This Was No Silent Night

The Cast of the Nativity

Steve and I weren't sure what this Christmas would hold, but it was one for the books! A foot of snow (our first-ever Seattle white Christmas... I've waited a LOT of years for this!), a phone call from France and hosting dinner with friends Christmas nights were some great highlights.
We also had a wonderful Christmas Eve... As is tradition, we spent the evening with Steve's parents in Port Orchard. We had the annual Mexican Feast and Nativity Play, but this year, we added a special twist: Santa showed up!!!! A few of you may recognize his uncanny resemblance to Uncle Steve!

The Transition Begins

Steve doesn't really relish being the center of attention, so he was initially a little reticent. But one look at the wonder-filled faces of his nieces and nephew, and Steve's heart was won over. The little ones were so enamored by Santa showing up in Grandma's living room! Almost four-year old Skylie was the least shy of the group and approached Santa as soon as he was seated in the chair of honor. She walked up, looked up at him with those doe eyes of hers and said in a clear and confident voice, "Santa, I cleaned my room." I thought Steve's heart would melt. He got so many hugs and kisses from the little guys and he is such a sucker for that. It really made his Christmas... and mine! He got so excited at the end that he almost took a few eyes out as he tossed candy to unsuspecting family members... but no one was maimed, so it was a good night for Santa Claus.

Oddly enough, just as Santa had left, Steve returned to the party. He said to the kids, "Hey, guess what I just saw??? I saw Santa and his sleigh fly off!" The kids looked at him with awe. Little Elizabeth asked with great excitement, "did you see Rudolph?" Steve replied, "I did see a bright red nose... that must have been him." Elizabeth was very excited and said in a very superior tone to her older brother, "see Mark! I told you Rudolph wasn't just a story!"

....And to all a good night!!!!

Santa with Skylie

...and Elizabeth

...and Mark!

(Mark was hysterical, because he was quite nervous to introduce himself to Santa. But after a bit of positive-self talk he geared up, put his game face on, and as you can see, got quite comfortable very quickly!)

Greetings from France

I thought folks might be ready for an Elder Rowley Update.  Here are a few quotes from recent emails...  Brian, in his own words: scary thought, huh?  I've left the punctuation and style just as we received....  I hope no one is offended by a few of B's turns of phrase, but those who know him well wouldn't recognize him without them...

Here they are:

• its kind of weird being roomates with people who have been on their missions way longer than me cuz its hard to quote new movies and stuff. hopefully i don't lose my sense of humor.  [this has been the only fear that Brian has shared with us since arriving in Paris.  the kid is definitely unique!]
• today was elder fairbourne's b day so we went bowling on our p day it was awesome! then we went and got pizza kobobs. soooooo bomb. [I included this to show that Brian is really appreciating the french cuisine!]
•  im gay enough i have a freaking scarf!!!!  there so normal over here but dad dont worry im drawing the line here!!!! NO MAN NIKKERS!!!!! [Steve and Brian have always shared a disdain for men wearing capris.  They refer to them as "man nickers"]
•  i miss you all dearly though but this is where im supposed to be.  nothing is bad!!!  and if something seems bad or hard, its really not.  it really is only for our good to make us better and stronger.  the lord loves us so much and he would never just let us suffer for nothing, it is always great for us in the long run.  sacrifices, i've learned are really just big leaps of faith.  and it always seems hard or bad at first, but it ends up being giving up something good for something great, its not really a sacrifice.  we have so much to be thankful for its ridiculous!!!!!  gosh life is good and will just keep getting better! 
•  ive noticed really quickly that the worst days on the mission are days where you dont work hard.  there was one day this week where we were on exchanges and i was with elder navarro and we couldn;t do enything cuz neither of us spoke french and so we just sat around!!!!  it was freaking horrible!!!!  the worst day of my mission,  but it was such a good experience!!!  all of our trials are in the long run.
  

We're thrilled for Brian to have this incredible opportunity.  I love seeing that he is still Brian, but already a more mature version of himself.  It's exciting to see and brings a special kind of joy to this Christmas.  

Mele Kalikimaka

Down town Lahaina's Famous Banyan Tree ready for Christmas!

I fell in love with this Stand of Trees on the Road to Hana

Another mighty Banyan Tree on our Hike

A beautiful black sand beach

Self-Portrait of a Very Happy Pair

Sunset at Makenna Beach

Back in August, before the world fell apart, we planned a trip to Maui for early December. While now, it hardly seems practical, it has still been a blast.

Steve and I arrived last Saturday afternoon. We stayed at a tiny, but beautiful condo right on the beach in Lahaina. We've enjoyed great seafood, some amazing hikes and beach time, not to mention the very strange experience of hearing Christmas songs while wearing flip flops at 85 degrees.

Some highlights were the crazy Road to Hana, (which we didn't take last trip because we had a bored teenager in the back seat), a beautiful hike through a bamboo forest to the tallest waterfall we've ever seen, and some incredible sea food. It's also amazing to remember what it's like to have plenty of time together, to sleep 9 - 10 hours a night (incredible!), and have skin that no longer looks like Edward Cullen's less the sparkles (at least for another week and a half).

We also had a wonderful dinner with my former boss and her husband, who have since retired and now live in this Paradise. If you sense any bitterness here, I'm sure it's your imagination. When the market recovers, in another 25 years or so, we can afford to come live here as well. Of course this will depend on other factors such as our strategy for winning the lottery, searching out a buried treasure with our metal detector, or finding a long-lost rich uncle who will come to love us with his final breaths. (If you know either of our families, you realize that this last one is a real long shot.) In the mean time, we have no problem watching how the other half lives and pretending it is us for brief moments in time.

It has been a great week and a wonderful contrast to years' past with the Hectic Holidays breathing down our throats. It's also a great reminder that yes, Virginia, there is Life after Children. This trip was a wonderful one to take with Brian a few years back and we saw so many things this past week that made us miss him, but it was also fun to try the trip again at our own pace and style. My only real concern now is that, well, .... next week is really going to suck.

Mein Fuhrer on Washington Sports Scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI_xCBAv2rk

   As dark as the picture presented in this documentary, it still doesn't cover the depths of the Pacific Northwest's degradation: Seattle Sonics, Mariners, SeaHawks, University of Washington, WSU... find me a winner in that mix.

   As I've always said... to be a fan of Seattle sports is to have one's heart broken every season.  True that, Adolph!

That's My Niece!!!!

This weekend I had a rare privilege: I was able to watch my niece, Megan, star in a play put on by The Richland Light Opera Company. The play was ambitious, powerful and everyone did a great job. That being said, Megan truly was the star in every sense of the word.

I know what you are thinking... I am her aunt. What would I know? But while I have no performing talent of my own, I do have the ability to spot it. Megan performed beautifully and sang with incredible power. Her voice is a miracle. There are a couple of numbers that continue to give me chills 48 hours later.

But there was something even more. Megan's goodness and joy came through with word, note and gesture. Seeing that light in her caused me to reflect on my drive home. I thought of each of nieces and nephews. Each of them have that same light burning bright. It reflects differently in them all, but I am so blessed by my knowing and loving each and every one of my nieces and nephews. Each has a powerful light that both illuminates and warms those around them. There is one more miracle in all of this... they have managed to marry people who add to it!

Any one who knows me, understands that I am not a Pollyanna, and I don't wear rose-colored glasses. Trust me on this. I'm right about these people. I find such laughter and joy any time I am with "The Next Generation". They are funny, intelligent and unfailingly kind to me. For at least the past twenty years, I've understood a very important mathematical formula. There is no better ratio of effort/reward than being an Aunt. All the love... very little of the drama. You get to see the glowing smiles without having to drive them to orthodontist to straighten their pearly whites. None of the sleepless nights, but you still get the excited phone calls very early in the Game... Proms, Weddings, Babies... As an Aunt, you pay for none of them, but share in the joy of them all.

When these nieces and nephews were little, I typically bonded with the girls at younger ages, but I've also come to know my nephews as my dear friends. Some of those relationships came when they moved close but a couple of them were forged when these young men were in other hemispheres! And I still am delighted when I get a phone call or an email forward just because they think I'll enjoy it. I'm grateful any time one of my nieces or nephews spends time with me. Every one of them make me feel young, happy and very alive.

So, to my nieces and nephews, while it was Megan who dazzled me Friday night, each of you amaze me each time I see you. I love your confidence and your kindness. Thank you for always making me feel vital and important. And to my brother and sisters, thank you for sharing your incredible children with me. They've become individuals who are such a credit to you.

(this is one of the few down-sides of being Aunt.... you really deserve no cudos for who they become... oh, well.. those orthodonture bills would have killed me...)

No Way??? Norway!!!!

Alicia's call arrived today.  She will be serving in the Norway, Oslo mission!  She is thrilled as she has many ancestors from Norway and several family members to serve missions there. Alicia enters the MTC February 4, 2009.

We are thrilled for her!  

Mostly, Karine is thrilled as it means she wins the pizza.  Would you prefer Thin Pan on your next visit?  

Alicia won't be serving too far away from Brian...  and think of the freakish language skills they'll have by autumn 2010!

We love you Alicia...

Happy Anniversary Baby, 'Got You On My Mind

Dear Steve

Happy Anniversary!

We've joked for years about what a "blessed woman" I am, but you know what? It's true.

I am blessed. Your combination of laughter, faith and good heart, tinged with just the perfect dose of sarcasm, are just what I need. You remind me of what is really important and sometimes you can even get me to slow down and enjoy the view!

Our different parenting styles at times made me want to scream (and I think I did a time or two!), but I look at Brian now and think maybe we're a good combo. He certainly makes us look good, doesn't he?

You've always given me the credit for the fact that we have such good friends, but I know better. I might be better at making friends, but you are the best at keeping them. You do it again by your humor, easy going nature and the fact that you people feel better when they're around you.

Thank you for your acceptance and love. Thanks for loving me for who I am and not some expectation you had of me. Thank you for believing in me more than I do in myself. Thank you for making me laugh.

I know our lives are in a very quiet chapter, but I love that! I love knowing that tonight we chose to spend another quiet evening at home together to celebrate 26 years together. We must be doing something right. I love you with all my heart!

Lynn