Something else in the Christmas Theme: Jim's December 4th sermon on Christmas. Haven't thought much about Joseph? Interested in Jim's Christmas Tree cutting experience as a kid? Listen to it here
Christmas Update 2011
As I (Jim. Kristen must be feeding 57 babies or something like that) sit down and begin to write this update, my Pandora (internet radio) station just started playing “Hold My Hand” by Hootie and the Blowfish (anyone?). It brings back wonderful memories for me. Memories of playing this song on my ovation bass with my friend Donnie Mitchell and Young Life leader Aaron at Young Life club back in the mid 90’s. The reason why this song in particular stands out is that I would always turn my bass up too loud on it when playing in front of everyone. Probably on the other songs, too, but this one had a really cool bass line, so I wanted my efforts to go noticed. The other guitarists asked me to turn it down. My friend who didn’t play guitar with us at all asked me to turn it down. Even a girl I thought was cute told me it was a bit too loud. And so I did. For about 7 seconds. The minute anyone left, that volume knob would head straight back to 10, baby! Yeah. Take that! I must have been a huge fan of me. Come to think of it, I definitely was. My name could have been Captain Me-Planet.
Not anymore. My kids punched Captain Me-Planet in the face, slashed him with their light-sabers and shoved him hard out of the Death Star.
In a good way, I’m pretty sure.
And with that intro, let the “It’s not about me (or Kristen)” stage be set for the 2011 Powell’s of Westminster, MD annual update.
At the very beginning of this year we found out that Kristen (I’ve learned not to say “we”) was pregnant. Two months or so later Kristen went to the doc by herself because, as she put it, “it’ll be just the same as the last two, so, no sense in you coming along.” ***Kristen’s note: I’m pretty sure that’s what Jim said when explaining why I shouldn’t need him to accompany me to that 7 week checkup…funny how our recollections can be so different…**** I wonder sometimes if it was that phrase of complacence that did us in…er…I mean…blessed us with twins…yeah…that’s right…a double blessing! Anyway, we found out that twins were in order. We had always said that we wanted our kids close together, but this isn't exactly what we meant... (And, yes, EVERY person’s first question is “do they run in the family?”—answer to which is yes, but we didn’t know, nor had it ever occurred to us that we might end up with more than one baby at a time).
So we did some pretty fun things with the two older boys, Jack and Tom, while preparing for the twins to come along. Sled Racing (Kristen and Jack v. Tommy and me), trip to Texas to see Kaki (which Kristen’s mom is called by her grandkids) and Grandad (who made a gun out of wood for Jack—can anyone say, “highlight!”) and, of course, rode a horse (they are starting to get more and more cars down there now, though).
Highlight of the boys’ lives was our trip to Ocean City, MD. Water was too cold for the boys, which was perfect, because we didn’t have to worry about them plunging in to the water head first. They kept to the shoreline and tried to karate chop the incoming surf and loved every minute. Or, every hour. They could have lived there. Jack learned to skim-board, and laughed off EVERY bone-jarring fall. Played mini-golf and wasted money in the boardwalk arcade (which may actually be called “The waste-your-money-here arcade.” Can’t remember.) It was sad to leave Ocean City. O.K…and the arcade.
Then final preparations for the twins was pain-staking as Kristen was still, in her last month of pregnancy, trying to clean the house and “get everything ready” while waddling around like a penguin who had just gobbled down a sea lion. And I mean that very affectionately. (though this part will probably get edited out.***Kristen’s note: actually, that’s pretty much how I felt***) Anyway, back to pain-staking. In the final month and a half Kristen and I went, along with some of my siblings to the U2 Concert at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. We were pretty sure she was going to have the babies right there on the field in front of Bono and the band. (We did agree that if delivery happened during the concert we would have to, out of respect for the band, name our children after them—but, thankfully, that didn’t happen. But I do still kinda like Larry for a boy…).
And then there was the “Urban Pirates” adventure that got a few people concerned (including her doctor). Apparently you shouldn’t go on long trips on small, ill-equipped pirate ships in the middle of the Baltimore harbor when you are 8.5 months pregnant. Anyway, we (she) made it off the boat with babies still in the oven, but not without raising a few eyebrows.
11 days later, the babies came. Andrew first, then Jane, breech (you can, apparently, come out however you like when you have your big brother creating the space for you—like a good fullback in football). ***Kristen’s note: God is so good! We happened to have the only Doc in the county who will still actually deliver a baby feet first, any other doc on call that day, and we would have had a natural delivery of Andrew, followed by an emergency C-Section of Jane. Whew. Thank you Dr. Constantini!***
Since then I can’t really remember anything. I think we went to a pumpkin farm in the fall.
Seriously, though, our journey has been messy, often exhausting, and certainly busy (neither of us has much "me-time" and I can confidently say that Captain Me-Planet is no longer a credible threat) and while we may dream of a 12 day cruise with no children in sight, this new life as a family of six is really, really wonderful, and nothing short of a miracle and blessing from God. We are thankful for our family, and the unique way that each one is created. Jack (just turned 5), still an “out-in-front” warrior of a little man. Tom (just turned 3) is the comedian. Anything to make people laugh. A very kind personality and tender heart. Andrew is intense (like Jack) and a pretty good talker for 4 months. Jane is a sweetheart and practically perfect. She will laugh and smile all day and rarely cries or demands much from us. We often say that if we only had Jane, this would be a walk in the park, we might even consider having more kids...wait, no, nevermind.
Kristen is a trooper raising 4 little ones. It is a crazy job, and probably not exactly how she saw her life playing out 10 years ago, but it is a really good hard. ***Kristen’s note: We talk often about how this new life with 4 under 5 is really hard, but also really good at the same time. I try to remember that as my days fly by without five minutes to sit down and rest (or it feels that way, but hey, no need to join a gym!). God is teaching me a lot, and changing me (whew, I must have needed some extra work!) through these kids and this season of our life. My goals are to savor this brief time with them before they are all grown up and obnoxious/stinky, to capture the opportunities to teach them and marvel with them about our God, his world, and his love, and to not obsess too much about the fact that I cannot keep the floor clean despite the fact that I have cleaned it three times already today and it is only 9 AM!!***
Jim loves his job at Crossroads Community Church. He is the Pastor of Worship and Ministries there and couldn’t be happier. Hopefully many more years to come in Westminster, MD!
Our Favorite Things this Year:
Jack (Jackster, The Buddy):
Superheroes
Warriors
Knights & Castles
Pirates
Transformers
Drawing
Ravens Football
Crabs
Thomas (HunkaMunka, Tommers):
Cracking Jokes
Preschool (first year! 2 hours twice a week!)
Anything Jack likes
Singing
Beer and Coffee (seriously, this is going to be a problem.)
Flinging himself off the top step into Jim's open arms. We call this the flying HunkaMunka. Does not always notify Jim before jumping.
Ravens Football
Andrew & Jane:
Mommy
Jack or Thomas singing songs to them
Kristen:
Bedtime
taking pictures of the kids with her new Nikon
the TV show Once Upon A Time
Dressing Jane
Friends/Family who fly in from out of state (or drive up the beltway) to rock babies and/or fold laundry
Jim:
Master Chef (TV Show)
Ravens Football
Crabs
Hillsong/U2/Coldplay
