2012- The Year in Review

It happens every year! I promise to keep track of significant events throughout the year and then make a "Year in Review" post. I failed again... Miserably! However, my blog saved me! This blog is an electronic record of events in the Meyer family this year.

This is a record of God's blessings for the Meyer Family in 2012:

January- Most of the month was spent on pins and needles. Jessi and Barry were in Russia making final preparations to bring Sveta home. The wait was agonizing while the blessing was well worth the wait.

February 8th- Barry, Jessi and Sveta land at CVG. A joyous, tearful homecoming ensued. I will never, ever forget that night.

February 18th- Sveta's 4th birthday and first of many in America

March- Most of the month was spent wishing we could visit Sveta every day. We didn't see her much at first because the new family needed time to bond without outside distraction. More waiting... UGH!

April- Sveta's first Easter in America. It was a warm early spring so we had a big outdoor party to introduce the extended family to Sveta.

May- My school year begins to wind down and the countdown to our cruise vacation begins in earnest.

Late May- Memorial Day Weekend. Sveta takes her first swim in Goppa's and Grandma's pool

June- School year ends. I start my summer job at the Seagram's bottling plant.

June 8th- Michael Graduates from East Central High School.

June 22nd- Son-in-law, Barry celebrates his 33rd birthday.

July 7-14- We take a Western Caribbean cruise with Tami's parents and the Kerry Meyer family.

July 11th- While on the cruise we celebrate Abby's 15th birthday. The party is ON!

July 16th- Jessi celebrates her 28th birthday.

July 20th- Tami and I celebrate 21 years of wedded bliss!

August- Michael is a freshman at NKU. I begin my 23rd year of teaching in St. Bernard
Sveta begins her soccer career. We have a blast watching her!

August 2nd- Tami celebrates a birthday. I think she turned 34.

September- My brother achieves the rank of Captain on the St. Bernard Fire Dept. The pool is covered after another fun-filled season. This prompted Sveta to say, "I wanted to swim, but the pool is locked" :-)

Late September/Early October- Tami and I begin hosting a Bible Study in our home for her sister, Terri and Terri's step daughters.

October 1st- This blog turns one year old. Has it been a year already?

October 5th- Sveta's first trip to the Aurora Farmers Fair. She absolutely LOOOOOOOOOVED the rides!

October 18th- Father-in-Law, Frank celebrates his 77th birthday.

October 20th- Michael turns 19... how is that possible?

November 6th- A truly, truly sad day. Early in the evening, my niece, Mary, loses her state semi-final soccer game. A repeat state title is not to be. Later that night in a move that still befuddles me, the people of this great nation re-elect Obama.

November 8th- We receive the news that Jessi is pregnant, but we are not allowed to tell anyone. Keeping a secret is HARD!

November 22 and 23- Sveta's first Thanksgiving! Hilarity rules the day when she declares her chocolate turkey is a rooster!

November- My addiction to the website Pinterest leads to me finding my crafty side. My crafts lead to some fun projects and handmade gifts for Christmas.

December 14th-16th- Abby successfully portrays Gladys in her school play. One of the highlights of the year!

December 22nd- Celebrate Christmas with my mom and Cliff. Celebration is followed by our traditional trip to the manger. Sveta loves feeding the goats, sheep and donkeys.

December 24th-28th- Various Christmas celebrations throughout the family and at church.

December 29th- The cat is out of the bag! I am finally free to tell everyone the good news of Jessi's pregnancy. Thank goodness! I needed to tell someone or I was going to explode!

December 31st- Sitting in a warm house, looking outside at snow on the ground. Thanking the Lord for all the blessings he bestowed upon us in 2012. Every good and perfect gift is from God. You never really know how you've been blessed until you start writing them down (and these are just the biggies that I remember. There are millions I have since forgotten). Eagerly awaiting what our Sovereign God has for us in 2013.

It was a good year. It was a very, very good year of God's mercy and grace.

WONDERFUL NEWS!

I won't beat around the bush. I'm just going to come out and say it... Tami and I are going to be grandparents again. Our eldest daughter, Jessi, is pregnant. As you can probably guess, we are beside ourselves with joy and excitement.

We have known about this since the first week of November, and had been sworn to secrecy until now. It was so difficult not to tell anyone. I felt like I was absolutely going to bust.

The due date is easy to remember. The 4th of July! I guess you can say we're going to have a Yankee Doodle Dandy, a Yankee Doodle Sweetheart or a little firecracker.

Sveta has been very proud to announce that she is going to be a big sister. This was after Jessi had to explain that mommy was having the baby. At first Sveta thought SHE was the one having the baby. This new bundle of joy will make me "Goppa squared" or Goppa X2. You can call me whatever you want. I just can't wait for the Baby Morton to get here!

A nice place to visit...

Have you ever heard the saying, "It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there"? That's the phrase that came to mind as I looked at the snow this week. Everybody knows I don't like winter. However, a man would have to out of his mind to ignore the splendor and beauty of God's creation that I witnessed outside my back door yesterday. The snow was beautiful. I enjoyed the view from inside my warm house, but that enjoyment was short lived when I went out to shovel the stuff out of my driveway. The snow was nice for a few minutes, but I certainly can do without a steady diet of it.

Here's the view that greeted me yesterday morning:

The Meyer Family Christmas

As a child and even as I grew into a young adult, the Meyer side of the family always celebrated Christmas on Christmas eve. This was my dad and mom, my siblings, my dad's brother (my Uncle Gary), their parents (my grandparents) and all my cousins. In 2001 we deviated from that pattern and haven't celebrated on the 24th since. When my dad died and when my grandparents died, I wasn't sure the tradition would continue. To my surprise it certainly has. The family make up is the only thing that has changed. Now my siblings and my cousins have families of their own. Sadly this is the only time we see my extended side of the family. I wish things were different, but it's the reality of the situation. This year I am going to make an effort to have a family gathering before next Christmas. As the heir to patriarchal Meyer throne (this means I'm the second oldest Meyer male behind only Uncle Gary), I think it's my responsibility to do this.

Anyway... yesterday the extended Meyer family got together and had a wonderful time. it's amazing to see how time is marching on and changing us all. The toddlers who used to run around like screaming banshees are now in high school and college. They bring their girlfriends and boyfriends (which feels strange). My Uncle Gary and Aunt Judy are senior citizens now and so are my mom and Cliff. The middle generation (me, my siblings and my cousins) are entering different seasons of life. It's strange that some of us are beginning to look ahead toward retirement. Even the younger generation isn't so young anymore.

All in all it was fun to see everyone and catch up on their lives. I truly hope it's not another year before we see all of them.

Snow Way, Jose'

Another 4-5 inches of snow fell overnight. This is the second significant snowfall in the last 4 days. I think we have already had more snow in the first week of winter than we had for the entire winter last year. Have I mentioned I don't like winter?

So thankful for our Sveta

All praise, honor and glory to our Lord and Savior! Today more than ever I am thankful for our Sveta being home in the United States. I have always been thankful, but today I have an additional reason to be grateful.

Recent legislation in Russia has President Vladimir Putin putting an end to all adoptions to the U.S. Many families today are crushed knowing the child they want to adopt will not be coming home. This new law pertains to adoptions that are in progress as well new adoptions. This ban is a political retaliation and hurts no one except Russian orphans and American families willing to take them out of deplorable orphanages.

Knowing that exactly one year ago Sveta's adoption was in its final stages, makes me so thankful that she is here. I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach thinking some law could have ever prevented me from meeting the newest love of my life. Sveta landed on American soil on February 8th, 2012. A mere 10 months later, Putin is slamming the door on adoptions. In the grand scheme of life that's a very close call.

Thank you God for bringing this little girl home. I truly cannot imagine life without her. Thank you Jessi and Barry for acting on your desire to adopt a Russian orphan. Any delay could have had devastating consequences. Thank you to anyone who helped in any way in bringing Sveta home.

Please join me in praying the Russian government reverses its stance on this.

Mr. Putin, if you want to retaliate politically against the U.S., then so be it... but don't sentence countless orphans to a life of misery because of your spiteful, vindictive, malicious actions. Find another way, Putin.

Snow, ice and dating my wife

It's the day after Christmas and guess who (or what) decided to show up? Ice, snow and fierce winds. Brrrr and yuck! My disdain for all things winter has been well documented here. I won't blather on and on about it. I'll make just one statement. I CAN'T STAND WINTER! Today we are seeing ice, snow and high winds. Blizzard conditions. You can imagine how I feel about that.

However, there is an upside to today. If you've read this blog for very long, you know I sometimes stress the importance of dating your spouse. Yes, I'm talking about an evening out without the kids (trust me, they'll survive without you for an evening and may even enjoy a break from their parents). You know, maybe just a bite to eat or a shopping trip or on a rare occasion a movie. This should be done on a regular basis (weekly is best). I'm also talking about getting away together for the night. Tami and I do this twice a year. Once in July on our anniversary and once during Christmas break. Again, the children will survive without you. If they are small, get a relative or friend to babysit. It's worth it. Tami and I used to have an arrangement with several couples... you watch our kids for a night and we will return the favor. It worked out splendidly. When your kids get old enough to leave alone, load them up with plenty of pizza, snacks and pop, tell them they can watch as much TV or spend as much time on the computer as they want. They'll be happy and so will you. One night of unlimited television, video games and computer time will not harm the kids. A prolonged and regular diet of this behavior IS harmful. I'm not advocating that.

As luck would have it, today is that day for Tami and me. We are going to brave the elements and take off for the night. The good thing about all this ice and snow is that it makes excellent snuggle weather.

Christmas- 99% Good

Christmas was everything we thought it would be... and more! Sveta was bombarded with presents from the whole family. This is a stark contrast to Christmases past she spent in the orphanage.

I think she liked all her presents, but I think the rocking horse we bought for her was her favorite. This rocking horse makes whinny sounds and clopping noises. It is just darling!

The whole day was a lot of fun.

The only negative is the report of the baby Jesus being stolen from the manger scene we visit every year. The news said the Jesus wax figure is 65 years old. I only hope the so called jokester returns the baby undamaged. This manger scene is local tradition and institution.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all as we celebrate the birth of a King!

What a GLORIOUS day!

Our Christmas eve began with a drive to Greensburg to pick up Sveta. She spent the morning and afternoon with us. We played a lot, did a craft (which she quickly lost interest in) and Tami made her favorite lunch... potato soup. The craft was Christmas ornaments that she is going to give to her family. It was a good day (any day with Sveta is).

We concluded our Christmas eve with a beautiful candlelight service at church. It's a wonderful way to usher in Christmas day.

Tomorrow it's off to the in-laws where we will make merry until we're all "merried" out.

Kick off to Christmas

On Saturday we went to my mom's to celebrate Christmas with her and Cliff. As usual she spent too much on all of us, but she loves her family and loves buying them gifts. It was wonderful to have the family together and it was a nice surprise to see Allison and John. We all wish Cheri and Emily could have come up from Florida too. Also as usual, Mom and Cliff prepared waaaaaaaaay too much food. We ate until we were stuffed and when we were finished it didn't look like we'd even put a dent in the spread. There was one moment of excitement when Sveta shattered the biggest snow globe my mom owns. IT WAS A MESS! I don't think anybody was upset though... when you have young kids around, these things will happen. We had a really great day!

The judge said, "Da!"

Exactly one year ago today, the Russian judge said, "Da!" (that means yes in Russian). Exactly one year ago today Jessi and Barry were granted custody and Sveta became a member of our family. Exactly one year ago today I officially became a grandpa. It has been a wonderful year since that day last December. That little girl has brought nothing but joy to this whole family. The Lord's blessings are rich, full and endless.

Christmas eve eve

Today is Christmas eve eve (you know, the day BEFORE Christmas eve). It is unbelievable that Christmas is almost here.

I realized recently that I have enjoyed Christmas more this year than I have in a long time. It doesn't take much thought to figure out why. This is my first Christmas as a grandparent. Having a little one around again has brought some magic back into the holiday. It hasn't been like this since Abby was little. Knowing Sveta was in an orphanage last Christmas, I can't wait to see her open her presents Christmas morning. This little girl has done a lot of living in the ten months since she's been here. I thank God for bringing her here to our family. She is a full fledged Morton/Meyer now!

Don't let all this talk of presents and the magic of Christmas fool you. I have not lost sight of the real reason for all this... the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A baby sent to earth to save the souls of men.

A family tradition

When I was a small child my grandparents would take me to the manger display at the Paul Young funeral home. This is no ordinary manger scene. The figures are wax and made by the funeral director. They are eerily lifelike.

I have gone to the manger every year for the last 40 years. When I started dating Tami, I took her and Jessi every year. After I got married we took the kids every year. This year we took Sveta. She wasn't very interested in the manger display, but she loved the sheep, goats and donkeys. She enjoyed feeding the animals handfuls of Cheerios.

This is a fun family tradition 40 years strong. I hope it goes on for many more.

Reindeer Revisited

I've spent some time this week talking about gifts from the heart. I've decided to give a few of my cork reindeer to friends and family who are wine drinkers. As you can see there is no cost in making them (2 corks, some sticks, a red or black bead and some glue) and they are special because they are hand made. Some of my most cherished Christmas decorations are things both my grandfathers made with their own hands. There is is just something magical about taking these things out of the box each year. Both men have passed on, but I feel like a part of them is still with me when I look at these things they made. I'm not suggesting people will have the same feelings about cork reindeer after I'm dead and gone. I'm only suggesting gifts made by hand are something special to be treasured. Whether it's your five year old son's construction paper ornament or your grandfather's stained glass manger... it's all the same.

Christmas Card Craft

I had no sooner finished making my Reinbeer today when Tami said she found another craft I might like. I was skeptical when she said it was a 3D spherical ornament made from Christmas cards. It sounded complicated and I only do easy crafts... I don't like things that might cause me frustration. However, I decided to take a look at it before deciding. To my surprise it looked like something that was within my skill set (i.e. any old dope could do it).

The first step is cutting 20 circles from various Christmas cards. Using Tami's scrap booking tools, this job was unexpectedly easy. Then using an equilateral triangle pattern, you trace a triangle on the back of each circle.

After drawing all your triangles, all circles need to be folded as shown.

After folding all the circles it's time to start assembling the sections. Regular Elmer's glue will work just fine.

Once the sections are complete, you put them together forming a 3D sphere.

Rein-Beer

You read the title correctly. It's reinbeer, not reindeer. Once again thanks to Pinterest my crafty side came out.

I have a couple of family members who really enjoy a cold beer. So these guys are going to get a 6 pack of Reinbeer for Christmas this year. It's amazing what you can do with a hot glue gun and some pipe cleaners. Making the actual Reinbeer was the easy part. The most challenging and time consuming part was making the label for the carton. The label was my own creation (the website didn't show that) and I think it really helped to put a finishing touch on the whole project.

Tami and I agree this is what giving Christmas gifts is all about. A gift doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful. A gift that requires a person's time and effort is more important than how much it costs. These gifts come from the heart, not a shopping mall.

I made 2 sets of Reinbeer. Here they are:

The Best Gifts

The best gifts are those that come from the heart. One of the best Christmases the extended Meyer family ever had was the year we gave homemade gifts. The theme was, "Bake it or make it. Grow it or sew it. Or buy it and lie". I'll never forget being driven to tears when my brother presented me with a CD with the following title- "Songs that remind me of you". The concept was simple. The disc was full of songs that meant something to the two of us together. Each song evoked a memory of its own. It was so simple, cost nothing to make and came straight from my brother's heart. To this day it's still one of my favorite Christmas presents ever.

My friend Mike Annis is a master woodworker and he creates gorgeous things. Last night Mike presented us with a gift from his heart. He made a wooden cross with an antique looking doorknob attached. At first glance you may scratch your head trying to figure out what it means. A closer examination reveals a reference to a Bible verse stamped into the metal plate. Revelation 3:20. This scripture says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and eat with him, and he with me." What a beautiful, artistic representation of Christ's invitation. This gift is now on my list of favorites.

Tami and I were completely touched by this gift. This lovingly handmade masterpiece was created just for my family and our home. It's incredible to think Mike would put so much thought, time and effort into a gift for us. It went on the wall promptly. Here are a few photos:

Keeping a lid on it

Keeping a lid on it. Holding the fort. Survival mode. Maintain. These are just a few of the things teachers say on the last day of school before Christmas break. This is the day teachers reach into their bag of tricks and do anything and everything to keep everybody under control. There is no getting around the fact these kids are out of their minds with excitement. It's probably not a surprise for you to learn when kids are like this, they don't always make the best decisions where their behavior is concerned. For some reason they view this as a special day... one without rules. As a teacher I walk a fine line on this day. I try to do a lot of fun activities that will keep the students occupied while also maintaining complete control and keeping order. The last thing I want is for someone to get hurt or to get into trouble as a result of a chaotic classroom environment.

I must also mention the internal struggle I have every year. This struggle is with gifts from students. Every year I get a pile of presents on my desk. This may not sound unusual for some of you, but most of the students I teach are living at or below the poverty level. To see a pile of presents from kids who may not get much for Christmas themselves is very touching (and does create a bit of internal conflict for me). Every year about a week before Christmas I make a quiet, brief speech about how I don't expect gifts for Christmas. Not a big deal, just a mention of how I feel. And then inevitably I get that pile on my desk every year. I open them in front of the class and make a big production of how much I love the gifts and how kind the kids are to think of me. I spare them the, "Oh, you shouldn't have gotten me anything!" comments. Even though I know many can't afford it, I do not want to deprive any child of the joy that comes from giving. The old adage that says,'tis better to give than to receive is so true. I graciously accept these gifts even though I secretly wish the kids would spend the money on themselves.

This year I received the usual cookies and sweets. I received some ornaments and also some restaurant gift cards.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Teacher Humor

It's been a tough week in the teacher world. I thought it might be time to lighten up a bit. We've all heard the classic excuse about missing homework. My father-in-law, Frank was kind enough to send me this 21st century twist on an old excuse...

Kids being kids?

Regarding my post from yesterday... Is today's post just a case of kids being kids? Maybe just some rowdy children very excited about Christmas? You be the judge.

I'd like to relay the events of the first 30 minutes of my school day. First thing every morning the students unpack their backpacks and hang up their coats. I went out in the hall to address some general rowdiness and horseplay (nothing unusual). While in the hall I heard a blood-curdling scream in my classroom. I rushed in to find a student shining a laser pointer into another student's eye at close range. This seems really dangerous to me. I don't know the specifics of laser pointers, but I've heard shining them in eyes can be harmful. After calming the whole situation, I attempted to explain the dangers of such activities and the value of a person's eyesight. The student who pointed the laser shrugged his shoulders, looked me in the eye and said, "I don't care!". After 23 years of teaching I still can't understand how some children can be so mean and have no remorse for their actions.

A little while later I heard a student yell, "I'm gonna smack the (S-word) out of you!" When confronted he lied and said he said, "crap". Sorry, I heard it with my own ears and the S-word and crap sound nothing alike.

That long winter's nap is looking better and better.

Bouncing off the walls

You haven't lived until you've taught elementary school the week before Christmas break. We have three days of school this week and those days are filled with Christmas parties, crafts, shopping at the Secret Santa Shop and trying to squeeze some legitimate learning in there.

I was closely observing my students today and came to the realization they are beyond hyped up. They are vibrating in anticipation. I'm not speaking figuratively. These children are completely unable to keep any part of their bodies quiet or still. It looks like they've been filled with sugar, caffeine and energy drinks all at once. Have you ever heard the expression "Bouncing off the walls"? It fits here and it really is amazing to watch. Some of you may be saying, "Awww! Isn't that cute? The little kiddies are excited for Christmas". It's not so cute when you have 25 of them vibrating at the same time and you're trying to teach a lesson. I won't lie... these last few days are rough on teachers. We really try to keep a lid on things but we are severely outnumbered. I make no apologies for getting a week and a half off for Christmas. I'll take that time to settle down for a long winter's nap.

Quite a weekend!

Abby's show was a roaring success! We attended all three performances and each one was more fun than the last. She did a great job and we were all very proud of her portrayal of Gladys Herdman.

And furthermore...

As horrible as it is to think about it, would there have been any difference in this situation if the teachers had been armed? I know it's unfathomable to think of arming teachers, but I believe if a teacher had been armed in that Connecticut school, the gunman could have been eliminated with minimal loss of life to the staff and students. I say highly train the teachers in the use of firearms and allow them to pack heat. If these nut jobs who have their sights set on harming children knew the teachers would fight back, it just may be a deterrent. I know this is a radical point of view, but just ponder that for a second.

And for the record... my idea of gun control is using two hands.

Unspeakable

Yesterday a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and slaughtered 26 people (20 of them kindergarteners). It was a scene of unspeakable carnage. As an elementary teacher myself, this shakes me to the core and touches the very fiber of my being. I've already had people ask about school security by saying, "How could this happen?". "Don't schools have security measures in place?" I can tell you at my school the doors are locked at all times. Staff members have electronic key cards to enter the school. Everybody else must buzz in. They push a button and the school secretary must electronically unlock the door. BTW--- the secretary can see these people on a video monitor and she can also see them directly if she turns around in her chair. Once inside these people must go directly to the office (which is only about 20 feet away), state their business and receive a visitor's ID badge. Once that process is complete, these people have access to the classrooms and the rest of the school building. It seems like a good system, but what's to prevent the following from happening?:

A bad guy approaches the school with guns hidden in his coat. He presses the button and the door is unlocked by the secretary. Instead of going to the office he walks into the nearest classroom (Less than 50 feet away) and opens fire. With our open classroom design (no classroom doors or walls), there is absolutely nothing to impede his access to hundreds of children and countless staff members in less than 5 seconds. Hearing gunshots, the secretary calls police (assuming he didn't go to the office and shoot her first). I'm not sure of how much time it would take the police to arrive. Let's just say 2-3 minutes (it is a small town after all). In those 2-3 minutes there is no telling how many people a bad guy could mow down.

What's the answer to the scenario? Metal detectors? Pat downs upon entering the building? Security guards? Well, I'm not sure there is an answer. My school does what it deems necessary to keep our students and staff safe and secure. But it's obviously not perfect. I only pray my school never has to deal with something like this first hand. I think it's important to note my school also conducts "Shelter in Place Lock Down Drills". To put it simply: we turn off the lights and the kids hide under their desks. With no classroom doors to close and lock, the best we can do is limit the visibility of targets.

In another vein, some may want to argue for gun control. Their case being: Don't let the bad guys have guns and they can't shoot 20 kindergarteners. I'm sorry folks, but this is ridiculous. If our government enacts strict gun control laws, the only people who won't have guns are the law abiding citizens who would never do something like shoot up a movie theater or a school. If guns are illegal to possess, the bad guys are going to get their hands on them anyway. Do you think thugs on the street are going to conduct background checks before selling a gun to another thug? Look at drugs... they're illegal, right? In this country it's illegal to possess cocaine, heroin, meth amphetamines and countless other drugs, right? We have very strict laws about the trafficking, selling, purchasing and possession of drugs, right? So why is it you can go anywhere in America and get any drug you want? Gun control laws are not the answer. It sounds good on the surface and looks good on paper, but the fact remains... if someone wants to kill a bunch of people, they are going to do it regardless of what laws are in place.

Sorry about perching myself atop the soapbox today. I'm feeling very emotional about yesterday's events. They hit very, very close to home. Please join me in praying for the people in Newtown, Connecticut. Their lives have been altered forever.

Jesus in school

Abby's show was terrific! All of the kids did a great job in the play. Obviously Abby stole the show!

I spent most of the evening with a tear in my eye. I was choked up because I was so proud of Abby. I was choked up because the story of Jesus' birth was being portrayed on a public school stage. In some small way I'd like to think some of these kids will be impacted by the biblical account. I'm guessing 99% of these kids had no idea they were acting out Luke 2 (in a humorous way). Maybe some seeds were planted that will one day sprout. I was choked up because Jessi's in-laws (Ray and Kathleen Morton) as well as numerous friends from church came to see the show. I was choked up because Michael and his girlfriend, Meredith came to watch the performance and Michael gave Abby a congratulatory hug afterward. I was also choked up because I was thinking of the events of today at a public school in Newtown, Connecticut. More about that in a later post. Finally I was choked up because the story itself is very touching. Abby did a great job tonight and I cannot wait to see the other performances.

Abby's BIG weekend

It's here! Abby's big weekend where she performs one of the leading roles in her high school play. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will have three performances this weekend. Of course we're going to all three... we wouldn't miss it for the world! There has been a lot of hard work leading up to this weekend and I'm eager to see the culmination of her efforts.

Break a leg, Abby!

Stealing Hearts

It was two years ago today Jessi and Barry first traveled to Russia as a married couple. It was on this day two years ago a little girl changed their lives (and ours) forever. Two years ago Sveta was in an orphanage and faced an uncertain future until a couple of American newlyweds showed up. As Barry put it, "This seemingly innocent little girl came up to me, ripped my heart out and said, 'I'll hold on to this until you return to take me home'". Well said, son-in-law!

Sveta stole Jessi and Barry's heart that day. She has been stealing the hearts of the rest of the family since. From the day we heard of the adoption plans I knew I would love this little girl (even if she wasn't a blood relative). However, I was totally unprepared for the emotion that would consume my life. I don't know the word to describe how much I love this sweet little angel. I'm certain it's a word that is so beautiful it hasn't been made up yet.

Sveta, my sweet. Your Goppa loves you very much! I thank the Lord you are here. You are such a blessing!

I'm tired

Remember Philippians 2:14? Do all things without arguing or complaining? You all know I'm working at this because I struggle with it. Is it considered complaining to say I'm really tired? Or is this simply an observation of my current physical condition? I guess if I went on to list all the negative things in my life that are causing my fatigue, that might be considered complaining. I'm as busy as I can be (with mostly good Christmas stuff), but also have a large number of my students wearing me out. I also have no foreseeable down time in which I can recharge my batteries.I'm tired and I'm only getting more so as this week goes on.

Feel free to call me out if this is considered complaining or grumbling, but I'm just plain tired all the time.

Christmas is crazy!

My love for the Christmas season has been well documented on this blog. There are only two things I don't like about it. First is the commercialization of the holiday and lack of emphasis on Jesus (Watch Charlie Brown's Christmas to see what I mean). Second is the busy-ness of everything. In addition to work, I have something scheduled every night between now and next Wednesday. Mind you, most of it is GOOD stuff. Thank goodness I get a week and a half off from school. However, in that time there are lots of Christmas parties, gatherings and other commitments. Thankfully there isn't something every day.

Christmas is a crazy time of year, but I refuse to let the commercialization and busy-ness of Christmas spoil the joy of the holiday. My house is decked out in honor of my Savior and I will celebrate his birth all month. Merry Christmas, everybody!

Hey! Unto you a child is born! SHAZAM!

I think most of you know Abby's high school play is this weekend. She'll be playing the part of Gladys Herdman in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". Gladys is a mean, bratty, five year old street urchin who plays the Angel of the Lord in the church pageant. One of the final lines in the play is, "Hey! Unto you a child is born! SHAZAM!". Hence the title of this post :-)

I am reading this book aloud to my class at school. It's a funny story about a family of rotten kids who hijack all the main roles in the church Christmas pageant (they got these roles through intimidation and coercion). After all the shenanigans (Stealing from the collection plate, drinking the communion wine and smoking cigars in the ladies room), the pageant ends up being the best ever (of course). The end of the book is very touching and as I was finishing it up with my class today, I got a lump in my throat. I got slightly choked up, but the kids didn't notice. I think if I had shed a tear, the kids probably wouldn't have understood anyway. I'm glad I didn't have to explain why I might have cried at the end of the story.

I'm looking forward to the play this weekend. I must also say I am happy a public school is putting on a play that includes the biblical account of Jesus' birth. It's done in a lighthearted, funny way, but the story is still there.

Merry CHRIST-mas, everyone!

And oh yeah... "HEY! UNTO YOU A CHILD IS BORN! SHAZAM!"

The (not so) empty nest

I'm guessing the parents out there are familiar with the "Empty Nest Syndrome". Parents who have had children to care for most of their married, adult lives, suddenly find themselves alone and staring at each other after their last child leaves home. Tami and I are not quite there, but we may soon take another step toward that empty nest. Believe me, it was hard enough when Jessi went off to college. We knew in our hearts she would never live under our roof again. But somehow her leaving was bearable because we still had two kids left at home. It's kind of like a batter who gets his first strike. He knows he has two more strikes before he strikes out.

For Michael's first semester of college, he has been commuting every day (about 35 minutes each way). He already spends so much time at school, time with his girlfriend and time at work we hardly ever see him. But at least I know he's sleeping in my house. I know he is safe and secure. For his second semester and probably for the rest of his college career, he is talking about renting a house near campus with some friends. As it relates to money, Michael renting a house is not much different than the money we currently spend on gas and food for him. This is very close to a done deal. The offer has already been extended from the owner of the house (a friend of ours from church). Michael will tell you how badly he wants to live out on his own (what 19 year old doesn't want THAT kind of freedom?). This kind of feels like the batter getting his second strike knowing he is down to his last one. If Michael truly does move out, Abby suddenly becomes an only child. She's a sophomore and is already making plans to go away to college. If she follows in her sister's footsteps, she'll be out the house, never to return in two and a half years.

This is frightening! I'm not that old! There is no way I should be less than three years from an empty nest... but in reality I am. This is a splash of cold water to my face! I feel like I'm down to my last strike and the pitcher is winding up to throw me his best pitch. Now more than ever I must cherish every minute with my kids. They are growing up so fast! I know Abby will be in college before I can blink. I can't believe how quickly time has gone.

Here's some humor for the situation:

Delicious Sundays

Tami has started the wonderful practice of preparing Sunday's lunch on Saturday night. That way when we get home from church on Sunday, everything is ready to eat with minimal preparation.

Today she outdid herself. The family absolutely loved the Mini Baked Ham Sandwiches she made. They're a lot like sliders (Think White Castles except ham sandwiches instead of burgers). The buns are King's Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls. The inside of the sandwich is shaved deli ham and swiss cheese. The sandwiches are covered with a sauce of melted butter, dijon mustard, dried minced onions and worcestershire sauce. Bake those babies for 15 minutes and you have bite sized deliciousness.

If anybody wants the recipe, it can be found on the King's Hawaiian website: kingshawaiian.com

Here's what they look like:

Gettin' Cultured!

I've never been what you'd call a refined or cultured guy. I enjoy the simple things in life. I'd rather enjoy buffalo wings and a beer than a fancy dinner at some snooty restaurant. I'd rather go to the ball game than the opera. I'd rather wear shorts and a t-shirt than a shirt and tie. But I'm not a total country bumpkin either. I've been to fancy restaurants and I know how to conduct myself in a formal dinner setting. I've been to the theater and to Music Hall to listen the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. I've been to the May Festival and I've been to a few "pooty tooty" shindigs in my time.

Tonight, I'll be getting a little more "cultured". We're going to the College Conservatory of Music for a ballet recital. A friend from church will be dancing and we want to go and support her.

A Christmas Tradition... Postponed

Our family has a tradition of going to the Metamora Christmas Walk every year. Metamora is an old canal town in Indiana that decks itself out for Christmas. The highlights are luminaries lining the canal, countless shops selling everything Christmas related, an old fashioned steam train and Christmas spirit oozing out of every nook and cranny of this quaint little village. The Christmas walk goes on every Friday and Saturday night during the holiday season.

We were going to go tonight, but unfortunately the weather forecast is beyond cruddy. It is supposed to rain all weekend... YUCK! It is mostly an outdoor activity, so going tonight is obviously out of the question. What's most disappointing is we were going to include Michael's girlfriend this year as well as taking Sveta for her first (of hopefully many) trips to Metamora. We are going to try and reschedule, but with a jam-packed Christmas calendar, I'm not sure we can. it would be a real shame if we didn't get to go this year.

These photos do not fully represent the wonderfulness of Metamora at Christmas time. but you get a taste of what it's like. Add the smells, tastes and sounds and you have a really good idea of what the whole place is like. What a wonderful tradition the Meyer family has!

Feelin' It!

I don't know if my crafty side has come out because I am filled with the Christmas spirit or if I am filled with the Christmas spirit because of my new found crafty side. Either way, when It comes to Christmas spirit, I am feeling it this year! I put up the exterior lights weeks ago. The inside of the house is more decorated than it has ever been (See previous posts about wine cork Christmas trees and reindeer) and last night I even went out and cut some pine boughs to add a little extra touch to the decorations. I must say it looks nice.

I also had the distinct pleasure of hosting and teaching a Bible study last night (Special Christmas Edition, of course!) Tami had an engagement outside the house, so I stepped in and taught the Bible study in her place. We focused on Luke 1 and 2. This covers the time from when the angel delivers the Good News to Mary, Joseph's struggle with the news, to the time of Jesus' birth, the shepherds, King Herod and finally the visit from the three wise men. No matter how many times I read the story, I never get tired of it and it never ceases to amaze me.

I also think there are a few more reasons I am filled with Christmas spirit this year. Abby is in a play at school next weekend... "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". The book is a short, but must read. Wonderful, funny and heartwarming story! I'm really looking forward to Abby's performance. I also think it's because this is Sveta's first Christmas with us. It's been a long time since we've had a little one around to be filled with the wonders of the Christmas season. I can't wait to see her experience everything!

More Christmas posts to follow...

Merry Christmas! And in the words of Dickens' Tiny Tim, "God Bless us, every one!"

Babysitting!

We received a call tonight requesting that we babysit Sveta tomorrow evening. Ummmm... YES! What time should we be there? Can't wait!

Increasing the herd

Thank you to my colleague and good friend, Carol Umberg. She set me up with a new supply of wine corks today. Where does she get all these corks? Well, I won't say she's a wino, but I can tell you she rates her day at school based on glasses of wine. If she has a good day, she says it's going to be a "one glass night". If she has a bad day, she says it's going to be a "two glass night". If she has a horrible day, well... you'd have to ask her.

Anyway, because of Carol's contribution of corks I was able to make more reindeer tonight. I made a special "Rudolph" for Carol (per her request). I also made a few more of Santa's team. Tonight it was Vixen, Comet and Cupid. Now all I have to do is make Donner, Blitzen and a sleigh.

Havin' fun!

Turkey Tuesday

Kudos to my wife, Tami (aka Suzy Homemaker).

On a Tuesday evening (tonight) she cooked a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing and dinner rolls made from scratch. Wow! I am set for lunches the rest of the week. Yum! She works so hard around our house. Thank you, Honey!

Santa's PARTIAL reindeer team

I must be a glutton for punishment. I know I'm probably setting myself up for some major ridicule. Why? Because I am now making reindeer out of used wine corks and sticks from the yard. So far I have Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Rudolph. Not quite half of Santa's team. I would have finished more but I am currently out of corks. If you have some and don't plan on using them, I'd love to put them to good use.

For you observant types... I'm sure you'll notice these reindeer have no eyes. Use your imagination :-)

Here they are... 4/9 of Santa's famed reindeer team.

Ain't I pathetic?