Nicole K. Twedt

Being Brave When Life Is Hard

Christmas 2008

by //

Originally from December 2008

I’m an odd duck, it’s true.  I look forward to writing our family Christmas letter all year long.  Now that it’s that time of year, however, I’m encountering a case of writer’s block, severe as they come.  Perhaps writer’s block, at least for me, has to due with me being nine months pregnant.  Excuses, excuses.

I’m going to be easy on myself this year and just write a blurb about each of us, oldest to youngest.

Greg: After all most four years of marriage, good ol’ Greg is still my very best friend and the love of my life, no less.  Good thing we still like each other.  We’re on this crazy adventure called marriage for the long haul.  Greg’s generosity and faithfulness blows me away.  I’m learning so much from my husband about patience and gentleness.  I’d like to think he’s learning a lot from me, but it hasn’t been the case this year.  I’m not nice when pregnant.  Don’t hold your breath, but maybe he’ll learn something from me next year.

Greg is frantically working on our house, getting it ready for our new addition.  In the process, he discovered a leaky pipe in our family room.  It’s slowly been leaking ever since the house was built in 1988.  But all’s well that ends well.  We no longer have a 5-foot hole in our wall where a little patching had to happen.  He’s in the process of sanding everything so he can texture and repaint, hopefully before Steven comes.  Also, Greg’s working on making a dream of his come true: remodeling the garage, or as I secretly call it, the man cave.

Nicole: I’m about 38 weeks pregnant and about to pop.  I’ve found this pregnancy to be kinder on my body than my pregnancy with Emily, except for the first twenty weeks which almost did me in.  I identify this time around with women who say they enjoy pregnancy.  No words can possibly describe the wonderment of having a human growing inside me.  I’m in awe daily.  I also spend quite a bit of time mulling over the mystery of the stretch marks, which congregate mostly on my right hip.

I’m seriously freaked out about being pregnant again, even more scared to have another baby.   God gently ministered to my heart through a verse from the prophet Zepaniah (Zeph. 3:17).  I know now, without a doubt, that he is with me in this pregnancy, and will be with me as I take care of a newborn again, even though it scares me out of my ever freaking mind.  Above all, he is mighty to save.  All I have to do is run to his outstretched arms and he will calm my fears.  In fact, he rejoices over me with singing.  I never understood this verse until I was lying on the couch during the first few months of pregnancy, too nauseous to do anything but puke.  God spoke to me through a picture of me rocking Emily as I sang a lullaby.  He spoke to my heart about how this is how he wants to nurture me.  He just wants me to lay everything down at his feet as I come to him.  He will quiet my anxious heart with singing.  Pretty cool, I think.  For those who might say at this point that I’m a bit of a fanatic, I probably am.  But everyone has to have a passion.  I really love the Lord and I’m excited about what he’s doing in my life and in the life of my family.

Emily: Believe it or not, our princess will be two at the end of this month.  Emily comes in two speeds, fast and faster.  Surely her motto is, Why walk if you can run and why run if you can skip or hop? Curious, like her daddy, Emmie likes to discover how things work, loves to color, and really loves the letter O.  Best of all, she loves watching me put my make-up on.  And getting into make-up.  Unless it’s chicken nuggets, meat is avoided at all costs.  Emily hates being alone in her big girl bed, camping, and her brown shoes.  She adores her cousins Brad, Margaux and Greta.  If only cousin Isaac lived closer!  Brad, almost eleven, is Emily’s beloved Bro-Bro, and the apple of her eye.

Just the other day, after several attempts to get Em to put her coat on, I tried reasoning with my almost two-year-old.  I told her that she should want to put the darn coat on because it first belonged to Greta.  Emily loves Greta.  When that didn’t work, I threw it out there that maybe, just maybe, it was once Margaux’s coat.  She really loves Maggie.  Emily scowled, but switched gears and asked if the coat ever belonged to Bro-Bro.  I was tempted to lie right then and there.  But I couldn’t lie to my little girl.  I ended up reminding Emily that her coat used to live at Brad’s house, and that maybe, just maybe, it hung next to his coat at one time or other.  It was good enough for my Emily and she gleefully slipped into the darn coat.  Mama for the win.

Baby-to-be: Steven Thomas is due around the twenty-ninth, right before big sister’s birthday.  Given my limited experience in childbirth, no one is holding their breath for a 2008 baby.  We chose the name Steven after my dad.  And the Stephen in the Bible, a gentle man who was martyred for his faith in the days of the early church.  Interestingly enough, Steven literally means crowned or victorious, which is how my dad’s new life is with Jesus.  His life reminds me of the saints in Hebrews 11 who lived by faith but did not receive their crowns or rewards on earth but in heaven.  Julea, my sister-in-law, gave a verse for little Steven that I’m hanging on to.  “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord…” (Luke 1:14, 15).  That’s my hope and prayer for our baby boy.

Well, the writing was surprisingly simple and pain-free, once I gave it a shot.  It’s amazing how the words come when I start writing.  I wish it was this easy in college.  Anyway, we three Twedts wish you a blessed celebration of our Savior’s birth.  We’ll be sure to let you know when Steven makes his appearance.

Love,

Greg, Nicole and Emily

P.S.

Steven Thomas Twedt. January 3.  9 pounds, 3 ounces.  21 1/4 inches.

Christmas 2007

by //

Originally from December 2007

Greetings!  This year was an interesting one for us as first time parents.  We welcomed our baby girl Emily into our family last year, five days after Christmas.  I naively thought motherhood would come naturally to me since I worked with children.  Nothing could have been further from the truth.  There is nothing natural about parenting.  All the same, being a parent is more than profound, far more amazing and life-changing than I thought possible.  Kimmi says mothers walk around with invisible umbilical cords attaching them to their children.  It doesn’t surprise me.  Greg and I love Emily so much it hurts.

Emily is the apple of our eyes.  At eleven months she has seven teeth, white-blonde hair and greenish-blue eyes with little flecks of gold, just like her mama.  The eyes, not lack of teeth.  Her favorite things include singing “Ba-ba” over and over again as we sing Ba Ba Black Sheep, closing her bedroom door, wrestling with daddy, and racing through Grandma and Grandpa’s circular floor plan in a bright pink umbrella stroller pushed by cousins Brad, Margaux and Greta.  Chewing on her hairbrush also makes the list of Baby Emily’s favorites.  She’s a mover and shaker, no doubt about it.  Emily’s name means industrious.  And she is.  She will only sit for two-seconds at a time unless a bottle or Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear is involved.  It seems the only cuddle time we get happens with the bottle is present.  Poor Emily will be at least five before we wean her.

When he isn’t wrestling with his little girl, Greg is busy working for the best employers in town: His dad and Uncle Keith.  Greg keeps busy working on who-knows-what, metal projects of all shapes and sizes for companies in the pacific northwest.  He is involved with a group from church, mostly guys from our Young Marrieds class.  He’s also helping Jim and Eli remodel their home in Edmonds.

It’s been almost an entire year since I quit my teaching job.  I missed teaching at first, but not anymore.  I loved being a preschool and kindergarten teacher but it doesn’t compare with the wonders that come with discovering the world through my own child’s eyes.  I thought I’d get bored at home, but I realize I’m working harder than I’ve ever worked before.  You were right, Julea.  Staying home has given me opportunities to get plugged into MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), nursery, and a Thursday morning Bible Study at church.  I’m learning about God and how he loves me in new ways.  I was water baptized in October.

This has truly been an exciting year for us as a family of three.  In September we took Emily to Tennessee to meet her Uncle Ben, Auntie Jen, Uncle Marty and cousin Isaac for the first time at Ben and Jennifer’s wedding.  My parents and Uncle Scotty were there too.  We had a fabulous time with family.  And one really interesting night driving through the streets of Tennessee in an attempt to get Emily to sleep in the car.  We finally gave up around 2:30 in the morning and went back to the hotel, vowing never again to vacation with a baby.  We broke our promise and recently booked a trip with Nana and Grandpa Dave for Hawaii in February.  I think we were sidetracked by the remote possibility of a date night in the tropics.  We’ll see how it goes.  Wish us luck.

We hope this year has been a year of hope and joy for you and your family.  As we hold tight to our baby (when she’ll let us), our thoughts turn to another child.  We reflect on the grace of Father God, amazed that his love compelled him to send his most precious son over two thousand years ago, love that reaches down still, to save lives and bless the broken-hearted.  Our prayer for you this Christmas is for you to truly experience the love of Emmanuel, God with us.

Christmas 2011

by //

Originally from December 2011

Merry Christmas everyone!  I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by.  Like many of you,  2011 was filled to the brim with mountain top highs but also heartbreaking lows.

As for the highs, boy were they high!  We welcomed the fifth member of our family this summer.  Lauren Anna Elise was born in the early morning hours of July 13.  Daddy and Auntie Julea almost missed her appearance because she came faster than anticipated.  You would think I would know what labor feels like by now…

Lauren is our little love.  Her personality has emerged as sweet and very social, much like Grandpa Steve.  Out of all of our children, she is the one who reminds me of him the most.  Our time with Lauren is a treasure, a rare glimpse into heaven.   In honor of my dad, we chose the name Lauren which literally means “crowned with laurel.”  His meant “crowned.”  A few months back I came across a verse in Isaiah that reminds me of their names. “Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return.  They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy.  Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness” (Isaiah 35:10).  Talk about hope! How my heart leaps inside me each time I ponder those precious words.  We are blessed to have Lauren.  We pray that she will have the love of the Lord in her heart at a young age and that her gentleness and sweet disposition will be a light in this very dark world.

As for Uno and Dos, as we refer to Emily and Steven when we don’t want them to know we’re talking about them, Emily is on the brink of turning 5, while Steven is quickly approaching 3.  Emily is in her second year of preschool at Westgate and Teacher Pasi is her beloved teacher.  Greg and I met back in the day when I taught with Pasi. I’m sure most of you know the story of how I met and married my student Bradley’s uncle through a certain “matchmaker” named Julea.  Anyway, having Emily in my dear friend’s class is a blessing and brings back many fond memories.  Although my little go-getter is as fiery as ever, there is a growing tenderness about Emily, especially when it comes to her baby sister.  According to my sweet big girl, “Lauren is a present from God.”  Yes she is, Emily, and so are you.

Steven’s great milestone of 2011 is that he no longer thinks he’s a dog.  That’s right, he has stopped growling at most people.  It occurred to me around Thanksgiving that maybe Steven was growling because he desperately wanted to interact with others but didn’t know how.  We’ve had ourselves a little talk about manners and proper salutations and now Steven mostly says “hi” to people and is quick to give out hugs and kisses. Hopefully this means we will no longer have to leave restaurants due to all of the growling coming from our table.  We’re still working on not growling at babies, especially baby boys.  But Steven is starting to warm up to Lauren, especially now that she rolls over.  Perhaps he thinks she’s a dog.

Steven’s eyes are constantly changing.  The right eye, the one touched by Morning Glory Syndrome, is getting better and better with each visit.  And the left is starting to catch up.  There’s been only the slightest change in that eye, but it’s been enough improvement to need a new lens.   All praise and glory to Steven’s Healer!  We’re thankful for all of Dr. P.’s help, too.  We press on, not knowing what’s ahead, but claiming victory and hope for the day when Steven’s eyes are perfect in structure, strength and vision.

As for Greg and me, honestly we are so exhausted most of the time.  A scene from the movie Marley And Me comes to mind when I think of this season in life.  Remember the scene where Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson’s characters are lamenting on how HARD parenting is?  Everyone tried to warn them about the challenges of parenting, but they just didn’t listen.  Kinda how we’re feeling these days.  But the scene ends in affirmation.  Aniston and Wilson’s characters wouldn’t do anything different.  They love their children, they love each other, they love their life.  They even love their unruly canine Marley (and we love Steven).  I must be wired for struggle because even though my sanity is in question most days, this has been my very favorite season, challenges and all.   Our three children are a constant reminder of all that is tender in life.

I almost didn’t write a Christmas letter this year.  As I’ve said, this year’s been filled with extreme highs but also devastating lows.  I need to be real about that.  Yet I am compelled to write.  With a joyful heart I want you to know that we are hanging in there, not just surviving, but thriving because Hope has come!  Hallelujah, Hope has come!  He came as a tiny, helpless baby, much like baby Lauren.   And because He came and dwells with us, our hope cannot be shaken.  Merry Christmas.

Love,

Greg, Nicole, Emily, Steven & Lauren