The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Part V

Both boys were part of the children’s program at our church a couple weeks ago. They sang a couple songs and recited part of a poem with their Junior Trailblazers class. They both did such a great job holding up their letters for the "Merry Christmas" poem and reciting what their letters stood for. We were not sure how Caleb would do being in front of everyone, but the promise of Cold Stone ice cream if he got “no helps” (just like Isaac for his weekly memory verse) spurred him into action. The lights were a little bright, but he tried to smile and be brave the entire time.  Caleb’s part was, “I is for little old me. I’m the one he loves for all eternity” while Isaac’s was, “R is for the reason why our Savior came to earth. You’re the reason angels sang of his birth.”

Then Isaac had his Christmas program at school the following day. It was a joy to be at this program as a parent and watch him sing with his class. I now understand why the kids wave when they are up there; I admit that I was one of those parents who waved at my child when he went up on the bleachers. 

Isaac is on the top row in the center--chin resting on hands

We not only enjoyed the songs that night but have also enjoyed listening to him sing them at home. I am thankful to be part of a school community that teaches Isaac to know and love Jesus as his Savior. 

Building the Fence

The project of replacing the fence awaited our return from Brad's house. Thankfully, our good friend agreed to help Paul.  I do not think we realized what a job this would turn out to be. Our well-crafted plan was to pick up the lumber, dig holes for the posts and cement them in on day one and to put up the panels on day two with the possibility of finishing up the little details on day three. 

Not sure the Sienna is meant to haul 1000 pounds at a time

Like any well-laid plan, though, one needs to be ready to adjust...especially when the spots for the holes are partially covered in cement. Thankfully, we were able to borrow a small jackhammer from school to help with the job. Day one and day two were spent digging holes, jackhammering and digging some more before finally getting to set the poles. Day three was filled with putting up the braces and finally getting to put up a few panels.

Start of day three

End of day three

On day four Paul had a few more helpers--Mark, Brad and Zac--who were visiting for Christmas. It was the fun day since the fence seemed to appear before our eyes.  Mark and Paul finished putting up panels while Brad and Zac reinforced our neighbor's rotting post and fence and built the gate.

The dogs were ready for the finished fence so they could run freely

You call those work shoes?!?

Final part of the project--the gate

Our other helpers...enjoying Mina's cage

Thanks to everyone who helped Paul complete the project! It looks so good, and it is nice to have our yard enclosed again. And thanks to Paul for giving up his Christmas break to complete this big project. I am always impressed by his willingness to try new things and his good spirit in doing things that are not always fun. Thanks, dear, for all your hard work during your vacation!

The finished gate

Arizona Visit

We have been intending to visit Brad since he moved to Arizona a couple years ago, and we finally made it! After Maddie’s calendar unveiling and a short visit with the Leonards, we headed for Arizona to spend a couple days with Brad. It was fun to finally see his place and get to explore where he lives.

Wide-open spaces

Check out my walking stick

We hiked around the property where he lives the first morning. That afternoon we headed to the lake and campground where he spends a lot of his working time and met some of his volunteers. On our way up the hill we watched the temperature fall starting in the forties and dropping into the mid-thirties by the time we left for home. As we left the campground, it started raining which turned into a blustery snowfall. We pulled off the road so the boys could get out and experience the snow. It was really fun driving through the “storm” and seeing the big snowflakes falling.

It's snowing (and very cold)!

Lighting the BBQ

On Monday we headed to the local Army fort to explore the museums. From there we went into town for lunch (Rodolfo’s Tacos—similar to our Mr. Taco) and to pick up a few supplies. Since it had gotten so cold, we spent the rest of the afternoon inside watching movies and playing games.

It was great seeing where Brad lives and enjoying the wide-open space. The boys loved running around, throwing things for Marley, playing with the pretend rifle, watching deer walking through the front yard, and peeing off the front porch. We were glad that it snowed one night since the boys were really expecting there to be snow at his place and loved bundling up with mittens and hats (all borrowed from Brad). One lesson we took away from our little visit, though, was that hot dogs do not enhance the flavor of spaghetti sauce.

Lunch at Rodolfo's

Thanks, Brad, for your hospitality and for showing us around your place. It was a fun getaway!

Merry Christmas!

Another year is nearly done, and what a year it has been! It has been a year of joy in watching our boys grow, spending time with friends and family, and having meaningful work. It has also been a year with its moments of sadness and pain in having to say goodbye to Grandpa Walker and Aunt Ruth and in watching Maddie go through treatment for cancer.

Thanks for the picture, Mark Leonard!

Through it all, though, it has been a year in which we have been reminded of the many blessings God showers upon us daily—both physically and spiritually. We are part of a church family that loves us and challenges us to grow daily in our faith and to be disciples of Christ in a radical way. We are part of a school community that not only provides Paul with a wonderful working environment and great colleagues but also cares for our child and teaches him to both learn more about the world around him and also that he is a child of God and has a Savior in Jesus Christ. We have a home that is warm and dry, and we have more than we could ever want. I do not like taking out the trash, but it is a reminder that God blesses us with our daily bread and more. We have family and friends whom we love and who care for us. What a blessing!

At Brad's during our AZ visit

And in this Christmas season we are reminded that all of this is really insignificant in comparison to knowing Jesus as our Savior. Everything in our lives has to be about Jesus and center around knowing him and serving him. And that is my hope for this upcoming year—that we might not lose focus of Jesus and continue to grow in him daily.

Merry Christmas from our family to you! We praise God that you are a part of our lives! May you know the peace that comes through Christ not only this Christmas but also in 2012. 

Love, the Lapkas

Happenings

To kick off our whirlwind weekend last week, my cousin Jane came for an evening when she was in town for work. I love catching up with my cousins so it was a fun visit. To make it even more fun, Jill and the girls and Eric (another cousin) and his family also came for dinner. The kids all had a blast playing with each other, and we adults had a great time talking and laughing.

The second cousins

The first cousins

Before Jane flew out on Saturday, we all went to lunch at Five Guys. This was a follow-up to Paul’s declaring on Facebook that he thinks he likes Five Guys better than In-n-Out (I realize we may have just lost a reader or two in stating such an opinion). When Jane commented on never being there, Paul told her he would take her there the next time she was in the area. What joy that she came so soon so we could all enjoy lunch there! (Now, for all you bristling In-n-Out fanatics, Five Guys does make a great burger that is bigger and also has better fries—GASP! that I would dare write this—and has a very cool pop dispenser though the price is better at In-n-Out.)

Besides finishing out our weekend with a full Sunday, we had the joy of looking into our back yard and seeing a big chunk of the greenbelt behind our house since a portion of our fence finally fell over. Guess what we Paul gets to do this week?!? Isaac immediately ran to get his tools to help Paul tear apart the fence.  

Ready to help Dad with demolition

Church in Action

Last Sunday we got to be part of the “church in action.” We were up for praise team to lead worship. After worship, Paul had an elders meeting to hear a profession of faith.

As soon as he was done with the meeting, Isaac and I helped deliver gifts for our church’s Project Amor. This year our church bought gifts for members of a local Spanish-speaking congregation that has a food bank ministry that our youth group helps serve with monthly. The congregation threw a posada with homemade tamales as a thanks for blessing them with Christmas gifts. It was an honor to deliver gifts and get to see the recipients of our congregation’s love. (And the tamales were a wonderful bonus!)

After tamales but before the gift distribution

I got to spend a little over an hour at home before I headed back to church to help the high school youth group with their Soup-Off! fundraiser. As the dinner was wrapping up, I headed into the sanctuary to make sure my middle school youth group was ready for the Christmas play for the children’s program.

The soup line--not sure what is so funny

Quick pause for a picture with Silva

Overall, it was a busy day but one filled with wonderful things. I was tired at the end of the night, but I would not have missed one of the activities of the day. I am glad to be a member of Crossroads church.

Happy Birthday!

Paul turned “21” yesterday. He started the day with our singing “Happy Birthday” to him and then his opening presents. The boys helped me pick out his gifts and did a great job of not telling him what was in the gifts…that is, until Paul started opening gifts and Caleb loudly whispered to me, “Is this one his Wii game?” Paul just smiled—we were so close to having a complete surprise for his opening his gifts.

At school they sang to him during the Pre-K through fifth grade singing time. Thanks to a certain kindergartner, all the kids knew how old he was and found great joy in telling Paul his age. J To celebrate Paul, school had a half-day, and he is now on Christmas break!

After school we headed up to Redlands for the unveiling of Children’s Cancer Foundation’s calendar in which Maddie was Miss February. After the unveiling, she sat at a table and signed people’s calendars. We were impressed with her patience in signing hundreds of calendars…she was the last one in the room finishing up calendars (even the foundation people had left).

Mark took Paul to Hangar 24 for a birthday beer while the rest of us headed back to their house. After dinner we sang to Paul, watched him blow out the candles on his cake, and then enjoyed the cake. 

Caleb playing with Katelyn who doesn't mind the sock he put on her head

I am thankful for my husband. It has been a joy to have him in my life these past 15 years! God has blessed me over and over with a man who is not only a fantastic father to our boys but is a patient (and he needs a lot of that with me) and loving husband to me. Happy Birthday, Paul!