Dec. 24, 2008 - Online Christmas Letter
Christmas Greetings
It is still dark, this early morning. EmeRose has been our primary decorator this year and a glob of lights hangs from her big toy. She wrapped them around the porch railing with Wayde’s help and then later added a loooooong string that was to be wrapped around the big tree trunk out front. It didn’t make it that far. It sat in the dirt for several days. Somehow, they made it to the big toy. Anyway, they are oddly sweet this early morning.
We’ve had quite a year! Do any of you feel as though you live in a soap opera? Looking back, our family life has been so full; it seems almost over the top. The beginning of the year found us in pretty dire financial straits. Wayde hadn’t worked the previous summer in Chignik (because we’d just had William) choosing instead to work for an outfit in Lacey. We counted on his being able to work all winter and that pretty much didn’t happen.
Right about August, the hours fell off and by September he was calling in to see if there was work. By mid month, I think even that was abandoned. So, the long months of fall and winter were upon us. Our big expense was propane: over $700/month. He had a little unemployment he was able to collect and sold things on eBay. By February, unemployment was done. We’d already decided by then he’d go back to Chignik this summer. He left in early April. It was still really cold. We still didn’t have money. I remember running the oven and trying to bake just to supplement the heat. The propane was just too dear. (So much for global warming in our neck of the woods!)
The kids and I joined him about two months later. It was a grand summer for the kids. They had an absolute ball running and biking around the docks and to the donut shop (yum!) and playing in the tidal slough.
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Einar being Huck Finn
Einar befriended John the Welder (if any of you know the song “Oh John the Rabbit” that always goes through my mind when Einar talks about him). John let him hang out in the shop and answered a lot of his questions. John had a son that wasn’t able to be there with him. I think Einar filled some of that void. Einar learned to ride a bike over the summer too! Eme would pick from the profuse wildflowers and make the just gorgeous bouquets. She surprised me with her knack. (I’ve recently discovered she can arrange food plates beautifully too.)
Chignik was harder on me and Wayde this year. Having a toddler up there is NOT easy! William was just over a year old when we left. He started walking almost immediately upon our arrival.
Wayde’s schedule changed several times and he just never got into a groove. That was hard on both of us. It was sort of a tense season up there employee-wise too. His dad had to be medivac-ed out for an apparent heart attack. It wasn’t, but he did end up having a quintuple bypass. Yes. Quintuple. Kids and I saw him in Anchorage when we left at the end of August. Wayde stayed until the first part of October. Oh, and there was a small matter of the main processing plant catching fire in July.
October brought my birthday and folks, I had the best birthday I think I’ve ever had. It was relaxed, I got good presents (you know as an adult, that doesn’t happen so often!)
Einar gave me a “Walk Around the Block with a Flashlight”. He’s kind of a funny one. Eme’s was the best gift though. She colored some shells with crayons and gift wrapped them. But that wasn’t the cool part. I found a bunch of buttons for her summer before last at a garbage sale and had put them away. She got into them when we returned from Chignik. There was one batch that had the most beautiful buttons. They really reminded me of my Grandma Edna’s button stash. I tried to beg or buy some from Eme to no avail! She did finally relent and let me have the tiniest handful. Well, what do you think was in that bag with the crayon-colored shells?? Those buttons. All of them. I think I cried! For a selfish little stinker, she can be pretty thoughtful.
November was a nice uneventful month. Regular in our home school and family life. We did go down to my cousin Natalie’s for a really great Thanksgiving time. There was only 1 marred moment there and even it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. (Involved my ever-sensitive Father of course, but thankfully, his joy wasn’t directed my way for once!)
The significant happenings in December are Eme’s birthday (8th) and our Advent celebration. Advent isn’t something I grew up doing. I know mom tried as I have memories of the calendar with the flippy doors, but I didn’t really understand it as a time of anticipation or preparation for Christ’s arrival. I belong to two online forums for homeschooling and the mommies there talk a fair amount about Advent. Well this year, I decided to do something. It is really basic, but it has been something *I* don’t have to do the reminding on and there is no flippy calendar filled with chocolates for motivation either! I found a list of suggested scripture readings so Wayde does that.
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The Kids loved holding candles during carol singing.
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We all color a page that either matches the scripture or adds the kids’ nativity scene. It is slowing filling. We light the candles and sing carols relevant to the scripture portion. The kids’ favorite is the Seven Joys of Mary. I know. It isn’t an Advent song. It isn’t a Christmas song. It is fun though! We’ve had a lot of dancing happen during our singing time. Mostly Eme and William. I have a video of William dancing in one of the Advent entries.
I hope this finds you all well. We are well for now. I don’t anticipate any major change to that status, but one never knows. There are rumblings in our extended family on both sides with health and personal issues so who knows what the next few months hold. Thankfully, I know Who knows! I pray that you do too.
Blessings,
Carriejoy (representing the rest of my family)
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