Can you believe it?! I’m finally getting out a Christmas letter ON TIME. Well…it’s currently “on time”, and I admit that previous Christmas letters also started off “on schedule” and we all know how those ended ….so…well, if you’re reading this and it’s still 2008 than….wow, can you believe it!!??
It’s Christmas 2008 (I hope..) …we’ve had a great year, survived Hurricane Ike with only a minor hit to our pocket book, sent our oldest off to college, (major hit to our pocket book) and watched our youngest seem to grow and mature almost overnight (continuing hit to our pocket book). We have loving families, good friends, decent jobs and God’s blessing…life is good.
January…ah, a time to reflect on a wonderful Christmas and to pack up all the Christmas decorations for another year….
Febuary…ahhh…time to stop reflecting and actually pack up the Christmas decorations for next year….I’m still considering putting red lights on the tree and just calling it a “Valentines Day” tree come February….I haven’t figured out yet what I could do to keep it up in March…maybe just take the decorations off and call it a huge topiary ….
March…ahhh… the boxes ofChristmas stuff are indeed mostly boxed…but someone really should get them out of the hallways and put them away…and by mostly boxed I mean that our Christmas tree Angle has graced our family room all year…and by someone I think that’s me….and “the topiary” just takes up too much room…
March was also spring Break month here in TX…With Alex being a senior and Jacob a sophomore we realized our ability to force the boys to go on “family” vacations with us was soon to be over. Bribing them to accompany us on a trip would always be an acceptable option but the ability to say “Hey lets go to the dessert!” and have them jump at the opportunity seemed somewhat unrealistic. I chose Big Bend National Park as our vacation spot. I made reservations to stay at one of the 6 stone cottages inside the park at 6 a.m. Jan 1st 2007 for our reservation in March of 2008…I can’t even begin to tell you how incredible the trip was…no tv, no phone, no xbox….we drove ATV’s all up, down and around a mountain (well, by “we” I mean John and the boys, I rode with John and spent a great deal of time praying)…boys loved it and God blessed us by not having anyone launch themselves off the trails. We canoed the Rio Grand River through the Santa Elena Canyon, had lunch on the river shore …in Mexico, drove a jeep through the dessert and along canyon roads to explore abandoned mines. We hiked and explored the dessert and mountains at their best…...pictures do not even begin to do justice to the beauty that was all around us. We read books, watched sunsets, played cards…it was the best family vacation ever….
April is usually Easter…but Easter was early this year and ended up being the last weekend of our stay in Big Bend. I thought it would be so special to get up before sunrise and have our own little service there in the mountains…..I was sure everyone would be thrilled with my suggestion….I waited with bated breath for my guys to say “awesome idea mom!” instead, they looked at their father and said “She’s kidding, right?” God apparently agreed with them because Easter Sunday was our first day of bad weather…we woke up to find ourselves inside a cold and misty cloud…I’m sure there was a sunrise but not on our mountain. John wanted to climb the trail up the mountain and see if we could get above the cloud….maybe catch a glimpse of some wild life….then it was my turn to look at the boys and say “He’s kidding, right?” Anyway, I returned to my nice warm comfy bed and the guys went for their hike…..they saw a cute little bunny….and more cloud. That afternoon we bundled up and ventured forth on our last hike in Big Bend…..I wore an Easter type hat and we discovered the best kept secret in the park….Cattail Falls….amazing. It was the best Easter of my life and I didn’t even cook!! Ha..
May…Mom and Dad arrived to celebrate Alex’s graduation from High School. We took Alex out for a family dinner in Houston….I rented a limo so that we could all relax and really enjoy the evening…..actually, I just wanted to ride in a Limo…I had paid for limos for the last 4 years for my teenage son to ride in…I, at the age of older than 18, had never ridden in a limo…I think I could get used to it, ha!We had family pictures taken that turned out so much better than my expectations….but we also have some great memories that go hand in hand with those pictures….I’ll treasure them always.
June…..Graduation! wow! Where did the time go. Almost 1000 students graduated that night….do you know how long it takes to get to Thiessen with that many students, ha! It was a special night, made more special by having mom and dad there…
July…..getting Alex ready for moving out and into an apartment….towels, pots, pans, dishes, bowls, glasses, flatware…..and a few items he had some difficulty recognizing…a broom, a vacuum, a toilet brush….sigh….John claimed they’d never get used and yet hope springs eternal in a mother’s heart.August…..Alex moved into his apartment on the 18th….and he packed the evening of the 17th….we had to make a quick stop at the DMV to renew his drivers license that he had forgotten had expired but he figured it was on the way…..it did not instill a great deal of confidence that the boy was ready to be let loose but, on the other hand, we had no desire to keep him either….we unpacked him, went out and bought a new desk chair, purchased his first load of groceries and left before he could kick us out…..it was all good.
One week later Alex started college classes and Jacob started Junior year….without being labeled “little Thiessen” ….yep, it’s going to be a good year!
September…..as mom I had to deal with some difficult issues….my little bird had flown the nest….and loved not living with us….that is just so wrong. I’m a complete control freak and suddenly I had no control….I admit I didn’t handle it as calmly as I could have….I threatened to paint his room pink….he said “Do whatever you want mom, I don’t live there anymore…” ah! Just stab me through the heart…it would hurt less!!! Did I mention I wasn’t handling it well…fortunately I have a loving and understanding husband who gently told me I wasn’t handling it well….he’s so insightful! Anyway, I’m feeling much better ever since I cleared out his room, re-arranged and re-decorated and I’m painting the room…..well, a nice blue/grey…I have to admit I didn’t immediately tell Alex what color I was working with and my heart felt a little better when he said “Mom, DO NOT paint MY room pink!” and then I got to say “but Alex, and I quote “Do whatever you want mom…” you know the rest….ah, I’m such a mean mother …..and I told him he’s welcome to stay in the guest room any time he wants…..I think I’m handling it better….
September 13th was Jacob’s 17th birthday….Alex was coming home to celebrate with us, Jacob wanted a big breakfast, a family day, a favorite dinner and poppy seed cake. And all of that would have happened if Hurricane Ike hadn’t paid us a visit….it was an interesting night….we lost a couple of trees….the one in back took out two neighbors fences and the one in front ended up resting against the front window but didn’t break it. I have to admit that I’m proud to be a part of this community. John and I took the truck out Saturday afternoon to see how everyone had faired….there were trees down everywhere….and there were neighbors out in their big trucks with their chainsaws in the back clearing the roads. By that afternoon every road in The Woodlands was clear of trees and debris because the people in this community just got it done. We lost power and phone service but we had water. It took days to clean up the yard but it got done….you gotta love the strength and endurance of teenage boys….Jacob was awesome!! Alex stayed put in College Station and we drove up there on Monday after the storm to recharge phones and batteries, et….we also finally got to see what was happening on tv….what a mess….and what a shame.
Anyway, work and school and power all resumed after a week. And we did celebrate Jacobs birthday as planned except for the date. We got the phone back on Wednesday night and the first clear call we got was from my sister to tell us Dad had suffered a stroke that night…o.k, thank you God that the phone is working….good news abounded though. Dad seemed to be doing well…mom’s quick actions got him to the hospital in time for them to administer the right drugs to break up the blood clot in his brain without leaving too much damage….it;s times like those that I know what “peace that passes all understanding” really is. Dad returned home that Friday afternoon….around the same time we got power back….PTL!
October….Mom’s turn to put that peace thing to the test…..she started having heart problems and ended up having a pace maker “installed” ha! It will take awhile for full recovery but so far so good.
November…A time of Thanksgiving…and we have much to be thankful for.
December….it’s just our family this Christmas. Our friends here are visiting their families, our loved ones are, well, not here, ha! I’m assuming Alex will be home or at least sleeping in my guest room between getting together with high school buddies who are also “home for the holidays”. But with Alex you just never know, ha! His later curve is his decision to serve in our country’s military. Alex is considering joining the Marine Corp, Infantry…We’ve met with the recruiter, talked about it, a lot, and now it’s really up to Alex. We’re hoping he’ll finish his first year of school….he’s weighing all his options. You can catch up on our news and pictures at http://www.kathleenthiessen.blogspot.com/ and I’m also working on a web site http://www.kathleenthiessen.com/. I’ll post this Christmas letter on both…it will be longer with more pictures if you’re really bored, ha.
I am, as always so aware of my many, many blessings. I can only hope you’re happy and healthy and equally blessed…..Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the bottom of our hearts.
John, Kathy and Jacob….o.k..o.k. I guess Alex too…although since he “doesn’t live here any more” he should send out his own cards….o.k. maybe I’m still not handling this perfectly…but I am trying…..
P.S….I’m told that he does vacuum, and clean and is a very good cook…good enough that he often cooks for his friends so that they can live on something other than Ramon noodles….in other words, he’s doing great….but don’t tell him I s
aid so.
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