Christmas Moments

This is a whole lot of action:  Popcorn popping, hot cocoa brewing, wriggling into jammies, socks, and shoes, finding keys, glasses, and jackets, whining here/complaining there, seatbelts clicking, hunting for the best Christmas lights, singing in the van, oohs and ahhs, creating precious memories.    

This is a whole lot of mess:  Eggs cracking, dough kneading, fighting over the rolling pin, cookie cutters and baking sheets, Jonah inventing his own game with cookie dough/turkey baster, waiting and cooling, layering with frosting and sprinkles, dropping crumbs all over the floor, cookies ready to give to Santa and neighbors. 

I'm savoring each and every special Christmas moment this year.  Painfully aware that there are mommies and daddies in CT who are not doing the same.  And when I'm wishing I had a break from the noise and the mess, I'm stopping to sit with my boys.  I'm giving an extra hug and kiss and getting out a game to play together on the floor.  The shopping list can wait.  The chores are boring anyway.  Today, I'm cherishing every minute I have to spend with these three gifts that I've been given.

USPS Oakland Santa Program

As I mentioned before, the boys wrote letters to Santa at the end of last month.  It's something they've done the last few years all on their own (with no encouragement from me).   They address the envelopes to "Santa Claus, North Pole," stamp them, and stick them in the regular mail box.

Two years ago, I was pleasantly surprised when they actually got a letter in the mail back from Santa!  Turns out the Sacramento post office has a form letter that they send back to kids when they write to Santa.  That was a fun treat.    

This year, I had no idea what to expect since we were sending the letters from Oakland.         

Riley was the first one to receive a letter back from Santa.  We were SHOCKED to find a Christmas card with a Target gift card inside the envelope.  Go USPS Oakland Santa Program!

Of course, we have no idea how much the giftcard is for because he dropped it in between 2 piano keys and can't get it out!

About a week later, Nicolas heard back from Santa.  He got a Thor action figure and a Bey Blade!  Seriously?  Thanks Oaktown!

Jonah is still waiting for Santa to write back to him.  We've only got one more day so we're getting a little nervous.  He's checking that mailbox morning and night.  I think we'll have to help Santa out if there's nothing in the mailbox tomorrow!

For a Good Laugh

If you're anything like me, you are feeling the pressure that Christmas Eve is in (gasp!) four days. (Umm, how did that sneak up on me so quickly? How do I not even have my Christmas cards yet?  And why do Target and Toys R Us seem to be sold out of everything that I'm looking for?)

So, I'm a little behind this year.  Maybe you are too?  Neither one of us really has time to be hanging out on blogs.  But, this little excerpt below made me laugh out loud so I'm posting it here in case any of my sister friends out there need a good laugh right about now.  I think you'll relate.  It's a few paragraphs from a new book I'm reading, A Year of Biblical Womanhood, by Rachel Held Evans...

"Okay, I'm just going to come right out and say it: A lot of women secretly hate Christmas.

Now, don't get me wrong.  We love that picturesque moment in which the tree is lit, the fire is crackling, and the children outfitted in matching candy-cane pajamas dance around the living room to Tchaikovsky, showing off armfuls of new toys while a twenty-pound ham bakes in the oven; we just hate the anxiety disorder we developed while attempting to produce it.

There seems to be some kind of universal agreement that the advances achieved through women's liberation need not apply during the holidays.  It's as though the first trumpet peals of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" sent blasting over the PA at Bed Bath & Beyond are designed to trigger an internal short that shocks us all into Stepford mode, donning aprons and strained smiles and sweaters that have no business surviving another decade.

From the baking aisle to the post office line to the wrapping paper bin in the attic, women populate every forgotten corner of Christmas.  Who got up at 4 a.m. to put the ham in the oven?  A woman.  Who elbowed you out of the last reindeer Pillow Pet left on the shelf?  A woman.  Who sent the Christmas card describing her eighteen-year-old son's incarceration as "a short break before college?"  A woman.  Who remembered to include batteries at the bottom of each stocking?  A woman.  And who gets the credit for pulling it all off?

Santa.

That's right.  A man.  

Oh, we would be a lot angrier about all of this if we weren't so tired.  But by the time the 25th rolls around, we're all out of fight.  Drained of our humanity, we have more important things to attend to - dishes, returns, disappointed in-laws, and a mild addiction to whatever holiday-themed Starbucks product we were pumping through our systems that year."

Can I get an amen?
 
On a completely unrelated note (and because I wanted to include a photo with this post), aren't these two cute?   This was taken at Home Depot in Oaktown two weeks ago when we bought our Christmas tree.  They are completely, 100% a handful and into all kinds of shenanigans these days.  (I'm sure they were sword fighting or punching each other just seconds before I took this).  But, thankfully, at the end of the day, they are still cuddly, snuggly, and delicious.  And that keeps me going!   

Hang in there sister friends.  We got this. 

The GreenHouse's December Letter

All of my brain waves for the last few weeks went towards writing the letter below.  On the off chance that someone who reads this blog is not on The GreenHouse mailing list, I thought I'd post it here.  The letter gives a nice recap of all that went on this past year at The GreenHouse (which holy cow, is a lot!).

It is, of course, also a fundraising letter.  So if you are inclined, please feel free to give generously to The GreenHouse.  We need to raise $35,000 by the end of December to break even for 2012.  Not a small task!  But if there's one thing I've learned through The GreenHouse it's this: miracles do still happen.

(P. S. This online version of the letter has fun bonus features.  See below for links to blog posts that I had written this past year about the events mentioned in the letter).  

Dear Friends,

What a tremendous year it's been at The GreenHouse! It is so good for us to look back over the past year, reflect on all the miracles that have occurred, and give God all the glory for his unfailing love and faithfulness. I hope that as you read about some of this year’s highs and lows, you will be inspired! And, I hope that you will prayerfully consider making a donation to The GreenHouse. Giving is a tangible way to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and to support the positive transformation that will occur in the coming year.

Here’s a look back at some of the miracles we experienced throughout 2012:

In January, we learned that one of the most active families at The GreenHouse was in crisis, facing eviction with nowhere to go. Their only option was an emergency shelter which would split-up the family. Our staff and a handful of supporters began to earnestly pray. That’s when our first miracle of the year came. The very next day the family’s debt was paid and the eviction was stopped! Compelled to share their own possessions with the family in need, a couple generously stepped forward to bring relief to this family, radically impacting the trajectory of their lives. The family of seven is now making their rent each month and is still very involved at The GreenHouse.  

(Bonus! Read more here)

In February, pure EXCITEMENT: the Oasis Games with the Sacramento Waldorf School. That week we “played to change the world,” empowering and equipping youth to make the changes in their community that they wanted to see happen. And then we stepped back and watched them lead. Graffiti-filled fences were torn down, trash-ridden pathways were cleaned up and leveled, vegetable gardens and new relationships were planted, lives were changed. We witnessed the Kingdom of God breaking through and being lived out in surprising new ways. 

(Bonus!  Read more here)

In March, a break-in at our old facility caused damage to the property. We saw this as an opportunity to positively impact the lives of the youth who were involved with the break-in. We spent weeks meeting with them and their parents to work towards a positive solution. We disciplined with love and grace and we extended forgiveness, the same forgiveness that Jesus offers us all. In the end, the stolen property was returned and the young people involved in the incident came to a work-day to help us clean-up. Later, they were invited to join our program. 

(Bonus!  Read more here)

In April, we put on Awesome Bible Camp (ABC) with a church down the street. It was a week of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ while using the strengths of the community.  What a fun week that was! April was also the month when our hearts broke for a few teens who seemed to be doing so well, but then suddenly made turns for the worse, ran away from home, or stopped coming around The GreenHouse. We continue to pray for them. 

(Bonus!  Well, sort of.  April was right about the time I stopped blogging on a regular basis.  I did however post pictures of Awesome Bible Camp on my facebook page!  Same could be said for May, June, and July - pictures and posts on facebook of the things below). 

In May, after five long years of praying and waiting, we rejoiced over the signing of a lease agreement with the owners of the old “Clubhouse,” allowing us to make the necessary repairs to the facility and move back in! The signing of the lease perfectly coincided with the amazing news that NARI, an association of professional remodelers, had agreed to take on our project as community service. We will begin the remodel in early 2013 and when it is finished, we will not only have a beautiful and safe youth center, but we will also more than double our current space.

In June, we hosted our annual Kids at Heart event and celebrated all that God had done in the lives of our youth, volunteers, partners, and donors over the past year. We humbly received generous donations from supporters who have been faithfully giving for the past ten years, as well as new donors who learned about The GreenHouse for the first time. Through sponsorships, auction donations, ticket sales, and general donations, we raised $42,000 - a third of our annual budget.

In July, our summer day camps were going strong, filling hungry bellies with nutritionally balanced meals, and filling hungry minds with enriching field trips and educational activities to combat Summer Learning Loss. Throughout the summer, we learned more about Jesus’ love not only through skits and Bible memorization, but also through sharing life together. We ran, jumped, swam, sang, and created new projects. We cared for skinned knees, bruised hearts and troubled minds with band-aids, hugs and prayer. We also met a new family with urgent needs for clothing, shoes, furniture, beds, lighting, and essential toiletries - another opportunity for us to express God’s love tangibly! And July was the month that we sent twelve teens on a life-altering weekend of spiritual growth at Jenness Park Christian Camp.

In August, we alerted the Sacramento Police Department to a business owner in our community who was taking advantage of teenage girls. We collaborated with the detectives and walked alongside the incredibly brave young women who came forward to share their stories. We all breathed a sigh of relief when we learned that the perpetrator had been arrested. August was also the culmination of a documentary project created by our teens in collaboration with the Sacramento Public Library. "Preserving our Present" is a collection of video interviews, photos, and teen stories documenting the history of the Gardenland/Northgate neighborhood. Check out their work at www.preservingourpresent.org.  

(Bonus!  Read more here)

In September, our after-school programs kicked off like a well-oiled machine. We recruited faithful and hardworking Study Buddies to work with our students on homework, reading, math, and vocabulary. We implemented a new reading curriculum and inspired creative expression through music, art, cooking, gardening, and science workshops. We listened to, cared for, and believed in each one of our youth – checking grades and giving high-fives for jobs well done.

In October, we offered a special opportunity for community connection with our 12th Annual Harvest Carnival at Niños Park. The whole neighborhood came out for this beloved tradition and enjoyed the pumpkin patch, carnival games, gently used clothing, and more.  

(Bonus! Read more about this here)

In November, $2500 worth of food was donated by churches, pre-schools, and other community organizations for our Thankful Hearts Food Store. Forty-eight families shopped in the store for turkeys, pies, and all the fixings for traditional holiday meal. The families who shopped in the store gave a $5 donation towards Hurricane Sandy relief in exchange for the food they received. Together they raised $200 to help our neighbors on the east coast! 

 (Bonus!  See pics here)

What will December bring? We'll sing Christmas carols, build gingerbread houses, exchange gifts, and anticipate more miracles. We are trusting God to provide 800 new toys for our Melvin’s Hope Christmas Toy Store. He’s already provided 300 pairs of new shoes for the youth of our community through a generous donation from Deckers. We can’t wait to pass those out! We are also trusting God to provide for our financial needs as we close out the year.

For all of that and more, we want to say, “Thank you!” Your gifts to The GreenHouse have been radically changing lives for the past ten years. Your prayers and financial support are a vital part of the work God is doing through all of us at The GreenHouse.

We need your support right now more than ever! Will you consider making a special end-of-the year gift in honor of all that God has done in 2012? Will you also consider becoming a monthly donor of The GreenHouse so that together, we can continue to make a powerful impact with our community?

The new year will bring with it some exciting things at The GreenHouse. First up will be the renovation of the Clubhouse. This is such an exciting project and we hope you will join in on this amazing opportunity to partner with the youth, parents, churches, professional remodelers, and community partners who are making this dream come true. More on that to come through our e-newsletters and facebook updates. Stay tuned!

Second, many of you know that a job opportunity for my husband recently moved our family to Oakland. While it has been incredibly hard for us to leave Sacramento, we have felt God’s loving-kindness, grace, and provisions covering both our family and The GreenHouse throughout this time of transition. Since August I have been working remotely from Oakland and commuting up to Sacramento once or twice a week while our Board of Directors searches for new, local Executive Director. The search team is doing an amazing job and we are all of one accord – on our knees – trusting God to provide the right new leader for The GreenHouse at just the right time. Join us in praying about this! In the meantime, know that the GreenHouse is in very capable hands and is continuing to run strong now and in the future!  (Bonus!  Read more here and a few other places). 

Thank you again for your faithful support. Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Week

Dang it.  There goes another month.  Just when I thought I was going to start blogging more regularly.  Fail.  Again.   

I may or may not ever finish up my "rewind" posts from the summer (I hope I do, there are some fun memories in there).  I may or may not get around to writing about the massive transition that we've recently undergone and what it's like to adjust to life in a completely new environment.  And, who knows if I'll find the time and space to reflect on what it feels like to be in limbo at The GreenHouse.  These are all posts that would very likely appear if I had unlimited, distraction-free time with a computer.  

In the meantime, here's a photo recap of our Thanksgiving week.  It was really a wonderful week.  The boys were off school all week and we had some of the best family times we've had in a long time.  I hope your week was filled with points of joy, too.

Impromptu visit from Colin and Clare on their way to SF

S'mores on the kitchen island!

Encouraging GreenHouse youth as they make a presentation

Letters to Santa

Bowling with Grandpa

Hours of LEGO building

Thanksgiving Feast at our house with Nana

Sausalito with Papa

Catching up with my lil sister Emily (and Dave) in San Mateo

 Throw in 2 fun kid birthday parties, a family puzzle, and a quick visit from the Lindners (no pics of any of those things) and that about sums up our week.  So much to be thankful for.  Including all of you. 

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween from 

the Dark Knight, the Werewolf, and the Ice Wolf Ninja. 

Have fun tonight everybody!

Twelve Years

I'm the first to admit that I do not love event planning or the tremendous amount of energy and effort that is required to pull something off like The GreenHouse's Annual Harvest Carnival at Ninos Park.  But I cannot deny that the Carnival has burrowed its way into my heart over the years.  Being at our 12th Annual Harvest Carnival on Saturday filled my heart with big scoops of satisfaction.  

Three years ago, I was so "over" event planning that I tried to kill the Harvest Carnival altogether!  I'm so glad that Monica (second from right below) raised her voice at a Board meeting when we were discussing the future of the Carnival and gave us the perspective that I needed to hear.  As a parent of two GreenHouse youth and a long-time member of the community, she pleaded with us to keep the Carnival going.  She reminded us that she and her family had been coming since the very beginning.  Some of her favorite pictures of her daughters were taken at the Carnival when they were younger.  She shared that the Carnival was one of the only traditions they had in their neighborhood and that it was the only time of the whole year when neighbors come outside and spend time together.   Her perspective gave us the wind we needed in our sails to keep the Carnival going!

I love this family so much.  Johanna (far left) and Lupita (third from left) have been coming to the Carnival since they were 4 and 3.  They are now 16 and 15!  Their mom, Monica, is a Parent Advisor to our Board of Directors.  Also in the photo are Monica's sister Blanca and (most) of her family and Monica and Blanca's mother.  They are Harvest Carnival fixtures for sure!

Quick history lesson...Did you know that the Harvest Carnival is actually older than The GreenHouse?  Before The GreenHouse was a 501c3 nonprofit corporation, even before it was a vision/dream/idea/calling, there was "The Ninos Park Ministry" of Sanctuary Covenant Church.  Responding to an article in the Sacramento Bee about the high number of children living in the low-income apartments across from Ninos Park, a group of us from church started going to this neighborhood every third Saturday to put on Play Days at the Park.  The Play Days included Bible Stories, crafts, snacks, games, singing, and a whole lot of relationship-building.  In addition, every quarter we'd host a "Family Fun Day" in the park, which was sort of a pumped up version of the Play Days and typically included a BBQ and a Bounce House.  For the October Family Fun Day, it seemed natural to call it a "Harvest Carnival."  All of the volunteers dressed in costume and we played a few extra games.  A few years later we added a pumpkin patch, and the rest is history!  

With all of the changes that have occurred at The GreenHouse over the years, The Harvest Carnival is the one thing that has remained the same.  I think that makes it pretty special!    

Tiffany and her family are also Harvest Carnival fixtures who have been coming for 12 years.

I've got lots of special Harvest Carnival memories with this friend here.  Back in the early days of the Carnival, we'd all dress-up in costumes and the kids would vote for their favorite costume (by applause).  Rose won every year!
(Now we all just dress as farmers).

These boys have been coming to the Carnival since before they could walk!  I hope it becomes as special a memory for them as it is for me.

I have no idea if this will be my last Harvest Carnival or if it will be just another one of many more to come. I had expected to be handing off the reigns of The GreenHouse to someone else by now.  The Harvest Carnival seemed like it would have been a fitting time for me to say my farewells.  But, that certainly was not the case.  It's almost November, and here I am, still very much working for The GreenHouse.  Still loving this community.  Still longing to see God's Spirit ignite a forest fire that cannot be contained in the hearts of the youth.   Still waiting for Him to reveal His plan for future of The GreenHouse. 

In the meantime, I am thanking Him for the ability to work remotely and the new found peace, clarity, and efficiency that it affords me.  If you think of The GreenHouse, please pray for wisdom and direction for our Board as we continue our search for a new Executive Director.    Pray also for our staff as they have had to adjust to working more independently, with me only in the office once a week.      

To anyone who is reading this that volunteered for The Carnival - you are my hero.  Honestly, I am continually amazed and humbled at the selfless sacrifices that go into blessing the Ninos Park community through the Carnival.  From picking pumpkins in a field the night before, to baking cupcakes for the cupcake walk, from face painting, to supervising the bounce house.  It all is a tremendous blessing.  I hope you know that your contribution is a significant link in chain of love that is now twelve-years long. 

New Fall Traditions

One of the hardest parts of moving is learning to let go of beloved traditions (especially surrounding holidays) and making space in my heart for new routines.   

Normally, this time of year, we'd be heading up to Apple Hill to pick apples and frolic on a bunch of farms.  This year, Apple Hill was too far.  So instead we joined some friends on a trek to an apple farm in Petaluma.  The drive was lovely, the frolicking was fun, and the apples...delicious.  Change is okay.  New experiences can make for fun memories too (repeat to self over and over). 

Nicolas, Riley and their new buddy Judah racing down the hay bales

Me and my cutie pies

We picked four different kinds of apples.  All yummy.  We even found some called "Jonah Free" apples!

Another thing I'm missing this time of year is our annual Pumpkin Carving Party for the kids on our old street.  I loved this tradition because it was such a fun and easy way to build community with our neighbors.  I thought about hosting a similar party at our new place with our new neighbors but somehow it didn't seem like the right timing for that.  Then, I saw a poster advertising an event at our neighborhood park - an afternoon of making Scare Kids.  What Fun!  We invited our next door neighbors (to the right and behind) and together, we all walked down to the park on Sunday afternoon for a completely wonderful afternoon of creating ScareKids.    

Everyone was told to bring old clothes that their kids had grown out of.  Some fabulous volunteers (neighbors!) brought the rest of the supplies and organized the whole thing.  The kids had so much fun making them!

Our group.  EZ is Jonah's age.  EJ is Nicolas and Riley's age.  Thank you God for putting boys the SAME AGE as my kids right next door and behind us!

EJ is quickly becoming part of our family.

When we were done making Scare Kids, we stayed and played for awhile at Maxwell Park.  The Prinz family even joined up with us for playtime, which spilled over into impromptu dinner back at our place.

New fall traditions are being made.  Joys are coming our way in all sorts of surprising ways. 

REWIND 2: Oakland Staycation*

Rewind to August 9th to August 15th.

We'd been going, going, going all summer (all year?!).  We'd had very little family-time. 

We still did not have a place to move to, even though the first day of school was fast approaching.

We needed a break from all the crazy driving back and forth to the Bay Area.

That break came in the form of an amazing act of kindness and generosity from strangers (friends of friends whom we'd never met) who offered to let us stay at their home in Oakland for a week while they were on vacation in Santa Cruz.

A whole week!

That week gave us the gift of time.  Time to look at houses at our leisure.  Time for Steve to still be home in the mornings when we woke up and to be home again in time for dinner.  Time for me to spend with the boys doing fun summer-like things before school started up again.  Even time to celebrate some birthdays.  All in a terrific house with a bedroom for everyone, a playroom, and a backyard.

Below are some highlights of our Oakland Staycation.

1.  Adventure Playground in Berkeley - the boys' new favorite spot.  At this very unique park, kids get to build the playground with real hammers, nails, saws, wood, and paint.  Every couple of hours, the staff takes it all apart again and the next set of kids get to build whatever they want.  So cool.  Plus, there's a zip line!  And it's just steps away from a beach area of the Berkeley Marina.   

Climbing up to the top of a rope ladder

Tucking inside this tube and then rolling down the hill

Cutting wood with a real saw is super fun - but it's hard work!

Does this look familiar?  Skipping rocks in the water soon becomes...

Soaking wet for the car ride home!

 2.  A trip across the bridge to San Francisco.  The boys and I finally got see where Steve works and take him to lunch at the Embarcadero.  We are proud of him! 

3.  Celebrating Steve's 38th Birthday.   Steve's birthday fell right in the middle of our staycation.  After visiting a church that morning, we packed a picnic and headed to Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland hills for some hiking and exploring.  Later that night we had some friends over for dessert. 

Celebrating your birthday with three wild and crazy boys can be, well, exasperating!

All good hikers need a walking stick or two.

If only we were alone on this hike!

A pretty amazing view of the Bay from the hills of Oakland

Jonah caught a lizard and quickly became very attached to "Speedy"

Saying good-bye to Speedy when it was time to go home was serious business

Steve didn't want any gifts for his birthday but he really wanted a chocolate cake.  It took me a bit of time and effort to find this one, but it was well worth it!  Scrumptious cake from La Farine.

A few of our special friends who live in Oakland came over to help us celebrate.  Susannah brought an apple pie that her mom made with apples from Sus and Matt's apple tree - yum! 

Happy Birthday Steve!

4.  Summer Orientation at Urban Montessori Charter School.  Our Oakland Staycation partially coincided with Summer Orientation Week at the boys' new school, as well as a Family Work Day at the School.  Had we not been given a place to stay in Oakland that week, we wouldn't have gone to either.  What an added blessing of that week!  It was so nice for the boys to be able to tour the school, meet the teachers, learn the Montessori methods, and even make a few friends before we even moved.

 
5.  The Oakland Zoo.  One afternoon when the boys got out of Summer Orientation, we headed to the Oakland Zoo.  My friend Nancy shared her membership passes with us so we got in free!  It's such a nice zoo.  We hadn't been there in a few years so it was all new for the boys.  We had a great time.

6.  My 38th Birthday.  Since we drove back to Sacramento on my actual birthday, Nancy, Amy, and Susannah took me out to dinner the night before.  It was a terrific end to our Staycation, and a great introduction to our new life in Oakland.  I learned several things that night.  First, I learned that it's freezing in Oakland at night - even in August.  The days of wearing a skirt out to dinner are long gone.  Thank goodness Amy had a pair of leggings for me to slip on.  Second, I learned that I'm gonna need a new wardrobe.  I don't even own leggings.  Plus, nothing in my closet can be classified as urban or hip.  Third, I learned that I need to bring a dictionary when I go out to eat.  I didn't know what half of the things were on the menu.  But, I loved them all!  Pizziaolo = delish!
 

Lots of years of history around this table made for much laughter and joy

7.  Finding a place to LIVE!  Just hours before driving back home to Sacramento, on my birthday, we found a home to rent.  We found it on craigslist that morning and within no time flat we were over there looking at it.  We knew right away that it was our house.  All the searching was finally over. 
 
Thank you Millheim family for welcoming us into your home while you were away.  May we be that hospitable and generous with our home when others are in need!     

(*Staycation for Jonah, Nicolas, Riley, and I.  Steve worked, but much had a much shorter commute!)