Merry Christmas!

Here's a quick reflection of the joy we've experienced this Christmas season.  As we've celebrated the light of Christ in our world, we've continued many annual traditions that are near and dear to our family.  In the above picture we are at one of our favorite Christmas spots -- The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach.  The lights were amazing, and the girls enjoyed the petting zoo, pony rides, storytelling, and of course, the talking Christmas Tree.  Our favorite is the life-size nativity scene in the middle of the camp with the Hallelujah chorus playing.  

Another favorite activity is afternoon tea at the Queen Mary in Seattle.  This year I dined with two princesses (complete with tiaras) and my mom.  It is delightful to be there this time of year ... the food is amazing and the holiday decorations abound.  

Yet another family favorite is an evening downtown, visiting the carousel and riding a horse-drawn carriage through the Seattle, looking its Christmas best.  We do this every year with the same friends and it has become something to which we all look forward.

Other activities this year included visiting the Governor's Mansion in Olympia as it was all dressed up for the holidays, taking the monorail into downtown to see the Gingerbread villages at the Sheraton, going to the Nutcracker ballet, a day of ski lessons on the mountain for the kids and dad, and participating in our church Christmas concert.  We still hope to go ice skating at Seattle Center, make gingerbread houses, and visit Candy Cane Lane.  

This has been a truly blessed holiday season for our family.  As we await the arrival of our new little one, we also sit in the anticipation of advent.  Our hope is that we will catch a glimpse of God With Us this season.  

From the Lips of Children

Sometimes my kids really blow me away.   Mostly it happens when I'm least expecting it and I get to see a glimpse of their beautiful hearts.  I got to experience this thrill last week with Madeline and her friend Isaac.  They were at our house diligently working on a secret craft project.  Turns out, they had created several beautiful colorful drawings, and put prices on the top.  (i.e., "Winter Scene, $1.00", etc.)  They were so proud to show off their gallery and quickly determined that they wanted to take their pictures to the local park to sell them.  Isaac's mom, Cynthia, and I asked questions about what they were hoping to accomplish by selling their creations.  After deliberating for a few moments, our kids returned with their plan -- they wanted to earn money to give to New Horizons, a ministry to homeless youth that had recently been robbed.  They wanted to help replace some of the bus tickets and other goods that had been stolen.  I loved the idea, but remained cautious.  I couldn't imagine that anyone at the park would actually respond to them as they expected.  Nevertheless, Cynthia and I decided to make it a learning moment, and we took them to the park.  We were clear that this was their project, so they would have to talk to their customers and explain the vision.  


Well, those kids blew my socks off.  They boldly walked up to every parent at the park and explained the situation at New Horizons, stated that they were earning money to give to the ministry, and politely asked if he or she would be interested in buying an original piece of art to contribute.  Watching the parents (and sometimes their kids) respond brought tears to my eyes.  Everyone at the park was touched in some way by this small gesture.  People were emptying pockets, running home for spare change, and lighting up at the opportunity to give.  Madeline and Isaac ended up selling all their art work for over $10.00.  They inspired us all that day to bring the love of Christ into unexpected places, and to make a difference right where we are.  My daughter was supposed to learn something from this experience, but in the end I was the one that received the teaching.  

"When's the next piano competition, mom?"

This weekend Madeline and I took an overnight trip to Ellensburg so that she could compete in a piano Sonatina competition.  It was great fun to have some special one-on-one time with my eldest, and a road trip suits us both very well.  We spent the time in the car chatting, singing, and listening to music.  We spent the time in the hotel snuggling together in the  big king-sized bed.  And we spent the morning awaiting her turn to play and the results of her performance.  Her piano teacher, Marissa, made the trip to practice with Madeline and five other students who were participating, all at various levels.  Madeline is six and was competing in Level I.  I watched this sweet child as nervousness gave way to confidence after she spent an hour practicing with Marissa.  Her eyes blazed as the music entered her heart until she finally said, "Mom, I can't wait to perform it!"


She performed for a judge behind closed doors (neither mommy nor Marissa were allowed in the room), and she walked out beaming a huge smile, very proud that the months of hard work and daily practicing had paid off.  When the results were announced, Madeline had achieved 3rd place, granting her a medal that she has worn around her neck with honor every day since.  During the 2-hour drive home that afternoon she said,  "When's the next piano competition, mom?  I loved it!  Next time I want to do even better!"  My assurances of her worth in my eyes and my insistence that it didn't matter what place she attained as long as she was proud of herself all fell on deaf ears.  She clearly set a goal for herself that day, and has been on cloud 9 at the thought of accomplishing it ever since.  This is when being a parent is such a gift ... to watch the passion swell up inside your child and encourage her to follow that dream.  It's not always as straight-forward, and I'm sure Madeline's life and passions will take a windy road, but I'm celebrating her tenacity today.  And, I am so proud.

For the Love of Learning

Our Week in Phoenicia

This week we found ourselves on the shores of a new ancient land.  By way of background, we began the our homeschool history journey a few months ago in the most ancient of places ... starting out with the first nomadic peoples found in Mesopotamia, we have now traveled through ancient China, India, Africa, and finally Egypt.  We left Egypt with the Israelites and studied their move into Canaan.  Now here we are, leaping into the land of the little-known neighbors to the north of Israel.  The Phoenicians were famous for their glass work and purple dye, which was created from smelly sea snails and used to make rich linens fit for kings in neighboring countries.  They were a seafairing people, who ultimately may have been the first people group to have circumnavigated Africa. 

Our week was filled with exciting adventures as we read Virgil's legend about Queen Dido leaving the shores of Phoenicia and sailing to northern Africa where she established a new city called Carthage.  There, she met Aeneas who sadly broke her heart and left her to conquer Rome.  My youngest daugther (the "feeler") couldn't get enough of this story -- the triumph and the tragedy seem to excite her very bones.  My eldest daughter (the "thinker") couldn't wait to be done with the story, it being a challenge for her to separate the literal from the figurative.  She was instead excited by the tangible -- the geography and the archeology.

Ah, the joys of homeschooling.  Where one child is fascinated, the other is bored.  However, so far we have found enough ways to make each week of history study fun enough for both, in their own way.  This is what I love about it.  We have utilized so many different tools in studying history that there is plenty of love for learning to go around.  We finished the week with a craft project -- making our own dye with food coloring, we dyed penne noodles and made them into jewelry (as modeled above).  Although they enjoyed it immensely, both girls were adament they would not have wanted to be children in Phoenicia, working hard in the family business of making purple dye.  At least that's one thing upon which both can agree!

It's a Girl!

Yes, we are pleased to announce that another girl will be joining our family in March!  The ultrasound yesterday showed a healthy baby girl, due March 24.  Madeline and Michaela are over the moon about having a baby sister in the house, and they are the sweetest caretakers for a mommy who is been more tired than usual.  Jon jokes that baby sister will have three mothers to care for her.  Although we may soon need another bathroom, daughters are a blessing, and we feel so grateful to have a house full of them. 

Some very well-meaning people ask Jon occassionally how he feels about being the only male in the house.  Does he want a son?  Oh, how I wish those folks could see the complete adoration he receives in this house.  He is the recipient of daily buttefly kisses and bear hugs. He dances with pricesses in their royal garb who can't imagine dancing with any other prince but him.  In our humble castle, he is the strongest, smartest, funniest guy on earth.  Who wouldn't want to come home from a long day of slaying dragons to be met with such attention?  He is a lucky man indeed.

Fall fun

Favorite Fall Adventures

The Farm.  This weekend we went to one of our favorite fall spots. "The Farm" is just north of Seattle and provides impressive options for fun outdoor activities.  We saw farm animals, including a trained 3 Little Pigs show.  We found our way through a hay maze, exiting out through a gigantic slide.  We wheelbarrowed through several acres of pumpkin patches, finally arriving on the two most perfect pumpkins (see picture above).  And we carefully hiked our way from Spokane to the Puget Sound through an enormous corn maze in the shape of Washington state.  It was great fun for all, and this year the weather was gorgeous.

Leaf Jumping.  Now that the leaves have turned to gold and crimson they are no longer happy to just hang from the trees.  Instead they slowly float down to the ground with the hopes of being thrown in the air by two giddy girls who love to adorn their hair and clothes with them after romping and rolling for hours.  To glace at the faces of the girls, who can blame the leaves for wanting to partake?

Fall Treats.  Let's face it.  It's all about the pie -- pumpkin pie and apple pie being our family favorites.  Also our famous cinnamon baked pumpkin seeds are worth mentioning.  Fall also brings with it the desire for homemade soups.  So far this year we have made potato barley stew, fall veggie with tortellini soup, and clam chowder.  Apple cider with cinnamon sticks completes the list.

Our Story

As is the case with most of my endeavors, I'm several years too late. I'm finally adding "Blogger" to my resume just when it's becoming out of fashion. Nevertheless, since I see no future for myself in tweeting, I've decided I will feebly attempt to join ranks with those who have all sorts of witty things to say about their lives by commencing our first family blog.

First, a word about our family: We LOVE adventure. Ours began 14 years ago when Jonathan and Tiffany tied the knot at the tender age of 22. Seven years, five homes and two graduate degrees later (hers in law, his in business administration), we gave birth to our first amazing gift from God, Madeline. Two years later our second amazing gift, Michaela, followed. Our girls are now six and four. Hopefully in the coming months and years you will come to see that adventure is something we find in almost everything we do. From traveling to beautiful places as a family to reading about wonderful imaginary worlds, we tend to be restless for the bigger story behind it all. God has richly blessed us with a faith that makes our journey through life part of His bigger story.

And so, dear friends and family, we've decided to let you in on the magic of the story as you walk the different legs of the journey by our side. Thanks so much for joining us.