Thanksgiving was different for us this year. We weren't able to be with family, but we were so blessed to spend the day with some wonderful friends of ours here in San Ramon, the Linde family. Nolan and their daughter, Naomi, are a few weeks apart in age and would make the most adorable couple (in about 14 years!) Karen and Peter truly have the gift of hospitality and we are so grateful for their warm hearts and for opening their home to us.
Since we don't "do" Black Friday, we made plans to go downtown to Union Square in San Francisco for the Christmas tree lighting. I had been eagerly anticipating this day since we made plans to go, well over a month beforehand. Todd even made hotel reservations for us at the historic Westin St. Francis so we could stay and soak up the spirit of the holiday season. We arrived at the hotel a bit after 3pm. The traffic getting into the city was crawling, to say the least. After resting in our room for a while we headed out to an early dinner around 4:30 so we'd be sure not to miss the tree lighting ceremony at 6. When we left the restaurant a few minutes before 6 we were instantly swept up into the throng of thousands of people heading toward Union Square. I have never been with more people in one place in my life! Think completely insane Times Square in New York City on New Year's Eve crowded! Streets were blocked off, there were barricades to keep people from trespassing in unsanctioned areas, and wall to wall people as far as the eye could see.
I had no clue that we would be mere specks in the crowd. The idealist in me figured there would be two or three hundred people gathered around and all the children would have room to play and dance around the tree while Todd and I would contentedly cuddle and sip our Starbucks beverages, lost in the sweetness of our quiet, memory-in-the-making moment.
And so the pretty little fantasy comes crashing down...
After the tree was lit we elbowed our way up to its base so Nolan could see it close up. He was too agitated by the crowd to be very impressed so we again elbowed our way back to our hotel, crawled into the big cushy bed and watched a movie. We later learned that the day after Thanksgiving is the most crowded day of the year in the city. Good to know! The idealist in me is dismayed that we will not be making this an annual tradition, but the realist in me is thanking the Lord I don't "have to" do this again for tradition's sake!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
So Much To Be Thankful For
It's a cold, dreary morning here in the Bay Area but my home and my heart are warm and full. As I ponder my many blessings I am overwhelmed by God's goodness to me.
I am grateful for my husband and child, their love for me and their love for each other. I am grateful for our extended family and the support we receive from them.
I am grateful for the roof over my head, the food on my table and the clothes on my back.
I am grateful for good health for myself and those I love.
I am grateful for the freedom to worship God openly and the minimal persecution I face here in America. I am grateful for our government, as imperfect as it may be.
I am grateful for dear friends who know me and love me.
I am grateful for my salvation and my freindship with Jesus.
There are many people in our country this Thanksgiving who have recently lost their homes due to fire or financial troubles, lost loved ones to illness or accident...many who have simply lost hope. This Thanksgiving I pray that those of us who have more would share with those who have less so we may all count our blessings.
I am grateful for my husband and child, their love for me and their love for each other. I am grateful for our extended family and the support we receive from them.
I am grateful for the roof over my head, the food on my table and the clothes on my back.
I am grateful for good health for myself and those I love.
I am grateful for the freedom to worship God openly and the minimal persecution I face here in America. I am grateful for our government, as imperfect as it may be.
I am grateful for dear friends who know me and love me.
I am grateful for my salvation and my freindship with Jesus.
There are many people in our country this Thanksgiving who have recently lost their homes due to fire or financial troubles, lost loved ones to illness or accident...many who have simply lost hope. This Thanksgiving I pray that those of us who have more would share with those who have less so we may all count our blessings.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Mommy And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day
Nolan and I are down South at my parent's house for the week. It's always nice to spend time with Nolan's favorite people on the planet (aka Grandma and Papa) and re-connect with friends we haven't had a chance to see in awhile.
On Tuesday Nolan and I went down to San Diego to spend time with a bunch of my girlfriends and their kiddoes. My dear friend Shannon is my new hero because she "braved the elements" and had 10 gals and 11 children (all of which were three and under!) at her new house! The kids were happier than tornadoes in a trailer park playing with every toy imaginable (in their playroom that I'm still drooling over!) and we were able to chat and laugh like old times. It's wild to think about how quickly and drastically life changes. Three years ago there were no kids in our group, and now there are eleven plus four more on the way! Whew!
Yesterday Mom and Dad and Nolan and I went to Disneyland and California Adventure--one of my very favorite places ever! This was the first time my parents had been to "the big D" since I was in junior high. They were amazed at all of the changes and especially enjoyed Soarin' Over California. Nolan loved it, as always, and was beyond exhausted when we got home. Despite his sheer exhaustion, my little stinker was too wired to sleep. He didn't fall asleep until 10:15, slept fitfully, woke up crying at 4am, finally fell back to sleep around 4:30 and was up for good at 7:15. Clearly, the night was terrible...as today has been, too.
I have only been "embarrassed" to be Nolan's mommy one other time. That unforgettable day in the post office will forever haunt me. Today, however, Nolan had multiple tantrums in multiple places. Glorious times! We visited our friends Dawn and Samara at their home and Nolan refused to share toys, shoved sweet little Samara who was trying to help him, and kicked and screamed on their livingroom floor in flat-out defiance to my "mothering." Then, thinking a change of scenery would do him well, we went to lunch and my little darling screamed bloody murder in the restaurant while I ordered at the counter. Everyone in the restaurant stopped and stared. The man who took our order even asked what was wrong with him. I explained that Disneyland was the "culprit" for his behavior. He responded "You probably won't be going back soon, huh?" Um, probably not. We then proceeded to take our food outside to sit by the fountain and, gratefully, had a less eventful meal. But then Nolan saw a dog he couldn't play with. And the sprinklers (I swear that Nolan and sprinklers are drawn to each other like magnets!) on the lawn came on. Meltdown alert! Meltdown alert! We cut our visit with Dawn and Samara short and I arrived back at my parent's house in an emotional puddle. I couldn't deal with any more of today's episode of the "terrible two's" so I put him down for his rest time and then let Papa take the wheel for a few hours. God bless my Dad! Hopefully Nolan will sleep like the angel I know that he is and and tomorrow will be a different day.
My favorite Mouseketeer
On Tuesday Nolan and I went down to San Diego to spend time with a bunch of my girlfriends and their kiddoes. My dear friend Shannon is my new hero because she "braved the elements" and had 10 gals and 11 children (all of which were three and under!) at her new house! The kids were happier than tornadoes in a trailer park playing with every toy imaginable (in their playroom that I'm still drooling over!) and we were able to chat and laugh like old times. It's wild to think about how quickly and drastically life changes. Three years ago there were no kids in our group, and now there are eleven plus four more on the way! Whew!
Yesterday Mom and Dad and Nolan and I went to Disneyland and California Adventure--one of my very favorite places ever! This was the first time my parents had been to "the big D" since I was in junior high. They were amazed at all of the changes and especially enjoyed Soarin' Over California. Nolan loved it, as always, and was beyond exhausted when we got home. Despite his sheer exhaustion, my little stinker was too wired to sleep. He didn't fall asleep until 10:15, slept fitfully, woke up crying at 4am, finally fell back to sleep around 4:30 and was up for good at 7:15. Clearly, the night was terrible...as today has been, too.
I have only been "embarrassed" to be Nolan's mommy one other time. That unforgettable day in the post office will forever haunt me. Today, however, Nolan had multiple tantrums in multiple places. Glorious times! We visited our friends Dawn and Samara at their home and Nolan refused to share toys, shoved sweet little Samara who was trying to help him, and kicked and screamed on their livingroom floor in flat-out defiance to my "mothering." Then, thinking a change of scenery would do him well, we went to lunch and my little darling screamed bloody murder in the restaurant while I ordered at the counter. Everyone in the restaurant stopped and stared. The man who took our order even asked what was wrong with him. I explained that Disneyland was the "culprit" for his behavior. He responded "You probably won't be going back soon, huh?" Um, probably not. We then proceeded to take our food outside to sit by the fountain and, gratefully, had a less eventful meal. But then Nolan saw a dog he couldn't play with. And the sprinklers (I swear that Nolan and sprinklers are drawn to each other like magnets!) on the lawn came on. Meltdown alert! Meltdown alert! We cut our visit with Dawn and Samara short and I arrived back at my parent's house in an emotional puddle. I couldn't deal with any more of today's episode of the "terrible two's" so I put him down for his rest time and then let Papa take the wheel for a few hours. God bless my Dad! Hopefully Nolan will sleep like the angel I know that he is and and tomorrow will be a different day.
My favorite Mouseketeer Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Everyone’s Got Something To Say…
…so here’s my two cents worth, if anyone cares to hear it.
Yesterday was a historic day regardless of my own personal politics. In the light of Obama’s victory our country has been ushered into a new, unprecedented era where I am more proud than ever to be an American. Less than fifty years ago this country could not stomach the idea of an African American in the Oval Office. Yesterday the people of our country elected the first African American President and I feel so privileged that I have lived to see this day come.
I did not vote for Obama. He and I do not see eye to eye on many issues--most notably abortion, ANWR, and the “redistribution of wealth.” I could not give him my support when there was another candidate who I was more politically aligned with. However, I will give him my support now that he is going to be my President. I will pray for him and I will trust that God has him in office for reasons that I can not understand. God’s plan is perfect. Obama is not and neither am I, but God is. I find peace in Him.
Many Christians are running scared right now. Truthfully, there’s a part of me that is fearful, as well. Will we become the Socialist States of America? What about Obama’s prior “relationships” with “questionable” people? There are many unknowns that can cause fear and trembling, but I refuse to give in to that fear. Our country is the greatest country on earth and I have been blessed to be born here and live here. God, in His sovereignty, could have chosen that I live in Haiti, Sudan, Rwanda…the list could go on and on.. If that were the case I would have to literally fear for my life every day. But I don’t. I am safe with a roof over my head and food on my table. I am healthy. I am alive!
These next four years will be like no other this country has ever known. I am grateful that I can experience them here, in the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Yesterday was a historic day regardless of my own personal politics. In the light of Obama’s victory our country has been ushered into a new, unprecedented era where I am more proud than ever to be an American. Less than fifty years ago this country could not stomach the idea of an African American in the Oval Office. Yesterday the people of our country elected the first African American President and I feel so privileged that I have lived to see this day come.
I did not vote for Obama. He and I do not see eye to eye on many issues--most notably abortion, ANWR, and the “redistribution of wealth.” I could not give him my support when there was another candidate who I was more politically aligned with. However, I will give him my support now that he is going to be my President. I will pray for him and I will trust that God has him in office for reasons that I can not understand. God’s plan is perfect. Obama is not and neither am I, but God is. I find peace in Him.
Many Christians are running scared right now. Truthfully, there’s a part of me that is fearful, as well. Will we become the Socialist States of America? What about Obama’s prior “relationships” with “questionable” people? There are many unknowns that can cause fear and trembling, but I refuse to give in to that fear. Our country is the greatest country on earth and I have been blessed to be born here and live here. God, in His sovereignty, could have chosen that I live in Haiti, Sudan, Rwanda…the list could go on and on.. If that were the case I would have to literally fear for my life every day. But I don’t. I am safe with a roof over my head and food on my table. I am healthy. I am alive!
These next four years will be like no other this country has ever known. I am grateful that I can experience them here, in the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Greetings From A Galaxy Far Far Away...
We are not big on Halloween at the Liedahl home, but seriously...how cute is our little Yoda? Nolan and I went to a party on Wednesday for my MOMS Club and tonight we went to our church's "Candy Zone" event. Pretty fun stuff!
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