The miracle of Isaac's orchestra concert

This is a long story, but it deserves to be told.  Nearly three years ago, when we first decided that John was supposed to go to business school, one of the things that I was the most sad about was the fact that our kids would be so old by the time we got finished.  It wasn't their age that bothered me, but rather the missed opportunities for them because we would not have money to allow them to participate in sports and even more, music lessons of any kind. 

At the time, Isaac was seven.  We had only been out of school for a year.  We were finally to the point where we could afford some music lessons for Isaac and Avery.  Then came the revelation that we needed to go back to school.  We put off music lessons, because I didn't want to just get started, then have to quit and move six months later, and we were trying to save money for the exorbitant tuition costs.  Well, as luck would have it, John didn't get into business school that year.  So now the kids were going to have to wait even longer.  I was heartbroken.  I felt like this was a worthy desire as a mother, and tearfully expressed this to Heavenly Father more than once. 

The second year we applied, John did get in, so we sold our house, and I moved in with Grandma and Grandpa for the summer, while John finished working in Dallas.   All summer long I looked for a house for us to rent in Chicago.  I prayed hard.  I prayed to know where the best place was for our family to live.  Evanston elementary schools near Kellogg were no good, so it was obvious that we needed to be just north, in Wilmette, which has some of the best schools in the state.   Still, none of the houses for rent in Wilmette felt right.  I felt lost, and prayed for  more guidance. 

The inspiration came to look more closely at the elementary schools.  All of the Wilmette elementary schools ended at 4th grade, then started middle school in 5th grade, which I hated because that meant Isaac would be in 4 different schools in 4 years.   Then one day while I was researching rental homes, I found one elementary school in Glenview, just next to Wilmette, that was in its very own school district.  Its boundaries incorporated parts of Wilmette, and it went up to 5th grade.  When I got on one of the school ranking websites and read some parent reviews of the school, I knew that this was where we were supposed to be.  The school ranked very highly in the state, was a small sized school, and had a wonderful orchestra program, offering free private music lessons to their students once a week, with an additional group lessons once a week.

There were only three houses for rent in the school's boundaries.  The first one turned us down because, even though we had a great credit score, John would be unemployed as a student.  The second home turned us down because we had five children, and instead they rented the home to a couple with three big dogs.  The third and final home decided to rent to us, and I feel like Heavenly Father hand picked it for us.  It is not huge, but big enough.  It has a very small backyard, but at least it is fenced and has a swing set.  It is next to Karen, who has become a dear friend to me.  It has not been perfect (remember the flood), but it has worked.  And, my kids get free music lessons.

Tonight we attended Isaac's orchestra concert.  They played selections from Harry Potter, including Hedwig's song and the Hogwarts theme, and Sleighride.  My heart filled with gratitude while he played.  I was reminded of those nights nearly three years ago, pouring my heart out to Heavenly Father.   And I was reminded once again that the things that are important to us, are important to Him.




Isaac peeking out from the back before the concert.





After the concert, very proud of himself,
and rightly so.
He did wonderfully!



Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

"What a glorious season is this time of Christmas.  Hearts are softened. 
Voices are raised in worship.  Kindness and mercy are re-enthroned as elements in our lives. 
There is an accelerated reaching out to those in distress. 
There is an aura of peace that comes into our homes. 
There is a measure of love that is not felt to the same extent at any other time of year."
-- President Gordon B. Hinckley

This has become our theme for this Christmas season.  I love the feeling that comes into our home during this time of year.  There is excitement and anticipation for the kids.  They are making lists and shaking presents.  But they are not just thinking of themselves, which I love.  They are hoping and wishing and praying for each other, and reminding one another that elves are watching. 



If you look closely at the little pockets, you will notice
that they are all pictures of little cats.  John hates cats.  I didn't
notice when I bought the kit years ago, and he hasn't noticed yet. 
If he does, I may be sending this to one of my friends who is a cat lover
and making a new one.  Here's to hoping that he just doesn't notice.



We have also tried for many years to focus on the true meaning of this wonderful time of year.  We have used various countdown calendars found in the Friend magazine or given to us by the Primary.  This year I decided that we needed something more official (we always do better at following through when things seem formal and planned out).  So I made our own countdown calendar and filled it with scriptures and stories and activities for each day that will hopefully remind us of our Savior more than Santa. 

Some of the activities this week have included our maiden caroling voyage (complete with Isaac and Avery on their violins).  It went pretty well, other than Nathan just standing there, staring at our friend in stage-frightened shock.   Next caroling trip we will be more practiced.   On Monday morning, we read our scripture and then our activity was to serve someone in need.  So that afternoon when the kids came home from school, they pooled together their hard earned allowance (totalling $27.00) and bought a small tinsel Christmas tree and some decorations.  Then we went a delivered it to some friends who didn't have a tree.  It was so good for our kids to be reminded of how blessed they really are. 

A hot segway date

John and I took full advantage of the free babysitting while Grandma and Grandpa Anthony were here over Thanksgiving.  The day before Thanksgiving, we left bright and early for the city to finally go on our segway tour (yes, the one that got rained out before).  Let me just say that it was probably one of the funnest things that I have ever done, ever.

This is me learning how to ride a segway, with our tour guide and teacher extraordinaire.  I realize that it is a picture of my backside, but I still had to include it because it sets the stage for story that comes next. 

Let me just begin by saying that riding a segway is extremely easy, almost natural.  It balances itself.  To move forward, you simply lean slighty forward, putting a small amount of pressure on your toes.  To stop, slow down, or go backward, you simply lean slightly backward, putting a small amount of pressure on your heals.  Easy peasy. 

Our teacher got us on one by one, and made sure that we had the hang of things, then we were free to ride around this small park area while he helped the rest of our group.  I got on first, had a quick 2 minute tutorial, then was off.  I made sure that I got in a position where I could stop and watch John.  He got on.  The instructor helped John stop and start and make a turn, then cut him loose.  I was waiting for John at the other end of the park, so he started down the sidewalk toward me.  Only, this is what I saw.  Not John gliding along smoothly like one should do on a segway.  No.  John would lean way forward, sending the segway shooting off down the sidewalk.  Then, because he was going way to fast, he would lean way back, nearly stopping the machine dead in its tracks, giving him the sensation that he was falling over backwards.  Because he didn't want to fall over, he would then lean way forward, sending the machine off again. 

He did this three or four times.  Then, in one last attempt to look cool, leaned clear forward, zoomed off toward me going way too fast, and went up on a curb with his right wheel, yelling "Abort! Abort!" before falling/hopping off.  Luckily, he managed to keep one hand on his segway, which was still moving forward, and prevented it from crashing.  I am still giggling almost two weeks later.

We zipped all around Millenium park, through a bunch of gardens that were still beautiful despite being nearly dead, and stopped for pictures at the famous Buckingham Fountain. 

Then we went over to the pier  and saw the Field Museum, Soldier Field, and the aquarium and warmed up with some hot chocolate.  This picture was taken just outside the aquarium, looking back at the city.  Even though we nearly froze to death, this is definately something I would do again!

Our Christmas tree

Every year on the weekend after Thanksgiving, we go and pick out a Christmas Tree.  I know that by the time Christmas is over, it is dry and dead, but I love having it up for as long as we can.  This year we had Grandma and Grandpa Anthony with us. 

Here it is in our house, pre-decorations

And before Grandma and Grandpa left that day, they helped the kids wrap their presents that they had bought the day before. 

Then it was time for them to leave.  When we dropped them off at the airport, Avery and Brady got teary-eyed.  Isaac stayed home with Dad when we went to the airport, and he told me later that the reason he didn't go was because he didn't want to cry.

Yummy thinking he is extra cool with grandpa's hat

 

More on Grandma and Grandpa's visit

It seems like just yesterday that we took Grandma and Grandpa Anthony to the airport, but it was actually more like 2 weeks ago!  We had so much fun while they were here.  They brought with them lot of Christmas cheer, in the form of Hickory Farms mini melt away mints, and Stephens hot chocolate (hazelnut, mint and white chocolate to be exact).  All are things that scream Christmas to me, that are not available in Chicago.  I have made the children hot chocolate nearly every day after school lately, and despite the fact that I hid the mints from the kids, they are almost gone.

Grandma and Grandpa also brought with them some handmade ornaments made by Grandpa himself.  They gave these ornaments to the kids the Friday morning after Thanksgiving.  Isaac discovered, quite by accident, that the tops of the ornaments come off.  He quickly acted as if he had done nothing wrong, and put the top back on.  Brady, however, discovered, that once open, the ornaments contained money! 




The Lego store in Water Tower Center on Black Friday



The American Girl store in Water Tower Center on Black Friday

 Grandma and Grandpa decided that they wanted to give the kids money for their Christmas presents, and that while we were down in the city, they could choose their own Christmas presents, which we would wrap once we got home.  This worked great, and the kids had a wonderful time at the Lego store and the American Girl store picking out their presents.  Then, on the way back to the train, Brady came to the realization that he wasn't actually going to get his Lego until Christmas.  All of a sudden, it didn't seem like such a good idea anymore.

Brady pouting on the walk back to the train

While we were in the city we also decided to stop by Christkindlmarket, a cute little German Christmas market that they set up in the square downtown.  They had cute little tents with vendors selling yummy smelling roasted nuts, brats, and other traditional German food, as well as beautiful ornaments, nutcrackers, and hats.  It was very crowded, so we didn't stay long.

 



It was VERY crowded, which made pushing a double stroller miserable.

 

These German nativities were everywhere, and they were absolutely gorgeous!
Note to John if you ever read this:  I really, really, really want one someday!



No visit to Christkindemarket is complete without a visit to Santa's home.  Each year they build a small home right there on the square, for Santa to live in during the month of December.  It was darling on the inside, with a cozy fireplace, Christmas tree, stars on the ceiling, and even a toy train running around the top.  The kids were very excited to see Santa.

 



Grandma and Grandpa Anthony with the whole crew on the L.



The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Johnny stayed home today!  Hooray!  He has been busy with finals for the last week and even took two yesterday.  Boooooo for finals.  I keep telling him that he will only ever have to take finals two more times in his whole life.  He keeps telling me that I told him that a few years ago when we lived in Austin.  This time I am serious.  Deadly serious.

Anyway, because he stayed home, he made the sacrifice of staying home and "taking care" of Yummy so that I could go and finish up the odds and ends of Christmas shopping.  His morning consisted of cleaning up, with Yummers tagging along, then both of them retiring for a well deserved nap at 10:30.  John woke up to me opening the garage door at 1:00. 

While I was on the way to the mall this morning, I was just pondering in the van as I drove.  I love to have the radio off while I drive and just have some quiet time to think.  I was thinking about this beautiful Christmas season.  The decorations.  The lights.  The traditions. Even the gifts.  And the music.  The music may just be my favorite part of the season. 

On Monday,  John was laying on the bed in our room studying for a final, and I was on the sewing machine trying to get some Christmas presents finished.  Silent Night sung by Josh Groban was playing in the background.  "You can't help but feel the Spirit during this song," he said.  And he was right. 

This morning as I neared the mall, I decided to turn on the radio for a bit.  Oh, Holy Night  was playing.  I listened and thought about what John had said earlier.  You can't help but feel the Spirit during this song.  Once again he was right.  I sat in the van and thought about how grateful I was for this season.  And how grateful I am for my children to enjoy it with, for my husband to share it with.  Grateful that even though this is not a season of plenty for us right now, we have enough.  And we have health and safety, and the guidance and reassurance from our loving Father in Heaven that He is aware of our needs.

On a much lighter note, this morning I decided to put Yummy and Nathan in a bath while I did Avery's hair for school.  When I finished, John took the big ones to school, and I helped Nathan get out and dry off. Will climbed out and was streaking through the house.  I figured I would just let him have a time of it, while I tried to help Nathan button up his shirt.  Then the phone rang.  It was John.  "Do you know where your baby is right now?"  He was standing on the back of the couch, forehead and hands pressed up against our huge picture window that faces a very busy street.  Completely naked.



By the time I rounded the corner with the camera, he had already climbed down and was standing on the window sill.  At least that makes the photo is a little more G rated.



Bad Mom moments

Years ago when I was serving as a missionary for our church in eastern Canada, I had a small "Cantique" book with all of the hymns in French that I carried around with me.  It seemed like we were always singing for some reason or another, so I just stashed it in my bag for those singing emergencies when I didn't know the French lyrics.  In the back of the book, there were several blank pages where I would write favorite quotes, inspiring messages, and even lyrics to old hymns that were no longer in the hymn book.  This was one of my favorite. 

"Why do we do the things we do, when we know the things we know?"

I have no idea who said it.  It probably wasn't really even a quote by some famous person, just something I heard that I liked and decided it was worthy of some real estate in my Cantiques. 

That quote played over and over in my mind this morning as I was grocery shopping.  I was a really mean mom this morning to one very sweet boy.  I think I succeeded in doing everything that I tell my kids not to do.  Don't yell.  Don't talk meanly.  Don't be so rude.  Don't call names.  Don't give mean looks.

I tried to justify it by saying "He just makes me so mad when I have to keep telling him over and over and over what to do in the morning.  That is what he has a job chart for.  His little brother in 1st grade can do it, so he has no excuse."  But that didn't work because I could hear my own voice in my head saying "You are in charge of your emotions.  No one can make you mad but you."  I say that to my kids at least 10 times a day.  So the justification failed. 

When I got home, I put Yummy to bed, then interrupted John's precious studying for finals to talk about it.   He told me a story about that very sweet boy that happened just 3 days ago.  That very sweet boy had lost misplaced the charger for his school laptop, which he needed desperately to take to school because they do all of their homework on the laptops.  I yelled at him that morning too, for being irresponsible.  Great.  Without me knowing, he went upstairs to his bedroom and pleaded with Heavenly Father to help him find his cord.  He went to school without it and had to borrow someones so his computer wouldn't die.  He came home, still no cord.  Then, while I was cleaning up the next day, I found it, shoved up on obscure shelf in our computer room.   He told John that Heavenly Father had answered his prayer by helping me find it. 

Now I felt even worse.  I asked John if he could stay with the sleeping baby and study, while I took Isaac out to lunch.  The fifth graders had not gone to lunch yet when I arrived, so I checked him out of school for an hour.  The look on his face was priceless when I saw him sitting in the office waiting for me.  He thought he was in huge trouble.  (He had in fact been playing a small prank on his substitute teacher that morning, by making sounds with a miniature guitar he had in his desk, so there was some reason to feel guilty).  When we got outside, I gave him a huge hug, and told him how sorry I was and asked if he would go on a lunch date with me.  What a cutie pie.  He held my hand for the rest of the afternoon, even in the ice cream store where we went afterwards.  I swore him to secrecy, but we did talk code after school when I picked up the rest of the kids.   When I asked the kids if they had had a good day at school, he winked and said it was the best day of his life. 

"Why do we do the things we do, when we know the things we know?"   One lesson learned.