Isak
I am 7. I am in 1st grade. My favorite subject is math. I was born on Tuesday, November 11, 2004 (no, it wasn’t actually a Tuesday, it was a Thursday). I do taekwondo. I am a blue belt. I go to Guion Creek Elementary. My teacher’s name is Mrs. Carol Crider. I do choir in room 113 (this is the room his choir meets in at a local university. He and Becca are both in the Indianapolis Children’s Choir). In school I am in room 1. My favorite thing to do is read. My favorite food is spaghetti.
Becca
I turned 8 in January. I’ve met lots of new friends, like Hannah (I have no idea who Hannah is, but apparently she is important enough to mention in the holiday letter). When I turned 8 I got baptized at my church. After that I went home and got gifts, cake and play time. (Since Becca didn’t share much about herself, I’ll add just a bit. She is in 3rd grade this year and loves her teacher and classmates. She is still taking dance lessons and this year is participating in her dance studio’s production of The Nutcracker. Between school work, choir, dance, church activities, and a couple of extra-curricular clubs at school – scrabble and quilting – she is a busy girl. We frequently talk about cutting back, but she is just like her mama and wants to do EVERYTHING!)
Tricia
I continue to stay busy keeping the family on track. I am amazed at how much more time I have with both of the kids in school all day. I enjoy the flexibility in my schedule and the uninterrupted time to get things done, but I’m always happy when 3:30 rolls around and the kids walk through the door. I have thought frequently over the past few months that my life has the perfect balance of calm and crazy.
I have been serving at church as the Primary president, which I thoroughly enjoy. I have been teaching a scripture study class for women for the past year and a half, and it has been such a blessing to me. I love preparing the lessons and I enjoy the discussions we have in class.
I have become more active in the PTO at the kids’ school, serving this year as treasurer and also assigned to a couple of special projects. Volunteering at the school is so rewarding! It is an honor to work with the children and to get to know the adults who have such an impact on the lives of my kids.
Jeremy
This has been a fun and busy year. Most notably, I have been accepted into the AEGD (Advanced Education in General Dentistry) of the US Air Force and report to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in August. It adds a year commitment to what I already owe the Air Force, but it will be great from a practice standpoint, because it will introduce me to many specialties and allow me to become a more independent dentist. I am working hard to complete the graduation requirements of Dental school and anticipate gradating in May. I am constantly amazed at how awesome my wife and children are. (If you have time, I have many stories I can share.) We are hoping to have an addition to our family soon, but the waiting process for adopting within the US is very long and slow. We’ve been approved for adoption, but have yet to be selected.
We have received many blessings throughout the year and count ourselves lucky to have you in our lives. We wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I'm back!
So, a month after my last post, I'm back! The last week before the Matis reunion got a little crazy. For those of you who don't know, Jeremy and I were in charge of plannng a reunion for his family. We held the reunion for a week over Christmas, and all 25 members of his family were able to be there. We had a lot of fun planning and being at the reunion, but WOW! It was a lot of work! Preparing for Christmas, the reunion and a trip all in one was a challenge. Everything went smoothly, but I worked hard to prepare and it will take me a while to feel caught up again.
We tried to get letters out to as many people as possible, but with all of the planning and preparations going on here, we didn't have time to track down addresses for those who have moved that we wanted to send letters to. If you have moved and did not receive a letter from us, would you please send me an email with your address? I love to send and receive holiday letters!
For those of you who did not receive our letter, I will post it here. I decided to have everyone write their own part of the letter this year (partially because I thought it would be fun to see what the kids would write about and partially to save myself time!), so I will post each of our sections under our names.
I truly hope that everyone had a beautiful Christmas and that the New Year has gotten off to a great start!
We tried to get letters out to as many people as possible, but with all of the planning and preparations going on here, we didn't have time to track down addresses for those who have moved that we wanted to send letters to. If you have moved and did not receive a letter from us, would you please send me an email with your address? I love to send and receive holiday letters!
For those of you who did not receive our letter, I will post it here. I decided to have everyone write their own part of the letter this year (partially because I thought it would be fun to see what the kids would write about and partially to save myself time!), so I will post each of our sections under our names.
I truly hope that everyone had a beautiful Christmas and that the New Year has gotten off to a great start!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Gratitude
December 14
Becca is grateful for medicine so that she can get better.
Isak is grateful for the roof because it protects us from the rain.
Dad is grateful for our heated mattress pad.
Mom is grateful for the Children's Museum.
The Children's Museum of Indinapolis is amazing! Each year since 2005 we have bought an annual pass because we love to go often, and it is so worth it! Even now that the kids are both in school all day during the week, I will sometimes pick them up from school and head straight to the museum and get in a couple of hours of play time before it closes. We also enjoy the times that the museum opens early or stays open late just for members. We have been so lucky to have this amazing museum so close to us.
Here are a couple of photos from over the years...
May 2005 - Becca playing in the Playscape kitchen and Isak admiring himself in Babyscape
September 2006 - at the museum with friends
December 2006 - enjoying Jolly Days with cousins
March 2008 - Isak playing at the Curious George exhibit and Becca in the race car
November 2011 - serving up a delicious buffet with Emma and riding on the carousel
December 14, 2011
Getting Froggy in the Frog Exhibit
A Chat with Santa
A Snowball Fight with Bumblebee
Another Ride Down the Yule Slide
I love spending time with my kids at the Children's Museum! By the way, if any of you have photos that I don't have, can you send them to me?
Becca is grateful for medicine so that she can get better.
Isak is grateful for the roof because it protects us from the rain.
Dad is grateful for our heated mattress pad.
Mom is grateful for the Children's Museum.
The Children's Museum of Indinapolis is amazing! Each year since 2005 we have bought an annual pass because we love to go often, and it is so worth it! Even now that the kids are both in school all day during the week, I will sometimes pick them up from school and head straight to the museum and get in a couple of hours of play time before it closes. We also enjoy the times that the museum opens early or stays open late just for members. We have been so lucky to have this amazing museum so close to us.
Here are a couple of photos from over the years...
May 2005 - Becca playing in the Playscape kitchen and Isak admiring himself in Babyscape
September 2006 - at the museum with friends
December 2006 - enjoying Jolly Days with cousins
March 2008 - Isak playing at the Curious George exhibit and Becca in the race car
November 2011 - serving up a delicious buffet with Emma and riding on the carousel
December 14, 2011
Getting Froggy in the Frog Exhibit
A Chat with Santa
A Snowball Fight with Bumblebee
Another Ride Down the Yule Slide
I love spending time with my kids at the Children's Museum! By the way, if any of you have photos that I don't have, can you send them to me?
Monday, December 12, 2011
Gratitude
December 11
Becca is grateful that we have cousins who love us.
Isak is grateful for his birth.
Daddy is grateful for the fireplace (we had a cozy fire last night).
Mommy is grateful for family time.
December 12
Mommy is grateful for our stake (we had stake conference this past weekend and I love that I know almost everyone there - I've lived in Indy a long time. It will be strange when we start moving around with the Air Force to not know so many people. So many of the people here have had such an impact on me. I think of them as a giant extended family).
Isak is grateful for the United States.
Daddy is grateful that he still has a whole semester to finish his graduation requirements (he's had a lot of set backs lately...patients not showing up to appointments, lab work gone wrong, etc.).
Becca is grateful that she gets to be with family over Christmas break.
Becca is grateful that we have cousins who love us.
Isak is grateful for his birth.
Daddy is grateful for the fireplace (we had a cozy fire last night).
Mommy is grateful for family time.
December 12
Mommy is grateful for our stake (we had stake conference this past weekend and I love that I know almost everyone there - I've lived in Indy a long time. It will be strange when we start moving around with the Air Force to not know so many people. So many of the people here have had such an impact on me. I think of them as a giant extended family).
Isak is grateful for the United States.
Daddy is grateful that he still has a whole semester to finish his graduation requirements (he's had a lot of set backs lately...patients not showing up to appointments, lab work gone wrong, etc.).
Becca is grateful that she gets to be with family over Christmas break.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Gratitude
My gratitude post tonight may take a little more explanation than I have given in other posts. There have been a couple of things that have profoundly affected me the last couple of days that I want to write about.
Today, Jeremy is grateful for video cameras. Jeremy and I are in charge of planning a Matis family reunion this year, which is coming up in a couple of weeks. For the reunion we have asked each family unit to work on a family history project of their choosing and then present what they have worked on at the reunion. The project Jeremy chose was to transfer all of his parents' family videos to digital format (which he ended up not having to do, but that's another story completely) and organize the files and burn them onto dvd's for each family. He has really enjoyed going through the old family videos and hopes that the rest of the family enjoys having easily accessible copies in their own homes.
Isak is grateful for our bodies, because we we wouldn't be alive if we didn't have one.
Becca is grateful for everything she has, because some people don't have the stuff she has. Now this may seem like an over generalized statement, but because I had the privilege of being in her classroom at school on Thursday, I know exactly why she said this tonight.
I walked into Becca's classroom the other day for my weekly afternoon of volunteering just as the teacher was starting to read a book to the class. The kids were teasing the teacher, asking her if she was going to cry this time. Apparently she is a little tender hearted and has gotten teary when reading certain books to them. She told them that she wouln't cry this time, and started to read The Little Match Girl.
If you have not heard this story before, it is about a young girl, living in poverty, who is out on New Year's Eve trying to sell matches to make a meager living. She is cold, hungry and afraid to return home for fear that she will be beaten for not having sold any matches. By the time the teacher reached the end of the story, she had managed to control her tears, but I hadn't. I was impressed as she began to talk to the children about how fortunate they are and how grateful they should feel for the blessings in their lives. She explained that, like the little match girl, there are many children without adequate food, clothing, shelter, warmth, love. She encouraged them to be grateful during the holidays, rather than getting caught up in thinking just about the presents they hope to receive.
I was so grateful that day that Becca has a teacher who not only teaches her math, reading and science, but also reinforces lessons that we teach at home and at church. I was even more grateful tonight, as Becca said that she is grateful for "everything [she has], because some people don't have the stuff [she has], because I realized that the lesson that her wonderful teacher taught that day made an impact on her.
Finally, I am grateful that I got to go out on a fun date last night with Jeremy and my niece, Angela and her husband, Nick. We celebrated Angela's birthday by going out to dinner and then to Yuletide Celebration, which is the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Christmas concert.
Yuletide Celebration was beautiful in every way. The music, the dancers, the scenery...it was all quite magical. What touched me most though, is that amidst the acting out of Twas the Night Befor Christmas and the tap dancing Santas, there were moments of profound spirituality as the musicians expressed testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ. Too often in today's society, we are made to feel that it is inappropriate to express devotion to our Savior. It is wonderful to me that, during the Christmas season, music that testifies of Jesus is everywhere - in the stores, on the radio and in concert halls - and very few question it. I am so grateful for this. I am grateful for these rare opportunities for the divinity and mission of Jesus Christ to be sang from the rooftops! What a glorious time of year!
Today, Jeremy is grateful for video cameras. Jeremy and I are in charge of planning a Matis family reunion this year, which is coming up in a couple of weeks. For the reunion we have asked each family unit to work on a family history project of their choosing and then present what they have worked on at the reunion. The project Jeremy chose was to transfer all of his parents' family videos to digital format (which he ended up not having to do, but that's another story completely) and organize the files and burn them onto dvd's for each family. He has really enjoyed going through the old family videos and hopes that the rest of the family enjoys having easily accessible copies in their own homes.
Isak is grateful for our bodies, because we we wouldn't be alive if we didn't have one.
Becca is grateful for everything she has, because some people don't have the stuff she has. Now this may seem like an over generalized statement, but because I had the privilege of being in her classroom at school on Thursday, I know exactly why she said this tonight.
I walked into Becca's classroom the other day for my weekly afternoon of volunteering just as the teacher was starting to read a book to the class. The kids were teasing the teacher, asking her if she was going to cry this time. Apparently she is a little tender hearted and has gotten teary when reading certain books to them. She told them that she wouln't cry this time, and started to read The Little Match Girl.
If you have not heard this story before, it is about a young girl, living in poverty, who is out on New Year's Eve trying to sell matches to make a meager living. She is cold, hungry and afraid to return home for fear that she will be beaten for not having sold any matches. By the time the teacher reached the end of the story, she had managed to control her tears, but I hadn't. I was impressed as she began to talk to the children about how fortunate they are and how grateful they should feel for the blessings in their lives. She explained that, like the little match girl, there are many children without adequate food, clothing, shelter, warmth, love. She encouraged them to be grateful during the holidays, rather than getting caught up in thinking just about the presents they hope to receive.
I was so grateful that day that Becca has a teacher who not only teaches her math, reading and science, but also reinforces lessons that we teach at home and at church. I was even more grateful tonight, as Becca said that she is grateful for "everything [she has], because some people don't have the stuff [she has], because I realized that the lesson that her wonderful teacher taught that day made an impact on her.
Finally, I am grateful that I got to go out on a fun date last night with Jeremy and my niece, Angela and her husband, Nick. We celebrated Angela's birthday by going out to dinner and then to Yuletide Celebration, which is the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Christmas concert.
Yuletide Celebration was beautiful in every way. The music, the dancers, the scenery...it was all quite magical. What touched me most though, is that amidst the acting out of Twas the Night Befor Christmas and the tap dancing Santas, there were moments of profound spirituality as the musicians expressed testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ. Too often in today's society, we are made to feel that it is inappropriate to express devotion to our Savior. It is wonderful to me that, during the Christmas season, music that testifies of Jesus is everywhere - in the stores, on the radio and in concert halls - and very few question it. I am so grateful for this. I am grateful for these rare opportunities for the divinity and mission of Jesus Christ to be sang from the rooftops! What a glorious time of year!
Gratitude
December 6
Mom is grateful for the washer and the dryer. (I already spend so much time doing laundry, I can't imagine what it would be like to do it all by hand!)
Isak is grateful for our house.
Becca is grateful to have family members that love and care about her.
Dad is grateful for phones and the ability to stay in touch with family.
December 7
Becca is thankful that there are biographies to read so that we can learn about history. (She has been reading a biography on Amelia Earhart.)
Isak is thankful for books.
I can't remember why Jeremy and I didn't record ours that night, or why we missed the next couple of days after that...oh well.
Mom is grateful for the washer and the dryer. (I already spend so much time doing laundry, I can't imagine what it would be like to do it all by hand!)
Isak is grateful for our house.
Becca is grateful to have family members that love and care about her.
Dad is grateful for phones and the ability to stay in touch with family.
December 7
Becca is thankful that there are biographies to read so that we can learn about history. (She has been reading a biography on Amelia Earhart.)
Isak is thankful for books.
I can't remember why Jeremy and I didn't record ours that night, or why we missed the next couple of days after that...oh well.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Gratitude
December 1st rolled around and the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season was set in motion. We were surprised when we opened our gratitude journal tonight to see that we last recorded what we are grateful for on November 30th.
This isn't unusual...often during this time of year our schedule is thrown off by all of the extra activities we try to fit in. We had a really busy and fun weekend, and while we had much to feel thankful for, we didn't get a chance to talk about it and write it down.
Here is what we are feelig thankful for today...
Isak is grateful for his school.
Becca is grateful for her parents.
Jeremy is grateful for electricity (I asked him why and he said, "Because it gives us light". But Becca, who apparently knows her father really well, said, "because it gives him TV").
I am grateful that Becca, Isak and Jeremy fasted today. Today was fast Sunday, but we actually forgot until after we had eaten breakfast. Apparently, after I left for church, Jeremy and the kids talked and decided that even though we had forgotten to do a full fast, they would fast one meal, so they skipped lunch. I was so proud of the kids. Even after we got home from church and were waiting for dinner to cook, they didn't complain at all and waited patiently for dinner to be served.
More importantly than going for a few hours (about 9) without food, they decided to fast for the purpose of asking Heavenly Father to bless our family with a baby to adopt. I think that it is so precious that Becca and Isak hope for this blessing every bit as much as Jeremy and I do - even to the extent that they will sacrifice lunch and snacks to show Heavenly Father how important it is to them. They will be a great big sister and big brother...someday.
This isn't unusual...often during this time of year our schedule is thrown off by all of the extra activities we try to fit in. We had a really busy and fun weekend, and while we had much to feel thankful for, we didn't get a chance to talk about it and write it down.
Here is what we are feelig thankful for today...
Isak is grateful for his school.
Becca is grateful for her parents.
Jeremy is grateful for electricity (I asked him why and he said, "Because it gives us light". But Becca, who apparently knows her father really well, said, "because it gives him TV").
I am grateful that Becca, Isak and Jeremy fasted today. Today was fast Sunday, but we actually forgot until after we had eaten breakfast. Apparently, after I left for church, Jeremy and the kids talked and decided that even though we had forgotten to do a full fast, they would fast one meal, so they skipped lunch. I was so proud of the kids. Even after we got home from church and were waiting for dinner to cook, they didn't complain at all and waited patiently for dinner to be served.
More importantly than going for a few hours (about 9) without food, they decided to fast for the purpose of asking Heavenly Father to bless our family with a baby to adopt. I think that it is so precious that Becca and Isak hope for this blessing every bit as much as Jeremy and I do - even to the extent that they will sacrifice lunch and snacks to show Heavenly Father how important it is to them. They will be a great big sister and big brother...someday.
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