.” She handed it to me, smiled, and left. Opening it, I got the chance to cherish one of those moments that a Dad lives for.

It seems that Sarah likes me.

It seems that Sarah likes me.

One of the things that Kathy and I have been talking about recently is the hunger that we all seem to have, to be truly known. As the scripture says:

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. — 1 Corinthians 13:12

Sarah hit the nail on the head when she appreciated me for my love of teaching, my generosity and my whimsical silliness, three traits at the very core of who I am. It is delightful to be known and valued and loved as a Dad. Thanks, Sarah, for a great Valentine!

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Daily Life, David, Holidays

Terrific Thirteen

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I must admit, our family really likes to celebrate. I knew when I married Kathy that it was part of the deal — she absolutely loves to start traditions that build our joy as a family. And of course, if you do something twice, it becomes a tradition …

This weekend was no exception. With Valentines’ Day on Friday and David’s 13th birthday on Sunday, it seemed a good time to have a party. Kathy reserved a room at our church and invited a bunch of David’s friends (and their families, who happen to also be our friends), and started making pizzas.

There is nothing quite as tasty as Kathy's homemade pizza ... except maybe another piece of her pizza ...

There is nothing quite as tasty as Kathy’s homemade pizza … except maybe another piece of her pizza …

Kathy’s pizzas are awesome. She called me on the way home from homeschool co-op, to ask my advice.

“Shall we just buy five-dollar pizzas from Little Caesar’s?” she asked.

“Um, your pizza is way better,” I suggested. “Maybe I could help you, and we could make a bunch?” My renown as a sous chef in the kitchen is legendary.

Round up the usual suspects ... and have a Birthday Party!

Round up the usual suspects … and have a Birthday Party!

Kathy’s Nana has a great all-purpose bread recipe called Mesa Manna, which Kathy uses for the pizza crust. Her Mom built on that by adding a mix of italian sausage to her hamburger pizzas, which is a real crowd-pleaser. Adding to that pizza-making heritage, we use barbecue sauce and make Hawaiian pizzas (ham and pineapple) which are usually the first to be eaten.

For the party itself, we came up with the idea of Olympic games, since the Winter Olympics are going on in Sochi now. Three of the games made the cut: Speed skating, curling, and bobsledding.

Sarah, the bobsledding champion from Great Britain's Winter Olympic team.

Sarah, the bobsledding champion from Great Britain’s Winter Olympic team.

It was a little tricky to simulate these events in our church fellowship hall, but we managed. We awarded gold, silver and bronze medals for the winners of each event, with prizes for everyone who participated.

Personally, I prefer Oreos, Reeses' cups, and M&M's, but there are some who enjoy the gummi bears.

Personally, I prefer Oreos, Reeses’ cups, and M&M’s, but there are some who enjoy the gummi bears.

Ice cream sundaes rounded out any calories that were lacking from the pizza lunch, with toppings galore for every possible appetite. David opened his presents and was generally celebrated in high style by our many gracious friends.

David and his birthday posse.

David and his birthday posse.

When Daniel turned thirteen, Rachel and Joshua told him that thirteen was actually just a practice year before becoming an actual teenager. He is a trusting soul, and spent the year correcting friends who thought otherwise. Lately, I’ve been hearing them tell David the same thing. With the word ‘teenager’ having such a negative connotation in our society, I’m hesitant to call him by that label, lest I ruin all their earnest effort.

Teenager or not, I’m so very thankful for David William, born just after midnight, in the middle of a snowstorm, thirteen years ago. Thank you, Lord, for adding him to our family!

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Holidays, Tim

A Christmas Fit for a King

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Christmas in our house is always a big deal — we all look forward to it with a tremendous amount of enjoyment. Kathy and I both like to give gifts, and several of our kids really like to receive them, so it is a win/win situation.

It is almost time to take the tree down. I try to hold off until Valentines Day, but eventually even I must agree that the season has passed. Still, it is fun to reflect on a few of the highlights.

Kathy bought each of us our own new Christmas pajamas to celebrate the birth of our Lord.

Kathy bought each of us our own new Christmas pajamas to celebrate the birth of our Lord.

This year my main gift from the family was a new chair for my computer desk. My old chair had become sadly cracked and worn, and so they tracked down a new chair for me — one that helped to accentuate my kingly authority and dignity.

It doesn't get much more kingly and dignified than this.

It doesn’t get much more kingly and dignified than this. If Jesus physically visits our house, I will definitely let Him sit in this chair.

The chair is just the perfect height for my desk, and I must admit, I feel quite important when I sit in it. It has wheels so I can easily push back from the desk if I need a little more leg room, and the arms of the chair support my elbows nicely when I need to ponder.

I let Joshua kiss my regal ring -- he always was one to curry favor.

I let Joshua kiss my regal ring — he always was one to curry favor.

One of our Christmas traditions is to open stockings, and then gather for a Christmas breakfast before moving on to the presents under the tree. Kathy usually makes us a delicious egg caserole of some kind — it is one of the highlights of the day.

It was very nice to have Joshua home with us for a few weeks, before he rushed back to school for January Term.

It was very nice to have Joshua home with us for a few weeks, before he rushed back to school for January Term.

Every year I tell myself, “Try to slow down and pay more attention to the magic of the season,” and every year the Christmas holiday is gone almost before I look up from the wrapping. It kind of makes you wonder what Christmas in Heaven will be like … ?

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A Dream Fulfilled

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In some ways, I am a very simple man. And some of my aspirations are pretty straightforward, too. One of my prosaic dreams has always been to have a wood stove or fireplace in my home.

Some friends or relatives who have been to my home might remark: “Um, Tim, you have a fireplace.”

This is technically true — we do have a gas fireplace in the family room. But it fell into disuse and I suspect some animals have blocked the chimney — it has been years since we were able to use it. The last time we tried (during an extended power outage) it filled the whole house with an unpleasant oily smell. Even back in the day when the fireplace did work, it wasn’t very warm — seemed like most of the heat went straight up the chimney.

This year marked the culmination of years of doing absolutely nothing in my pursuit of this dream, yet somehow I have achieved it. It all started in the days after Thanksgiving, when I began to troll the pages of Amazon.com for their Cyber Monday deals.

I was happily scrolling through dozens of things I suddenly ‘needed’ (yet had never before known existed) when I saw it: a cute little electric stove. It was marked down about 40%, and I with a click of the mouse, it was shipped to my home! (Amazon’s Prime shipping and one-click shopping is WAY too easy.)

A man and his stove are not easily parted.

A man and his fake electric stove are not easily parted.

As it happened, I was home alone on the day the large, indiscreet Duraflame box was delivered, so I secreted it away in the garage behind rows of bins and random furniture, intending for it to be rolled out on Christmas morning.

Sadly, I am not as young as I once was, and my memory is far from perfect. Christmas came, and Christmas went, and I forgot all about my little treasure.

About a week ago, on the eve of Rachel’s rescheduled birthday party, I suddenly remembered it. Rescuing it from garage oblivion, I installed it happily in our living room, where it fights valiantly against the moaning of the wind and the loss of heat through our poorly-insulated windows. Finding one more Christmas present so long after the holidays proved to be a cheerful respite from January blues.

Now we tend to sit in the living room staring at the fake little electric ‘flames’ and feeling the warm air pour out from the fan at the bottom of the heater … it is a perfect size and capacity for our room, and lends our home a warm, inviting ambience.

Now if I can just remember where I put some of the other presents I bought …

Tim

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