Peace, Love & Joy.

Our Christmas card reads "Peace, Love and Joy" which reminded me of tidbits this past year of our family. Another year has come to an end and I can hardly believe it. Not so much because it went quickly (it didn't at all) but because we are still.....

Living in the same apartment.

Risiding in the same community.

And working the same job...as last year.

It's a miracle. 

So with that being said, you are welcome to join me in this christmas letter without having to bore you about our latest house, community or job change. So let's get started....
 

KASIAH

A.K.A. "Peace"



Although our most difficult child in more ways than one, she has an inner wisdom that continues to bring peace to our ever present storms.  She loves horses, dancing, kittens and friends, gymnastics, grandma's, and the latest... her American Girl Doll. She is a girly girl to the max. She is very smart beyond her years, analytical like her mom (oh boy), and a wonderful protective "mother" to her little siblings.

 

For example, yesterday while the cousins beheaded the beloved Dora pinatta for Adalie's 3 year old birthday party, candy sprayed everywhere. Dyson quickly collected the candy by opting out for the "scrape everything into one pile" vs. "picking up one piece at a time" option.  After a few seconds of collecting about 50 pieces through his brilliant method, his worst nightmare came true.  The other cousins started stealing from his pile.  Can you believe it?! Well his big sister certainly couldn't! What did she do? She stole back of course! Including stealing from a 3 year old big browned eyed innocent little child. Needless to say, after the storm was over both Dyson and Chayce were left standing alone with about 3 pieces of candy and tears streaming down their faces. But on the bright side, at least he's got his big sister to stand up for him! Oh wait a second. What's that? Is Kasiah's candy bag actually overflowing the most out of all the cousins? Yup. And the best part? Uncle Luke caught it all on video... (insert evil laugh. ha ha ha.)
 

On a more serious note, there are many nights we pull up artists like Jamie Grace and are instructed to sit on the couch and be her audiance. She choreographed 3 separate dance routines as a gift to her grandparents.  They include props like signs, ribbons, and the most dynamic? Confetti. Shredded construction paper in which Dyson was hiding in his bible cover for weeks (I was so confused, but I didn't dare throw it away).  However, it all made sense in the living room of my parents house on Thanksgiving day, as Kasiah danced away. Suddenly, she wrapped up her super sparkly routine with a glorious grand finale...confetti being sprayed everywhere....by Dyson..... as she nailed the perfect splits and pointed up to Jesus as if to say, "I give you the Glory, God." Unfotunately Dyson forgot to bring the confetti at the next tour performance (the farm). Sorry Grandma. :(

 

On a serious note (seriously this time), our lives have felt a little out of control this year but if we pay attention, God will use Kasiah to speak to us. She is remembered for her gingerbread artwork given to Jer during a not so happy time in his life. She titled it: Daddy, Have Joy In Yourself.

Another moment was on her most recent date with dad. With a tummy full of Cherry Berry they were talking about God's love.  But with a sad, tired and defeated look Jeremy said, "But Kasiah, I just don't understand why God sometimes won't answer prayers." 

After a moment of silence, she replied, "Maybe He's just waiting for you to trust him, dad."

And that would be our peace.

 

ADALIE

A.K.A. "Love"

Love is best described as an action. Although Adalie rarely shows evidence that she loves us through her actions (such as stealing candy and scaling the walls to reach her sisters gum) there is one thing that prevails when I look at this darling: her never ending desire to be loved on by Momma. For Adalie being held, hugged and kissed by me is her top priority of every day. Even as I write this, she is sitting on my lap.

Next to "Sissy" and Dyson, Adalie's best friends are Dora and her baby dolls. She enjoys dancing, food, her thumb and being sassy (we're working on that). She can't get enough of getting messy and...wrecking things.  The other night Dyson told me he had a horrible dream. I asked, "Really? What was it?"  He replied, "I had a dream that Adalie pulled the corn out of my dirt cup (yes, he is growing corn in his room) but when I woke up, the corn was still growing and the dream wasn't true Mom!"

She is notorous for wrecking her siblings rooms and then smirking about it when she gets in trouble. So I put the discipline in their hands. Her latest was destroying Dyson's wonderfully handcrafted spider made out of paper towels, chewing gum and paper fasteners. That was a treasure and Dyson was burning in anger! I let him decide the consequence and he took her blankie away for one day. She cried in distress, "I'm sorry Dyson, I'm sorry!"  Dyson replied, "I forgive you Adalie, but you're still not getting your blankie back!"

Despite her terrible 2 moments, Adalie continues to be the one who forces me, no matter what I'm doing, to just stop and be. I find myself scooping up all of her cuteness so that she can bury her puffy blonde head into my shoulder. She'll wrap her chubby arms around my neck and suck that stupid thumb of hers. We really should try to break that. But, man... it's just so hard! Because once we do she will never snuggle with me like this again... and she (unless God says otherwise) is our last.

So that would be our love.

 

 

DYSON

A.K.A. "Joy"

Sigh. Then there is Dyson. How does one describe the family clown? He is the epitomy of accident prone and goof-ball. He is creative and smart in ways that exceed his age. While building a deck with Jer he calculated specific material dad needed before being asked to retrieve it. He is already working a drill gun (Jer is determined to raise this "town boy" like a hardworking "farm boy") and loves to work with his hands. He will imagine and create anything from the paper towel spider to crazy lego creations.  He loves taekwondo, cardboard, scotch tape and staplers. He loves Grandpa's garden and has spent hours gardening with him.  This would explain the corn plant currently growing in his bedroom. Unless his nightmare comes true. 

Dyson has a powerful mind.  And when it's made up, he can do anything... like get up on an adult sized wakeboard (which he did) or memorize the entire passage of Psalm 23 in a week (which he also did). He also has an extremely sensitive spirit as we try to man him up for real life and not cry about everything. But even as a baby, I remember his daycare provider sharing with me that he was extremely sensitive. So we embrace it and smile knowing he will make a great ladies man someday. :)

My friend Cathi taught me that joy can stand for Jesus, Others, and You. Joy is different than happy. This would describe Dyson.  Although he is a very happy kid, walking into our bedroom at 6 am as if it's Christmas morning (every morning), he is truly deeper than a happy feeling. He puts Jesus and others before himself many times, especially when it comes to showing love for Kasiah. He is crazy about his sister (or is he just avoiding conflict?). Regardless, he would spend his entire allowance on her for Christmas if we'd let him.  His tithes from chores often exceed his spending jar. He loves to give more than anything else... it brings him joy. Which is why, he is our joy.

 

And Finally.... Us.

A.K.A. "Perseverance"

:)

Oh what a picture.  When Jer sees this he'll roll his eyes because kissing has become an "issue" in our house lately. :) More on that another time (probably not). But we are happy to kiss our 9th year good-bye which included some hardships like Jer's mom receiving news of cancer, an early stage miscarriage of my own, an overwhorked husband, a few tradgedies in Brandon (that wrecked my heart)...and simply being worn out physically, spiritually and emotionally in dealing with "life". You know how it is!

 

Jeremy continues to work at the grain elevator and do construction on the side so that I can stay home, raise our kids and homsechool. I have so much respect for what he does for us. He is also getting an education in ministry and has aced every test but one... which he flunked. (ha ha) But hey, when the book you're studying is titled Hermenuitics what more could you expect? Anyway, I couldn't be more proud of him.

 

Currently we're looking forward to a 4 night getaway to Kansas City. It will be our first signficant getaway in 9 years! We'll be attending an amazing conference put on through IHOP (not pancakes. Prayer). So on New Years Eve when the clock strikes midnight, we'll be worshipping our Creator with thousands of young adults instead of watching Dick Clark and a sparkly ball. I can't wait!

With all that said (which was probably too much) we wish you a merry christmas! And to those who's Christmas season is filled with heartache over happiness: If Christ is living in you then heaven is your hope. This promise you can claim:

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,

for the old order of things has passed away."

~ Revelation 21:4

With Love, The Dykstra's