December
2012
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| Max's fourth grade music concert... |
So
here we are as yet another year is ending.
Blessings and love to you all, as I’m sure it has been a whirlwind for
you too! I am sitting here with my tea
in my pajamas and slippers, and channeling peace as the whir of machinery goes
on in our backyard—the beeping, the digging, the yelling of the construction
workers, the rattling of pipes and tubing—and I find it to be such a metaphor
for this year for our family and for so many of those we love. Peace and joy in the midst of
circumstances. And we have such a mighty
God for that, don’t we? “For
he himself is our peace…” Ephesians 2:14 “He is before all things, and in him
all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17 How great a savior!
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| Our boys have had fun watching all the construction in our backyard these past few months... |
Max ended up having to get his
tonsils taken out in March. After
getting strep a few too many times, it was inevitable. He had a few minor complications that made
recovery time take a bit longer, and he was such a trooper! He felt the love from family and friends
(thanks, all!) and we were so very proud of him! Spring and summer was baseball, baseball, and
did I mention baseball? He loved it and
is already looking forward to it next year.
Basketball has started, and Max is very excited that Dad is his coach
this year. Max has also had to adjust to
being in a new building as a fourth grader out in Hartford and away from his
Dad for the first time (and riding a bus).
He turned double digits on us—10!—and decided that instead of getting presents,
he wanted his friends to donate money to our dear friend, Nicole, who has been courageously
fighting cancer over the past year. He
tearfully told Marty and I, “I have enough stuff. I just want Nicole to get better.” On his birthday, we went over to Nic’s house
and were able to hang out and enjoy the day with the McComas crew (we love you
guys)—lots of fun, hugs, and love to go around (a bit of Wii dance and about
three boxes of cheeze-itz as well).
Nicole has taught my boys so much and continues to be the most shining
example of faith and what it means to give and to BE Christ’s love. Max also
enjoyed walking (while Dad ran and got first place in his age division—go,
Marty!) with his Mom, brother, Jaden, Emery and Nikkol (thanks, Johnson
friends—we love you too! ) in the Katie’s Crusaders race in the “fweazing
told!” for six families battling cancer right here in Iowa—our friends, the
McComas’s, being one of them. All of the
money raised went directly to these six families. There are so many people hurting and
struggling and so much we can do to help!
Max has such a BIG heart, and although that can be hard for him
sometimes, we are so very proud of him! Gotta
love this kid! He is one of a kind!
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| Katie's Crusaders and our crusader, Nicole! |
And
then there’s our stand-up comedian, Griffyn,
who turned 4 this year (my baby—4!).
There is not a day that goes by that this kid does not make us
laugh! He loves his baby sis’s kissable
cheeks (our friend Niki’s baby, Grace), horses,
“toy duns not weal duns”, Tinkerbelle, destroying and rebuilding things, Star
Wars, arts and crafts, play dough, Legos (along with big brother—we cannot get
enough of Lego’s at this house), his preschool and Mrs. Sievers, “Tolleen” (we
love ya, Colleen ), all his “fends”, ninja’s, and pretty much everything—for 15
seconds. He has the best intentions—just
not the greatest choices for executing them.
He HATES sleeping. He cannot sit
still—and he will tell you that! He
loves to sing—and his favorite songs are “Call Me Maybe” and “da Desus song”
(Jesus Loves Me) and he will always ask for “dust one mowa” song at
bedtime. He also loves to read more than
anything (his favorite book is “Where the Wild Things Are”—very fitting). He is the most fun loving kid who loves to
wrestle and cuddle in the same heartbeat, and I take a hand full of vitamins in
the morning and night just to keep up with him. He always tells me he loves me “one thousand
four hundred and sixty nine”. Not quite sure
what that means, but it sounds like a lot! His smile lights up any room and his
hugs can melt away the worst of days. We
are proud of his giant heart as well! He
is also one of a kind! We could not have
two children on more opposite ends of the spectrum—thus we have perfect balance
in our home!
Marty is in his 15th year at
Carlisle elementary and is enjoying teaching his second graders all about the
big, big world. He is especially excited about implementing
the new reading curriculum this year! He continues to coach cross country as well
as track (and cheer on those Hawkeyes—been a rough year for that). I am going into my 12th year (this
January) at the Child Development Center and blessed to have my exuberant preschoolers
keep me on my toes (those vitamins are for them too). We both feel quite fortunate to have such fulfilling
careers that give us such a great sense of purpose and keep us young at heart. We were able to enjoy a family vacation to
Galena and Madison, WI, this summer and a very short day trip to KC’s Lego Land
and to see Marty’s brother, Matt, and wife, Tanya, and the kids this fall. We were also able to spend some precious time
with my sis, Erin, and Harold as they came in from Brooklyn! We were also quite
blessed to have Aunt Jen around lots! Wish we could have kept her! We enjoyed a
reunion with some of the Gerdes clan in Des Moines this summer as well. Great seeing all of the cousin’s kids play
together. Our summers are jam packed
with sports and we try to get family “breaks” in whenever we can!
We
have four BIG miracles this year
that we remember to praise God for each and every night! Baby John’s first birthday! How far you’ve come, big guy—in a world that
said ‘no’, our God screamed’ YES’! Our Nicole McComas! A long, bumpy road, my sweet friend! What a journey you’ve made with such
grace! Our baby McKenna! Such a precious miracle baby! We praise the Lord with the Black family! And
my sisters! Three of my best friends
live out on the East Coast—they just happen to be my sisters; Erin in Brooklyn,
Jen in New Hampshire, and Molly in New York.
Hurricane Sandy left a path of devastating destruction. And while she took away power,
transportation, and homes—she did not take away their lives. All three of my loves are safe and sound. Miracles DO happen. And not just in the Bible! They happen every day. These incredible people, big and small,
remind me that God is present here and now—and the power of faith and prayer is
just as strong today as it was back in that tiny little stable in
Bethlehem. We wish you all a very blessed
Christmas, filled with the true and miraculous magic of this season! Much love to you all!
Humbly yours,
Angie, Marty, Max, and
Griffyn Mitchell
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| Visiting Santa in Oskaloosa in the middle of one of Max's basketball tournaments... |
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