The adventures of Mark

The kids are still having fun with Mark (our elf). Even Nolan is getting into it now... "Where MARK?" All of our family and friends have been asking Kyla about it, and she's usually not afraid to explain who he is and what his job is and where he's hiding that day.

Yesterday morning, he delivered a gift to both Kyla and Nolan because they've been being good and even stayed in their bed all night! He picked these bags up from the North Pole.

Here's what was in their gift bags... a writing tablet and a foam letter.

 

And this is what happens when a guy gets involved with the Elf on a Shelf. Greg build him a hang glider last night!

Greg and I might be having as much fun as the kids  ;)

Mark

I was all excited about "elf on a shelf". It's fun, creative, and magical!

While my kids were out to a movie with my mom, I planted the elf and his book on top of our TV stand. The kids got home and after a couple hours passed, no one noticed. So, finally I said "where'd that elf and book come from?!!" Kyla asked if I bought it, I said "No." (I lied).
We read the book, and as instructed, Kyla gave him a name-- "Mark." I don't know where she got that name from, but our Elf's name is Mark.
We continued to read, and when we got to the part about he Elf being able to fly to the North Pole she started crying. I was confused. Then she said, "if we touch him, he comes to life??!!"
She slightly miss understood some of the story, but it dawned on me that she had visions of this creepy little elf wandering around our house. My sister put it best, "like a Christmas version of Chucky."  Hahaha!
I reassured Kyla that he only can move when everyone is sleeping. Then I reiterated that all kids have to be good, because "Mark" reports back to the North Pole every night to tell Santa if you've been naught or nice.
Then came a bazillion questions, like how he got in the house, how he gets to the North Pole, how he can see us when we're in the kitchen, how he can talk to Santa, why he's so small, how he makes the toys...
I think she likes Mark after all. Today, he hid in the ceiling fan and we didn't experience any tears.
As for Nolan, I don't think he gives a hoot about a stupid elf in our house!
Click here for a video of Kyla discussing the elf!

The Dreaded Question

Tonight, the question was asked. The question that I knew would come from my daughter, but I have been dreading for nearly three years.

"If Gramma is your mom and Papa is your dad, then why don't they live together?"
The question came out of no where, but the answer came easy, "They used to be married, but now they're not."
And then came an, almost more complicated, question, "And now Papa is married to Jean?"
I wasn't going to lie,"Papa and Jean are not married."
"Then why do they live together?"
"Because sometimes people do things, even if it doesn't make God happy. But, we just need to pray about it."
"We pray for them to get married?"
I thought for just a second, then said.... "Yes, I think that would make God and mommy happy."

10,000 Reasons

I've never minded going to church. I've always loved singing the songs, and visiting with other people. But, as a child, I always wondered when the preacher would start making sense. I would get bored and my mind would wander... Sometimes my mind still does wander, but God's word makes more and more sense to me all the time.
Our Pastor, at Fist CRC in Sioux Falls, has been preaching on the 10 Commandments for the last several weeks. It's actually been really exciting for me. I was taught the 10 Commandments early in life- mostly being told to memorize them and their simple meanings, but I don't know if I've ever studied them deeper.
This morning the sermon was about the 9th Commandment- "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16).
Why is it so satisfying to the human race to talk about each other? I am totally guilty of the "did-you-hears" and the "did-you-knows". I understand that a person may be genuinely concerned, but there is a fine line between concern and gossip. I need to work on avoiding gossip, judgment and labeling people-- don't we all need to work on this?

I also want to share a song that was sung after a baby's baptism this morning. Songs almost always have an impact on me. Play me any song, and I have a memory connected to it. This song brings me back to the weekend that our friend, Nick, was living his last hours on this earth--

 

As I sat in the pew, a tear trickled down my face, and I was reminded- that despite all the evil and sadness in this world, that even though friends may die, families may break, and communities get hurt- there are so many reasons to keep living, to keep trusting God, and to stay strong in faith. Why give up?

Sleeping beauties

Tonight, we cuddled in Kyla's bed and read books as Greg got called into work. Both kids insisted that they needed a slumber party and wanted to sleep together. Typically, I would answer with a simple "no" and take Nolan upstairs after reading.
But... what's the harm? It's a Friday night, it was fairly early, and why not let them do something special?
I can't believe they actually fell asleep in a timely manner. It was so cute!

The gift of time

It's been awhile since I've blogged, but I think I'm ready to get back into it. At least once in a while, anyway.
With the loss of another friend this month, my mind has been crazy. When you're in your 20s, you might be attending the funerals of your grandparents, old family friends, maybe aunts or uncles. You shouldn't be going to your friends' funerals.

I've been thinking about the "busy-ness" of life. I am never bored. I keep moving, unless I'm sleeping. I'm always in a hurry. I am always running late. Never enough time in a day...
I want to share a piece from my devotions last night. A refreshing reminder to slow down and enjoy the moments with my kids, husband, and others I love...

"Time is more than something to be spent. When a portion of time in our life is gone, it can never be retrieved. It's gone forever. One of the greatest gifts we can ever give another person is the gift of our time, whether it be to a family member, friend, or stranger."

Live... as wise, making the most of every opportunity. Eph 5:16

So- what did I do today? Got up early, hauled the kids out of bed and took them to Rock Valley (40 minute drive) to see my Grandma VV. Not everyone has grandparents, but I am blessed that three of my four grandparents are still living, are in good health, and are just a short drive away.
My kids call my Grandma VV "Oma" (a dutch word for Grandmother). We went out for breakfast with Oma and stopped at some consignment stores. We all had a great time, my kids got spoiled with some little gifts, and my heart feels satisfied knowing that I gave the gift of time to someone who loves me so very much.

We never know when our time will come to an end. So, don't waste it. Give it freely. Enjoy the small things and the special moments.

Back in 2010

There are so many things to say about this picture. You may start with the obvious-- my parents are married. Little Kyla is only one year old. Some of us are heavier, some are thinner...

This picture was taken two years ago. November 2010. It is in the basement of my house. Greg and I had just bought this house the month prior, having moved from Pella. I wanted to be closer to my family. To teach Kyla what a normal family was like-- Spending time together on the weekends, getting spoiled by grandparents, being home for the holidays...
My friend, Tina, took this picture. She was the one person I knew who would drop everything on a Sunday afternoon to do us a favor. And, no doubt, she could get Kyla to smile. She died in February...
I must have just been pregnant with Nolan here, but didn't know it yet...
This picture was hanging in everyone's kitchen (Merry Christmas (from the happy, smiling Walenburgs)) when my dad walked out on my mom. It never did surprise me that he left. What shocked me is that he never went back.
I am not suprised either, that my mom has changed. What shocks me is that she is no longer the person that she was in this picture.

This is the last picture that I will have of my family, and it saddens me that Nolan (technically) isn't in it.
Although one might hate this picture, as a reminder of how things have turned out, it means a lot to me. The memories.
We had a lot of fun- games, dinner nights, family trips, pictures, jokes.
We've all been forced to move on, to suck it up and make the best of a crappy situation. And, so we do. But, I think of this often... how things were... in 2010.