Peterson Christmas Gathering 2012

Another year sped by
and we move from 2011 – 2012
with a few thoughts on challenges and joys marking our year.
We also share what books
blessed our minds and hearts – and perhaps our actions.

Judy
My biggest challenge in 2011 was when Evie, Holly, and Sarah all moved out of our home during the last half of August.  Evie lived with me after graduating from NPU in 2008 and was ready to move into the city with friends.  I am grateful for the 3+ years she kept me company.  She is a great housemate.  Holly headed off to Shimer College in south Chicago and Sarah to North Park University in North Chicago.  The house is very quiet but I keep busy so all is well.

My biggest joy this year was having Evie, Holly, and Sarah home for the summer – and all of us living very well together.  Another joy was successfully completing my second online class from North Park Seminary.  I learned a lot about Acts through Revelation and the professor was excellent!

Books I appreciated reading this year: Heaven is for Real, Todd Burp; The Lost Letters of Pergamum, Bruce W. Longenecker, A Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns, and Leading Preteens, Patrick Snow.

Heather
The most significant challenge for me this past year has been walking (limping?!) through a financially very difficult season due to Chad’s work being uncharacteristically slow. Having to make really careful decisions about what to do when, and letting go of some things that used to be assumed and counted on.

One of my most significant joys this past year has been realizing that despite the hardness of this time, big picture, the things that really matter (happy, healthy and fun kids, continuing to appreciate Chad, having involved and caring friends and family, being meaningfully engaged in our faith community) are good. This makes me joyful and thankful!

I have read about 7000 children’s books this year, but just a couple for me. One I recently started and already feel engaged by is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. From the front cover:  “What does a life of gratitude look like when your days are gritty, long, and sometimes dark? What is God providing here and now?”

Chad
The most significant challenge this year was maintaining viability in my flooring business.

My greatest joy has been realizing that our friends, family and community are real and effective – coming through for us when we’ve needed them most.

I read just one book this year, so this one is easy:  Radical – Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream.

Kaijsa
One of my biggest challenges is letting mom or dad brush my hair out each morning.  It’s getting really long and that means lots of tangles!

Things that made me happy this year are getting an American Girl doll (Kirsten) as a gift for Christmas, having play dates with my friends, and getting a very nice kindergarten teacher.

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems is a funny book I like a lot.

Axel
Things I worked hard at this year are going on monkey bars and digging in the sand with dirt shovels. I also worked hard on climbing trees with my shoes on.

It makes me happy to throw balls and Frisbees. I also love shoveling when there is snow outside and stepping in puddles.

I like Thomas the Train books and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Anne
My 2011 challenge was going back to the work environment this past fall.  I also really loved it.

Watching Emily work through her recovery was really inspiring to me and watching her inner strengths at work was marvelous.

I have read many books throughout this past year but none I would recommend, as they were all books for leisure.

Edwin
My challenge is to live my daily life in America in my position, be okay with it, and try to see it as positively as I can.

My four greatest joys are: to be with my wife and my kids, be able to work and support my kids, have a job, and having a friend I know I can count on.

I enjoy and strongly recommend the comic section of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  To laugh it up I read The Last Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  For learning purposes I am reading again the English version of The Four Agreements.

Jacob
First grade was the biggest challenge for me in 2011 because my primary daily homework is reading 30 minutes a day.

My greatest joy was building (on my own) the Lego Atlantis set I received for Christmas.

I read The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series with Emily this summer.  It was really funny.

Emily
Recovering from two concussions received over two days while playing basketball this past February was my biggest challenge.

My biggest joy was receiving almost straight A’s in my classes this fall trimester.

I also enjoyed reading The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series with Jacob this past summer.  I also thought it was funny.

Matt
The biggest challenge of 2011 is going from taking loans to paying loans, from being a student abroad to being a small business owner, from finishing papers to finish carpentry.

The biggest joy of 2011 has been the amount of time I have been able to spend outside: from kickball games to ice fishing to Boundary Waters trips and hunting.

The books I enjoyed this year were The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver and Good Poems, Garrison Keillor’s anthology of poetry that is often my breakfast companion. It has been a great way for me to approach poetry over the last couple years.

Evie
My biggest challenge was moving into a three-bedroom home in South Minneapolis with two roommates. There are many responsibilities that come with renting a house and we have had several adventures with the house and landlord after only living there four months.

My biggest joy was paying off my undergraduate student loans in June! And of course any traveling I get to do. This summer I made it back to Lake Tahoe, Colorado, Michigan, and Chicago.

My book recommendation: Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions by Rachel Held Evans. This book has a great balance of biography and reflection and is applicable to anyone’s faith and life. It was easy to read and hard to put down.

Holly
My biggest challenge has been my living situation in Chicago.  I didn’t know either of the girls I live with before we moved in and getting to know people as roommates first and friends second is a challenging process.

My greatest joy this year is not a single event; it has been building since January. I traveled quite a bit this year, and the time I spent away from home made me appreciate what I have in Minnesota.  I don’t know if there is a greater joy than finally realizing how special my family is and how lucky I am to have them.

Since I started studying at Shimer I have read a lot of really great books but one has stood out from the others: In a Different Voice by Carol Gilligan.  It is a really well written psychological study that focuses on female moral development.  If psychology isn’t your thing Superman: Red Son is awesome.  What if Superman had crash landed in Russia and grown up communist?!  Mind.  Blown.

Sarah
School this year has been a challenge.  This past semester I had a very heavy load (20 credits) so a majority of my time was spent in class or in the library. This was academically and socially challenging as I struggled finding time to be with friends. I really enjoyed the semester but it was not an easy one.

This past year I was blessed to babysit for awesome families and received many opportunities through them. I especially enjoy two families in Minnesota because the parents are genuinely interested in my life and me.  They keep in touch even when I am at school.  I also met three families in Chicago who I enjoy. I have created friendships with the parents and really enjoy spending time with their kids.  It makes me really excited to start teaching and working with kids more!

This summer I had a lot of time to read while I was nannying. I especially enjoyed Heaven is For Real, by Todd Burpo and Vanishing Acts by Jodi Piccoult. As usual I also enjoyed rereading the Harry Potter books in preparation for the last movie release.

May 2012 be your “best year ever”
and may you find the “steadfast love” of God
in your every moment and day.

]]> http://gandalftrust.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/epiphany-letter-2012/feed/ 1 gandalftrust winter2011 009 http://gandalftrust.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/a-years-reflections-in-pictures/ http://gandalftrust.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/a-years-reflections-in-pictures/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:28:35 +0000 gandalftrust http://gandalftrust.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/a-years-reflections-in-pictures/ ]]>

Have no fear, if all goes according to plan in a few days the latest edition of the Peterson Family’s Epiphany Letter will be posted. For those of you that continue to check this blog in the midst of such inconsistent blogging we thank you!

Since a more formal 2011 summary is coming I figured I would just share a couple pics from the past year.

Steak dinner with Holly before her trip to India

Celebrating! (Moving into Mpls with friends and paying off my undergrad student loans)

Celebrating weddings!

And even though my year consisted of so much more…it would appear that this blog does not want me to share anymore. So I hope you have enjoyed…maybe when my patience has returned and I have more time I will find a few more to share.

Happy New Year’s Eve!

As you look forward to 2012 may you recognize the past and move eagerly into the future, while enjoying the present!

just another winter day . . .

another day of work or school . . .

the day before Wednesday – hump day . . .

just nineteen more shopping days until Christmas . . .

St. Nicholas Day . . .

But for each of us

this day dawns and sets

filled with memories of

a father . . . a husband . . . a grandfather . . .

(for others within in our larger family

a son-in-law . . . a brother-in-law . . . a brother . . . a friend . . .)

One who lived, learned, laughed and loved with such intensity

we are forever touched and

we cannot forget

the years and moments he was with us

for today is the day

his life on earth ended

and we live with our memories –

wishing he would walk in, sit down,

and talk about life and faith and work again . . .

urging us to think about what we don’t want to think about

or suggesting we consider just one more possibility,

sharing with us his wisdom, his wit, and his walk of life and faith.

But, alas,

we live with memories

  (albeit memories bringing smiles and joy

as well as tears and sadness)

until the day we again see

the man we love and miss

in heaven.

]]> http://gandalftrust.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/for-many-today/feed/ 0 gandalftrust http://gandalftrust.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/dear-dad/ http://gandalftrust.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/dear-dad/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:08:43 +0000 gandalftrust http://gandalftrust.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/dear-dad/ ]]> Dear Dad,

Four years ago I realized how much I took you for granted. Four years ago I realized how blessed I am to be able to call you dad. Four years ago I realized how much I take our whole family for granted. Four years ago I realized how much people care. Four years ago I saw the impact you made on others lives. Four years ago I was realized how much my friends care. Four years ago I was surrounded by more love and support than I have ever felt. Four years ago is when you took your last breaths, surrounded by family. Four years ago today is when you died. Four years ago was a long time ago.

During the last four years a lot has happened. You’ve missed a lot. You missed me getting my drivers license. You missed seeing the Minnehaha basketball team going to state twice, my junior and senior years. You missed me taking Chinese and hating it. You missed me getting my first C. You missed seeing me go to prom. You missed seeing me graduate from high school. You missed going on college visits with me. You missed me struggling to finish and send in applications to 14 colleges. You missed me getting my first acceptance letter. You missed me stressing about where to go. You missed me choosing North Park.  You missed watching me play college basketball.  You have missed watching me make new friends. You have missed me struggling with friends. You have missed meeting the families that I babysit for. You have missed me making huge life realizations. You missed me thinking about transferring and leaving North Park. You missed me visiting Concordia. You missed watching me love Concordia. You missed helping me decide to stay at North Park. You missed me officially declaring my major.  You have missed me grow up.

I have missed you.

There are so many times over the past four years I have stopped to think about you. I have thought whether or not you would be proud of who I am. I have thought about what advice you would give me. I have thought about what I would tell you. I have thought about what you would think about my friends. I have thought about your wise advice would be. I have thought about your witty comments. I have thought about what you would be doing. I have thought about what tips you would have for me. I have thought about seeing you in the stands at basketball games. I have thought about your big hugs. I have thought about your joyful laugh. I have thought about your scratchy beard. I have thought about your weird sayings. I have thought about the stories you would tell.  I have thought about you a lot.

I love you Dad. I miss you everyday. I wish you were still here but since you cannot be I am thankful that I had you in my life for 16 years. You were my rock. Four years have gone by, a lifetime ahead of me. Thank you for shaping me into the person I am today. Iloveyoumorethanyouloveme.

Love your baby girl, sarah

Yesterday morning I headed a few blocks away from my own home to go and hang out with these two rascals. After enjoying a slow morning plotting our day’s activities we hopped into my car and I had to take a picture to document my rearview mirror view. Seeing children in the backseat is something I am not used to.

Our first stop was Kaijsa’s figure skating lesson at Minnehaha Academy. It was freezing cold inside the arena but thanks to some good advice from Heather, Axel and I quickly found a warm spot under a heat lamp on the bleachers. As Kaijsa walked and felled and glided, Axel and I cheered and played on the bleachers. (As you can see from the not so great pictures below).

After figure skating we went for a hike by the Mississippi and enjoyed the beautiful fall day. These are two kids that love the outdoors and I love to do that with them. Thankfully I was able to convince them to not go to the dog park which is typically their favorite spot. I prefer to mix up my outdoor experience so we went to the Ford Bridge and looked down on the river and then went down and walked right along the river. It was beautiful.

After our hike we headed to my house for a quick lunch of Macaroni and Cheese. It was so great to watch Axel and Kaijsa make themselves feel at home. They quickly dug into my roommates crate of toys and coloring books picking out their activity while they waited.

Our final activity of the day was to go to the local theater to watch The Smurfs. A fun way to unwind after a busy day.

After dropping off the kids and relaxing back at home I received a text message from Heather, “Kaijsa just told me that the funnest part of her day with you was having mac&cheese at your house! thnx again for your time with them!”

So good to be reminded that the simplest of things can be the most meaningful.

This year I started off living with three other girls, one other junior and two sophomores. After two weeks of school there were some differences between two of the girls and one of them decided that it was best for her to move out. This created a bit of tension in the apartment, wondering how we were going to live with three people and make it feel so we were all wanted and so no one felt like a third wheel. We have not only been able to deal with this, we have been able to thrive as a threesome. The girls I am living with have become two people I know and trust with so much. They truly are a huge blessing. Considering last year I did not know Melanie at all this was a huge blessing in disguise. She is becoming one of my closest friends and I am beyond blessed to have her (and Emily) as my roommates.

This year I have also been able to spread my friendship circle. My roommates and I have gotten to know a group of football boys who live downstairs. These guys are awesome and are becoming some of my good friends. In the past I have steered clear of football guys because of their reputation on campus and whatnot. As I have gotten to know these guys I have realized what I have missed out on. These are guys I can go to and talk to them about whatever, the other night a few of us stayed until 4 just talking about life and college and where we see ourselves being over the next 5-10 years. Having made these new friendships is amazing, and yet so out of the blue.

Being a junior means that I am well into my education classes here at North Park. Being in the education classes means having the same professors for multiple classes. I have gotten to know one professor extremely well this year and am so blessed by his guidance, wisdom, and patience with me. I have never really been one to buddy up to my professors however this professor has been there for me through so much, has already seen me break down into tears and seen me literally jump for joy ten minutes later. This professor has already helped me beyond belief this year.

I am blessed here at North Park. There are so many wonderful people. opportunities and experiences in Chicago. I am fortunate to get to experience so many of these this year and the past 2 years as well. North Park, you rock.

A significant life change for me is that for the first time since Carleton passed away I live alone in our home.  My neighbors, Doug and Linda, keep good track of me and so far all is going well.  This is not to say I was not sad when Holly and then Sarah and then Evie all moved out of the house within about ten days of each other.  It is saying that they are all in good places and my transition was much easier now than it would have been four years ago.  I am grateful for the years they lived with me!  I am especially grateful for the past summer with all three of them living here.  I often delighted in the energy within the house and how well we all lived together!  The good memories will last a long time.

It’s a blustery, early fall evening here in Minneapolis… the leaves have begun changing colors, and many of them have been swept off the tress by the forceful winds today. My children are tucked in bed uncharacteristically early – 9:15 pm, leaving me with an open chunk of time to write a quick update.

We celebrated Axel’s 3^rd birthday this past Monday night – it’s hard to believe how fast those three years have gone! Chad and I collaborated on the football shaped birthday cake (thank you, Pampered Chef batter bowl!), and the dinner menu, at request of the birthday boy, included the following: chicken strips wrapped in tortillas with ranch dressing (with spinach and cheese for some!), bananas and strawberries (whole, not sliced), cheese puffs and chocolate milk. We chuckled about how this may have been our first family birthday dinner where no silverware was needed. J

Today we were at Kaijsa’s school to participate in an assembly where she was recognized as one of the September Citizens of the Month. She received a COTM button, a pencil and a certificate with her photo on it that reads, “Kaijsa is such a sweet girl. She has caught on quickly to our class routines, and knows where everything goes and what is expected of her in school. She always follows directions and cooperates. She is eager to learn and participate in class. She is a very talented reader, and is already reading books at a 2^nd grade level. Kaijsa is a great student and a true joy to have in kindergarten.”

In other news, we’ve enjoyed having Chad’s mom, Ruth, here visiting from Friday the 23^rd thru yesterday afternoon. We packed lots of fun into her short visit, including the kids’ 3 and 6 year photographs, the zoo, church, a hymn sing, Nickelodeon Universe, a morning at kindergarten with Kaijsa, the Children’s Museum, dinner at Buca’s and some time at Lake Nokomis. We also caught two mice in our house during the five days she was with us – uggh! That’s one part of colder weather and an old house that I’m not looking forward to! We’ve just finished a replacement of our roof and gutters – Matt’s company, BFH (The Big Friendly Hammer), was the general contractor, and it looks great! Chad’s work is still soooo slow – quite discouraging, but we’re working on some marketing ideas that hopefully will help a bit. I’ve been keeping busy doing some work on our church’s upcoming forum on Human Trafficking (Saturday, October 29^th from 9 am-12:30 pm at Bloomington Covenant Church), selling some things on craigslist, couponing, being outside with the kids as much as possible, and just helping to keep our household running in a somewhat smooth manner!  I’ll attempt to add a few photos below – I think that if you click on them, they’ll appear a little bigger….

Happy Fall! J

Recently I shed that name for an even better one. Last year I met a new student who I immediately connected with. She is a very skinny African-American girl with ridiculous amounts of energy and a wide range of emotions. The first time I subbed at her school this year she came running up to me with out-stretched arms and yelled, “Best Friend!”

Believe it or not this has become my name. I have yet to be called Ms. Peterson by her and might even prefer this “best friend” title. Every time she say this I can’t help but smile and be reminded of the wonderful friends that I have, including an elementary school girl that brings a smile to my heart every time I see/hear her.