'77 Holst

While driving to the aiport in Chicago, my dad and I talked a little about our favorite memories over the Christmas holiday. He told me that his was waking up with the babies and watching them interact while the other "adults" slept in. I would have to say that this was a highlight for me as well (watching the babies, not sleeping in, although the latter is sorely missed these days and most appreciated). It was so wonderful to spend time with my entire family, and I always feel a little sad when we have to part ways. If Clara and Lucas were able to articulate what their favorite times over the holiday were, I'm guessing that they would have something to do with the car that my grandfather built for my older brother Jon in 1977. (It sounds like there is a twin out there that was built for Ben). The kids spent a majority of their time crawling in and out of this wonderful little car. Clara would get a serious look on her face as she placed the key in the ignition and turned it just like mom and dad. Next time we all get together it will be interesting to see if Clara has learned to share yet. :) 

Peter

So, in the effort to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas, we have again been going thru the "What Does God Want For Christmas?" manger scene. The quick explanation is it is a manger scene designed for children. Each day leading up to Christmas you open gift which is another player in the manger scene. The 7th day is a box with a mirror in it, answering the question, "What does God Want for Christmas" with an image of yourself. Each day has a story that  goes with it, and the little story at the end of each day points to the last box answering the most important question. Anyway, we have been building on that, letting the anticipation build, hoping that we are instilling in our children the true meaning of Christmas. After doing the 6th box tonight and talking about Jesus and why he came as a baby, I asked the boys "So, what do you think God wants for Christmas?" Isaiah just kind of looked at me like I was some kind of idiot and said "He's a baby all he wants is his pacifier." and Dominic quickly responded "no, he wants a 'mote contol monser twuck, just wike me." (translation "no, he wants a remote control monster truck just like me.") So, there you have it.  Hmmm.  Better luck next year. 

Actually Isaiah and I had a heart warming/tear-jerking (for me) talk later on about Jesus as a baby and Jesus on the cross. While all the dots might not be totally connected yet, he gets it. He gets that Jesus died for our sins, and that he is a sinner, that we all are sinners. It was one of those moments, in the midst of snow boots, stuffed animals, plastic snakes, dirty clothes and hot wheels cars, that I felt the Lord sitting next to Isaiah and I on the couch and He was even more touched by our conversation than I was. I hope as the next couple of days unfold into our Christmas celebrations that I can, in the midst of all the busyness, remember why and for whom we are celebrating. May the peace and life-giving truth of what this season is really about rest in your hearts. Merry Christmas!!

I will try and post some pics in the coming days.

Love, Kim 

Christmas Memories

As I sit and reflect upon memories of Christmas, I think back to the FIRST plane ride I ever went on. It was to San Diego to visit Grandma Kay, Bob, Mary & Katie. It would be my first Christmas in WARM weather and NO snow for sure!!! It brings a smile to my face to think back to that trip. It was my first REAL memories of Mary & Katie, we went to the beach and enjoyed the beautiful S. Calif. weather. Grandma smiled from ear to ear the entire time we were there. Bob was such a gentle/loving man that was wanting to get to know Kay's family. Fast forward to Christmas '08... Now being married and trying to balance seeing both the Holst & Stohr family is difficult at any holiday. This year Jen and I decided that it was important to do our best to see both families. I'm very glad we did. We went to Minneapolis on Christmas Eve day and returned to Yankton on Friday. We were able to see Jen's family, of which her grandparents are both living at 80+ years old! Each year that goes by and they are around is a blessing.

We were then able to catch up with my mom (who lives in Ames, IA) and both Ben & Eric as well as their families. I wa

s able to be the uncle that entertained Friday night as the kids finished watching KungFu Panda they were all feeling a little rambunctious. Easy enough, we set up a large dog bed with multiple blankets and they started doing body slams off the automan!! They loved it. We then went to the unfinished basement and had "races" from one end of the basement to the other. After running crazy, Wyatt and Dominic came back upstairs and wanted to body slam Uncle Andy off the automon onto the couch. Next thing I knew, Wyatt was dive bombing me off the couch arm! I LOVED every minute of it!!

This year we decided to minimize the gift exchanging among adults and I enjoyed our time as much or more!!! The gift was our time spent with one another. As I get older I notice how the time spent with family is more and more important. It was a blessing this year to spend time with both the Stohr and Holst families. Sitting and reflecting on the memories and putting them in writing has been a good excercise for me as well!!!

Wishing everyone a great New Year in 2009!!!!

Andy Holst (I wish I had some pictures to post, but I don't)

The best gift I received this year came unexpectedly. Richard and I were on our way back from Manuel Antonio and stopped at a roadside cafe along the coast near Carara Biological Preserve. Now I'd been to Carara two other times specifically to see the scarlet macaws, a magnificent bird that once thrived here in Costa Rica and is now near extinction. On my first visit I came up empty sighted. On the second (with Barb and Jim) we saw one macaw and with our guide's help managed to get this picture before it flew off deeper into the park.
But on this December day as Richard and I walked back to the car after having coffee I saw a couple large bright birds land in the palm tree just a few feet from where we stood. "Hey, look at those big parrots." I said to him, not even thinking about what we were seeing. One of the pair was slightly hidden by the palm fronds, but the other was clearly visible, the sunlight causing his bright red, blue & yellow plumage to glisten like precious jewels. He squawked loudly and then he and his mate flew over our heads displaying an expansive wing spread and length close to three feet. It was the long, forked tail that made me realize we were seeing a pair of macaws, a rare sight in this country where they once filled the skies.
Carara National Park is the home of around 40 pairs of these birds, a population they hope will grow larger. We had the good fortune to see this pair as they ventured out of the park to the nearby beach. I wish I could send you a picture of them in flight, it is an awe-inspiring sight.
What I hope to share is the sense of wonder that came to me in viewing these magnificent and beautiful birds.

Mary

Christmas in Illinois

Being a grandparent is all it's cracked up to be. You get to play with the babies until they're fussy and then hand them off to their parents. You get to buy them obnoxious, noise-making gifts and not be subjected to the chaos that creates. You get to laugh at their cute antics and not bear the consequence of the reinforced behavior that is no longer cute. All of that I expected. What I didn't expect was to experience grandchildren as such a strong link to my own family of origin, to Mom & Dad, to memories of Auntie Litz, Jim & Jane, Terry & Kari, Grandma Holst. Clara and Lucas loved Dad's car...the one he made in duplicate for Ben & Jonathan. As Clara learned to insert the ignition key in the right place and Lucas figured out how to open the hood without mangling his fingers I wondered if Dad was smiling over them.

We all went to the bowling alley on the day after Christmas for a family outing suitable for all ages (as long as there are grandparents to distract the babies). I saw the real bowlers with their wheely bowling bags and remembered Mom & Dad's '50's style bowling bags; Dad's efforts to teach me to throw a straight ball and my total resistance to learning anything from him.

I wondered if Mom & Dad got as much of a thrill out of seeing me become a parent as I get out of watching Suzanne, Jonathan & Peter with their kids? If it made them as happy to see Mary become Aunt Mary to my kids as it makes me to see Michael be 'Uncle Mike'? Did they come to love Jim the way I love Elizabeth, Amanda & Jay? Were they as grateful for Jim as I am for these 3 who love my children?

Katie is the best gift of all this Christmas. Every single one of us agrees that Mary is the greatest...she made her visit possible. Jonathan says that Katie reminds him of his Aunt Mary, in her mannerisms, an occasional look about her. All I know is that, like her mother, she makes us all laugh. Who else would have found 'obscene' bandaids to put in Jay's stocking? (you can imagine the words printed on the bandaids!) And like her father she can tell a story with perfect timing that has everyone in stitches.

Families can be hard, they can be painful. What in life isn't that way sometimes? But for this Christmas of 2008 I feel tremendously blessed...in my immediate family, in my extended family, in my family of origin. And very grateful.

For Mary

More to come soon...

Tis the Season

I just thought that I would share some fun photos from over the weekend. I am not sure if this is redundant because of the facebook connection, but I will do it anyway. The kids LOVE the snow, winter, sledding, and all that jazz. We had a wonderful time making cookies last weekend and then decorating them. Here are a few photos from our recent festivities.