I'm back!!

Hola everyone! Hope you all had an amazing Christmas! The past few days have been very busy here---but wonderful nonetheless. Friday brought only half of a day of work and then to the boys school--Marlon to chaperone a bowling trip and me to help run Elijah's Christmas party. Friday night Jordyn had a babysitting job and we went to my niece's "Holiday" concert. Very cute even though it was total chaos & over an hour long! Afterwards we all went out to eat. Did a lot of wrapping that night.

Sat. we ran errands, I took Jordyn to her dad's (it was her year to sleep at his house on Christmas eve)I did some laundry, went to Christmas Eve service, watched my nieces for a few hours and finished the Christmas shopping. Marlon's awesome gift for his family almost didn't work--so there was a lot of praying on my part on Sat. that it would come together. After everyone went to bed Marlon helped me finish the wrapping.

Sunday we were able to sleep in a little, so I was so glad we had decided to go to church on Sat. We make Mexican food at my Grandma's house (who lives next door) so I spent the day going back and forth helping them and getting the taco meat going (my job for the last several years) It's so awesome because Marlon and I both come from close families, but our traditions complement each other so well that we didn't need to change anything when we got married. My dad's family celebrates at my Grandma Calderon's pretty much all afternoon and into the evening. His family opens presents right at midnight. So we head out to Milwaukee at about 9.

My Grandma's house. Now this is hard to explain to anyone. My dad is the oldest of 10 kids. I am the oldest of 25 grandkids, there are already 21 great grandkids!! Just about everyone-except occasionally my uncle, cousin/wife who live in Cali.-comes to my Grandma's for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Including all in-laws and boyfriend/girlfriends-there are 73 people!! All in one 4 bedroom house! This year we took a picture outside of her house when the majority of us were there--I think like 10 are missing. As soon as my aunt e-mails it, I'll post it. It's so hard to describe and do it justice. There is Mexican food for days--chicken mole, tamales, enchiladas, tostados, tacos, sopa, fidejo, beans...when we open gifts--everyone sits and waits and watches as my Grandma opens hers first. Even the kids. Patience is a good thing and they can whine all they want--it's the way it is. Actually because it's been our tradition for so long, nobody is really too out of hand about it. The "grown-ups" (or aunts and uncles) all exchange names and then all of the cousins older than 14 through me exchange names. Everyone younger gets a gift from Grandma. There is so much sound--kids yelling, babies crying, men yelling at some game, me and my aunts yelling at Jr. (my cousin) for sneaking in the kitchen and eating, laughing at stories and loud heated debates around the dining room table. This year was even more wonderful because two of my aunts who have not been speaking made up and it ended with my Grandma and her three daughters in the kitchen crying and hugging. I love them all-warts and all.

Then we head to the Pitchford's. They are a hoot too. His uncle Jerome falling out while he passes out the gifts, breaking into song, his uncle Keith and Marlon and their witty verbal sparring, dominoes or spades, Miracle on 34th St. Our boys are really the only kids that come-so they are usually pretty spoiled there with gifts. Sometimes Micah (Marlon's cousin Nori's daughter) comes too. Marlon's slide show gift was a big hit and everyone was so thankful that he took the time to do that for them. Again lots of food and laughs, noise...I love it! We finally head home around 1:30am and by 2:15 we're all in bed and ASLEEP--at least this year we didn't have to run around and "be Santa"!

Christmas day we usually get up around 8ish and open gifts with the kids. Jordyn's dad brings her about 10 and then she gets to open all of her gifts as well as the one from Grandma Calderon's and the ones from the Pitchford's. By noon we're all dressed and packing the car because we head over to my mom's to celebrate with her family. My uncle and his family and my Aunt and hers all come. We have more finger food there and do a white elephant gift exchange. There we also played Dance Dance Revolution and the kids had a dance off! After everyone else leaves my parents, our family and my sister and her family all stay to exchange our gifts.
Whew! Now you know why I slept until 10 today and then stayed in sweats all day...lol! I did get a lot of the gifts put away and of course did a load of laundry. There were a ton of leftovers to eat and so Marlon and I didn't have to cook-so that was nice. I have vacation all week so I plan to have a few friends over for lunch--Marlon and I were given a gift certificate to the Cheesecake Factory (which we've never been to) so maybe we'll use that.

Now we're caught up and my goodness what a long post! Who knew so much could happen in such a few days!
God bless!!

Can't think of a title!!

Well-we did it again--got 90% of our shopping done in one night! Found a lot of good sales and all that's left is a gift for my cousin (we exchange names on the Calderon's side) I even stayed up to get most of the wrapping done...didn't bring the kids stuff in from the car--will probably tackle that tomorrow night. One nice thing is with no Santa-there's not a need to hide. Once it's wrapped it can go under the tree!

Tomorrow will be a pretty full day. I have to work 1/2 a day, then run and buy cupcakes for Elijah's birthday (his b--day is in July but it's his "Star Student" week at school) then go to the school to help out at his class Christmas party. Marlon will chaperone Isaiah's class on their bowling field trip. Then we have my niece's concert tomorrow night and Jordyn is babysitting for her youth group leader's kids.

I still really can't believe that it's going to be Christmas already. The more I really think about it...I believe that Marlon being gone for Oct. and then all of us being gone for Thanksgiving totally threw off our pace of life for the fall. For fun I searched blogs with the word Christmas...it's cool to see all of the blogs with Christmas pictures, family photos, stories of how they celebrate. I know...Curious George!

As the year ends, it's always fun to look back over the year and think about all that's happened. 2006 was a good year and very blessed:

• Marlon and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary--we've come a long way baby!!
• My sister, aunt, mom, friend and I enjoyed an awesome weekend away at Breakway! (and I certainly can't wait until this March for another!)
• Marlon coached the boy's Upward basketball teams, last season of rec soccer and Izzy's baseball team
• We met Kilyouni Kilounde from Zambia during Elmbrook's International Center
• Jordyn finished her freshman year with a 4.3 GPA
• Many weddings: Lannetta & Ansley, Kris & Stacy, Rafe & GerryLynn, Dustin & Michelle
• Our annual family get away to the Wilderness-the kids had such a good time and I am always amazed at how brave they are!!
• Summer activities: Discovery Days, Musical Camp, Kids Kamp
• Marlon got another 2 classes under his belt
• I got to coach my friend from Teen MOPS, Jackie, during her delivery
• Isaiah switched to select soccer and we entered a whole new world!
• Marlon's mission trip to Africa--what an amazing month for all of us. Really reminded us to put first things first and stay focused on Him.
• Harvest Fest and Jubilee at Elmbrook
• The Pitchford vacation to Florida

It looks so nice and simple when you just bullet the "big" things...lol.

Before I go, I have a prayer request. My cousin, Jasmine, died three years ago tomorrow. She was only 18 and it was very unexpected...they believe it to be meningitis. She woke up feeling ill on a Sat.---told my aunt and uncle she thought she was going to die, was in a coma by Sunday and by Monday she was pronounced dead. Please pray for my Aunt Josie, Uncle Larry, and cousins: Larry Jr., Joseph and Gabrielle. Pray that they continue to heal, that they continue to embrace life and have some happy moments amidst the feelings of loss they still deal with on a daily basis.

Love your families. Let go of anger and hurt. Live in honesty and hold yourself accountable for your actions and "re"actions. Don't dwell on the past. Life is too short.

I doubt I'll be back on before Christmas...so much still to do. So if I'm not--have a very, very Merry Christmas!! God's blessing on you and yours!!

Just an update...

Hi everyone--
like the title says...just an update today. Monday we had our Christmas party for Children's Ministry and revealed our secret santa gifts. I got some really cool scrapbooking stuff from Cheri. She was the best secret santa...her gifts were totally perfect for me. We had wonderful food, fun chats...it was just nice to get out of the office and hang out together for a few hours. Then we broke struck the set for Bethlehem Marketplace for the rest of the day.
My friend Jackie and I were talking about how we have a sort of "senioritis" this week. Knowing that the building is closed next week and that I only have a 1/2 day on Friday to help out with the kids Christmas parties...it is very hard to concentrate at work...lol. There's also so much to do at home to get ready--it is like I'm just not keeping up. The one thing that I am doing different is that I am not allowing myself to get stressed by it. Perspective is just totally different for us this year.

Then this month is always a hard month financially because there are so many of Marlon's contributors that don't send their normal contribution because they do an end of the year gift--Jordyn's dad also lost his job so her child support is not coming regularly (when it does come)--so it's just always a walk in faith. Not that other months aren't, this one is just more so because for the past 3 years that he's been a full time missionary it's been this way in December. Another yucky thing is knowing that our van is dying and we'll need to get something new soon. Seriously dying. But I just know that it's going to last the winter. After Christmas we'll have my cousin who's a mechanic take a look at it and get it all tuned up and then we should be good to go until at least March.

My house was a crazy mess this morning as we were on the hunt with the boys for a hat, a pair of gloves and pair of glasses....new glasses mind you, just replaced last week. Chaos, never ending chaos of lost and misplaced, forgotten things.

Tonight is a soccer game (what else is new) and tomorrow night Marlon and I will probably get some Christmas shopping done.

Meanwhile--the 12 days of Christmas is going very well. The kids are really enjoying it. Today is day 8--so in a few days I can post the whole shebang for you.

That's all for now. Back to work.

Can you believe....

Now I know that there are still very ignorant people in the world when it comes to race, prejudice, etc...but when someone flat out demonstrates that in conversation with me--I still never cease to be floored! Here goes:

On Friday I volunteered at Bethlehem Marketplace. I love doing it because it really reminds me of one of my favorite (and yet, very infrequently used) pastime--acting. I'm in costume as a money lender in Bethlehem...giving each patron 4 sheckles (sp?) to spend at the shops of Bethlehem. There is a very shy, quiet woman who is working with me in this role. The fun part of this part is that there is always a short little break between the groups coming through. We get a little time to chat every once in a while. Anyway....so as we are talking I can tell we don't have much in common--not that there's anything wrong with that--sometimes you just get the feeling that you're more being cordial to each other than really caring about what the other person is saying. After one group of really fun, excitable school age children pass I tell her how I love volunteering during the day when the school groups go through. They are so engaging and love to interact with the volunteers and it's easy to see that they are truly amazed by what they see, hear and smell in Bethlehem. She agrees and then starts to tell me about a large group that came through the day before of high schoolers. (I start to smile because I am sure she is talking about my aunties school--all 167 and me certainly qualified as a large high school group...lol) She says, "They were so excited and really enjoyed themselves, they were...pretty much all...colored...."

Okay. Read that last sentence again. Yes, you read correctly. She said colored. If you know me....you know that it took everything inside of me not to pass out right there or scream at the top of my lungs. What I did do was take a deep breath, swallow and kind of interrupt saying, "Black you mean?" She said, "oh...yes....and they were really well-behaved" This as well irritated me to no end. Well-behaved compared to?? Why was this said with such awe? Unfortunately because of the setting, continued groups of kids and I think her realization that she said something wrong--there really wasn't time to talk about it anymore than that.

1st thing. People you can not say colored. This woman was not in her 80s. She was probably in her 40s....she was not from a generation where that word was okay. She should know better. She isn't living on one of the last plantations left in the south that is decades behind the rest of society. She should know better.
2nd thing. Someone's race usually doesn't need to be brought into it. Are there times it can be appropriate? Sure. Now if I'm describing my husband at church to someone who says they don't know him--I know if I say, "he is the handsome bald, black man that works with prison ministry" I know they will know him because he is pretty much the only one. If those high school kids had been white, would she have said, " They were so excited and really enjoyed themselves, they were...they were....pretty much all...honkies....??? (using the decade correct terminology mind you) Um...probably not.

So anyway...just had to share that story!

What's the rest of my life been like since I last blogged? Well, it's large choir worship this weekend, so Elijah and I are singing. That meant practise on Thursday and then a full weekend at church. Yesterday we went to the Stuedemann's to watch movies and hang out--such fun! Jordyn watched the boys for us and it really was a much needed break just kickin' back with friends. Today I did a lot of laundry, some cleaning, shopping, choir practise and Sat. night service and after blogging this I have to get the music ready for tomorrow. Marlon and I head up to Taycheedah tomorrow and my parents are watching the boys for us. Elijah and I have to be there at 7am and then Marlon will come with Israel and Isaiah for 2nd service. Tomorrow night we have a project for one kid, Kid of the Week poster board for another and of course, more laundry. I am looking more and more forward to my vacation between Christmas and New Year's!!
Nite :)

Marlon...I mean Elijah...I mean Marlon

Here is handsome Marlon probably about Elijah's age. They look so much alike!



This picture is Marlon with Niecy and Phillip. Love that 80s tie!! I love looking at old pictures. It's both fun and sad sometimes to look back and remember life...friends....family. Anyway, can't gab--gotta get ready for work! It's so quiet here though--the boys had dental appointments this morning so Marlon took them, Jordyn is always gone by 6:50 and I don't have to be to work until about 8:30 so there's a nice lull in the house right now. Have a great day!!

Old School...

This is a picture of Marlon's Granny and Pops back in the day. Aren't they awesome! He's doing this very cool Christmas gift for his family with pictures...one I may actually to think about for next year with mine. Anyway---there are so many awesome pictures that I am going to have to pick a few and post (like a couple of Marlon when he was little!!)

Weekend...

What a great weekend this was. Friday our friends, Eda and Albo from Nairobi, Kenya came for dinner. We talked about differences in worship here and there...ministry...racial things...everything under the sun really. We had a great time and will definately have to get together again.
Yesterday we went to Bethlehem Marketplace at Elmbrook. Really try and get there if you can. Amazing. The kids were much older and got so much more out of it. The way everyone stays in character just adds so much to the experience. Marlon is kind of mentoring this boy Collin and so he came and spent the day with us yesterday. He seemed to really enjoy himself. He's 16 and lives in Mukwonago. He seems to really just need an outlet to relax, get a different perspective about life and process. That is one place where Marlon really uses his gifts well...he can help young people get themselves in check---but in a way where they respect him and his opinions. He seemed to really connect with our boys as well and they of course thought he was great. After Bethlehem Marketplace I had worship practise and then service...Marlon, Collin, the boys and my niece went to visit with Pops in Milw. After service my sister picked me up at church and brought me home--then I watched my nieces while Connie and Rod went bowling with my parents. Afterwards they all stopped over--talk about a full house...lol. After everyone went home and Marlon ran Collin home I got things ready for church. Today because I sang I had to be at church from 7am to noon. Then I went to lunch with a good friend from high school, Jeri. Do you have the kind of friend where you can see each other only once or twice a year...but when you do it's like there's been no time in between? It's an awesome thing. I have a few friends like that and they are truly those special people that are part of your life for always. Jeri is one of them. We probably could have talked even longer, but of course we had to get back to our families. Then at 5 was Isaiah's soccer game. They played pretty good, especially for having 10 days in between games...and lost by one point. This was the last game for indoor session 1. Now there a little break before session 2 begins. Actually sports are about to really take over because basketball begins the first week of Jan. for the other two boys!! Jordyn and I will really need a girl's day out then!
So as I was folding clothes tonight and thinking back over my weekend I just had to thank God for the blessings that He's given us. When we flounder and make mistakes--He is forgiving and understanding. When we get caught up in our own choices and don't put Him first--He showers us with grace and mercy and gives us a new day to start fresh. Each day is new in Him and a new chance to serve His will. Blessings all around---friends, both old and new, family that I love to spend time with, a full house of love, children that love the Lord, my Grandma that lives right next door so that I can be there for her as she needs me. Don't overlook and take for granted your blessings. Nite!

Christmas and other stuff

Now that none of our kids believe in Santa, we aren't doing St. Nick and Santa this year. It's exciting because it helps take the pressure off of "doing" Santa. While we love giving the kids gifts and actually just gifts in general, I certainly don't like the commercialism that this season unfortunately becomes. Jesus. If it wasn't for the birth of the Christ child we would not even celebrate this holiday! How soon we forget! How soon we make it something it's not!

So what we are doing this year is getting each of the kids that one thing we know they really, really want. That special thing that any other time of the year we normally wouldn't buy or spend money on, but will be a wonderfully cherished gift. For the oldest two we've already determined what that is, for the younger two we are still in discussion...lol. The other thing we are doing is actually something really fun that my friends Dave and Sue did years ago with their daughters. It sounded so fun I had to copy!! (Thanks Sue for letting me steal your idea!) I wrote our own 12 Days of Christmas poem with fun little gifts and treats--that our kids love-as "my parent's gave to me" Each morning we'll have the next day's gift for them with the next part of the poem. After it's done-I'll share the poem.

As a side note, I found out today that two of my friends at work are pregnant! Well, actually for one-it's his wife that's pregnant! It's so exciting because both sets of parents just LOVE kids and will be awesome parents! I also have a cousin that's pregnant and since babies seem to run in threes in my family...I am sure that there will be more. Luckily, since I no longer have the "parts"...lol...I don't have to worry about it being ME! Until my kids are much older and we possibly become foster parents--we are done with babies and toddlers in this house :)

Well, off to write some more Christmas cards. I think I'm already to 60, but my lifelong friend Jeri already got hers out so now the pressure is on ;) (just teasing Jer)

Have a great day tomorrow--I have choir practise and a Bethlehem Marketplace meeting and missionary friends from Africa to dinner on Friday--so I probably won't be around until Sat. Um...not like that matters :) Nite!

Chicken Wings

Funny thing at work today. I share this story not to make any one embarassed...it's just funny to me.

Elmbrook is famous for gatherings with food. Holidays, birthdays, retirements...any excuse to bring goodies! What I've noticed in the year that I've been there is that there are never chicken wings. Now this is what is odd about that. Every job I've had as an adult--white people have been the minority. Those that are usually the minorities (hispanics, blacks, asians, etc.) have been the majority. There were ALWAYS chicken wings...always.
Here at Elmbrook, I often times give money to someone else who is bringing something, or bring in something sweet. So today for one of our Pastor's send off parties...I forgot and had to run to the store. As I enter the store--the hot deli is just bringing up their chicken wings and I say to myself, "I'm bringing in wings" I am not sure how they will go over...but I think, why have I NOT been bringing them, just because nobody else does? As people walk up to the table I hear a lot of questions about the wings...who brought them? why are there wings there? etc. I proceed to tell a small group around me that I brought them. A few of them tell me they've never been to a gathering where there are wings. I laugh and tell them until Elmbrook, I've never been to a gathering where there aren't wings...lol. A couple honestly look dumbfounded and ask why? I tell them maybe white people don't think of wings as a finger food/hor dourves...lol. Then of course we all have a good laugh and a couple of them tell me how they have learned so many new things since I've been there...lol and they ask if I will always bring the wings!! If it means that I will get wings at Elmbrook gatherings...I will always bring them!!
Now, please don't be offended. I am not trying to say that all minorities specialize in wings or that all minorities LOVE chicken. What I think this does show is that there are cultural things that we don't always know about others and this can be a wall we never get through.
God said that we are to love each other as He loved us and we are to treat others as we would want to be treated. A lot of us "Christians" say this with a smile and believe that we live by it. We might very honestly be trying to do so. Now I am including myself in this because I've been guilty of this in the past as well. If we are to love each other....don't we need to know a little about each other? If we are to break bread together, walk in each other's shoes...shouldn't we get to know simple things that can help break barriers and bring us closer? I am white and mexican so all of my life I've lived in a dual zone. It was hard growing up and I was sometimes confused. As an adult I consider it a blessing to have insight into different cultures. The world around us is full of minorities. Do you allow yourself to interact on a personal level with ANY of them? Is your only interaction that with the clerk at the store, the staff person at your job who you smile at but never actually go to lunch with, the nurse at your Dr. office? If so, why is that? If so, how is that? How is it that in your entire life you've never befriended a minority such that they are part of your life? Invited to gatherings at your home, sharing life milestones, doing everyday things together? Just thoughts in my head. Look where I can go from chicken wings...lol.

This is my command. Love each other as I have loved you.

Oh one more thing....get to Bethlehem Marketplace! If you've never been, it's an amazing walk to the manger through Bethlehem. You will see and experience things you can't even imagine. For more info click here

Snow Day...

Today was wonderful...of course any of you in south eastern WI know that there was a snow day from school today. We all stayed in bed just a little bit longer than normal. Unfortunately, I did have some work I had to do for the weekend programming-so I went in from 9-11 but that wasn't too bad. I'm thankful to have a job where family is so important and as long as I have done what I need to there isn't a problem with me leaving to go home with the kids.

So when I got home we all had lunch and then watched Ice Age: the Meltdown. It's a cute movie. After a short cat nap, Marlon and the boys headed outside to snow blow and make snow forts, Jordyn got online (what a surprise...lol) and I headed upstairs to conquer our bedroom. Our closet needed an overhaul...especially since aquiring a new winter wardrobe from Niecy. I also got all of the Christmas decorations out of the cubby and put up all of my summer stuff. Then I went to work on the blinds--it's been awhile since I cleaned them really good. Now the room is finally done, just needs clean bedding and each kid has a pile of clothes to put away. Marlon not only did our yard, he went next door as usual and did my Grandma's, but also went across the street and did our neighbors. We have that kind of old school neighborly relationship with them. We aren't really friends, but we do things for each other often. I send over any clothes that are in decent condition once Izzy is done with them for their younger sons, we often send food/snacks over to each other, watch each other's homes when we're on vacation. It's kind of nice. Then everyone came in for cocoa or hot apple cider and now we're watching Polar Express. Exactly like a snow day should be.

I hope each of you...whether I know you or whether you're just a blogger browser...lol...had a fun and relaxing day.