Dear Family and Friends,
My grandma Myrtle used to collect and display bittersweet. It’s one of the things that I’ve always been told about her, “Grandma loved bittersweet.” As kids we were always looking for it, and last year I found the perfect spot along a trail and snipped bunches on a beautiful fall day. I was wishing in that moment, that my grandma was there with me. So, I did the next best thing. I brought some to my mom, so she and I would have that shared connection of her mom present with us. More and more, I know that traditions and mementos and memories are so important to share with each other. The word bittersweet describes how Matt and I sometimes feel as the seasons flow on around us and our kids get older. It seems that every season of our lives has a taste of bitter and a taste of sweet and maybe my grandma knew that, too.
Gabe - 15
High School. The very thought of having a high schooler is strange. When he turned 15 this summer, he got his first phone per our very old school family rule. Like many 9th grade boys on the planet, he’s into Fortnite, ifunny, and Clash of Clans. He towers over me, but still likes to hug his mom, just not always in public. He got his driver’s permit in July, though he has only logged a few hours so far. He is easy going and likes to go to Target or the mall with me, especially if I’ll buy him food. He still loves to read, although more reading time is spent on homework this year. Last winter he played basketball, and did well as a thrower and high jumper for track and field.He earned his first varsity letter by scoring points in the high jump at the Conference meet. G also played defensive end and tight end for the 9th grade football team this fall. Matt’s parent got to see him catch a pass for a touchdown on a visit to Minnesota. I know he still finds it to be challenging to have parents who are coaches. We are still working on our own skills of parenting and not coaching from the stands. He will be confirmed this spring and has enjoyed getting to know more about our own faith stories through our weekly discussions prior to class. Gabe also is a percussionist in the band and sings in the choir.
Ben - 13
Oh Ben…..our most snuggly (even though he’s 13) child. He has the biggest heart and is filled with empathy for others. He decided this fall that he might not be a farmer. Instead, nursing might be on the horizon. He’d be fantastic in caring for others. Ben Bob is in 7th grade and after first quarter, is learning to manage his time, his sports, his homework, and his video gaming. Let’s just say his grades are much better second quarter. :) He still loves to read books about Marvel characters and could tell you the backstory for any and all of them. He’s got an amazing memory for anything he’s read and yet, still forgets to turn in homework, brush his teeth, and on the first weeks of having his retainer - lost it...while sleeping…... Ben played center on the 7th grade football team and is currently aiming for 10 rebounds a game on the basketball team. Ten rebounds = Arby’s. (We are not above bribery for performance). His imagination is alive and well with the amazing stories he makes up with his action figures. Ben had one line in the summer musical, Aladdin, where he was a royal guard AND played the pivotal role of the front end of a camel. Then, he took his musical talents to the 7-8 ACDA Honor Choir in November. He also plays percussion in band and loves the bass drum most of all.
Lyndee – almost 12
She is my definite mini-me. Lyndee Lu is almost 12 and in 6th grade. I get to teach her in my Minnesota History class every day. It’s very different being her teacher than it was teaching the boys. The boys were not easily embarrassed. But, when I did the floss, dabbed, and did a fortnite dance at a middle school assembly, she was mortified and told me later it was “cringey.” Ooops. I forget sometimes what it was like to be 11, almost the tallest girl in your grade, AND the teacher’s kid?! While I think she is amazing and beautiful, it’s hard to feel that way as a middle schooler when all you want to do is fit in. My perfectionist daughter gets upset at an A- or a missed free throw. It’s challenging to try to live WITH her in her frustration and not try to make her feel better. She’s playing 6th grade basketball and I get to coach her for her final year of elementary basketball along with 18 of her teammates. I love to watch her play and hope that my lofty expectations don’t color her joy for the game. Lyndee is a diligent trumpet player and has far surpassed her dad’s skills during his brief stint in the brass section. She also sings in the choir and loves to read, play with barbies, make imovie trailers, and is still huge animal lover.
Matt
Change happens whether we want it or are prepared for it. After 21 years in the Rochester Public Schools, an opportunity came to apply for a position in Pine Island. Back and forth, pros and cons, ups and downs, and loads of talking about our future dominated our spring. He took a one year leave of absence from the Rochester schools to teach in Pine Island and see if this is the right direction for our family AND for him as a professional. As in every first year, there are joys and challenges. He’s teaching 6th graders for the first time in two decades, teaching high schoolers, and also teaching Adaptive PE for students with disabilities. That’s an additional licensure that he will be working toward. It’s all new to him, but he is amazing (in my not to be humble opinion) with that population of students. Personally, I love having him in our school and am so grateful that I get to see him every day! As a Pine Island Track and Field coach for 22 years, Matt had another successful season and got to take two individual athletes to state. Usually the State meet is bittersweet because our competing athletes are seniors and we have to say goodbye to them after that weekend in June. This year, the athletes were underclassmen so it was just SWEET! We moved up to Class AA in True Team and still finished an impressive 3rd in the Section True Team meet, though we were the smallest school population. Matt also took on the adventure of coaching football this year as the JV Coach. The learning curve was steep, but it was so fun to watch him interact on the sidelines and for him to bring his voice to the game.
Amy
I like to think that I’m pretty much an open book and I hope that I don’t give off the vibe that life is always perfect and stress free. More often than not, it’s perfectly imperfect. And, even in its ordinariness, I truly feel like I am “Living the Dream.” I am stunningly grateful for our kids. The car ride conversations are the best. I don’t always get their humor, but luckily they’ll explain things to me. And I hear, “Oh Mama, I love you,” more than I deserve. I am thankful that my husband of almost 23 years is patient with me. I love my job teaching 6th graders and coaching young runners. Two runners from my team made it to State in CC this year, and every year, I just love this sport more. It’s so brutally honest about work ethic and talent and how far one is willing to test physical and mental boundaries. I try to be a good role model for my athletes, and one of my best moments of the fall was rounding a corner while running the Med-City half marathon and seeing the girls on my team with signs and water and jumping up and down and cheering for me. A new challenge awaits me this spring as I’ve been named the Head Girl’s Track and Field coach in Pine Island. I am excited to build on the tradition that is already there while bringing the boys and girls programs together.
Family
Let’s just say the kids are sick of driving. This year, we drove to Destin, Florida to celebrate Matt’s parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. In Florida, there were 27 of us in a house together. We got to swim in the ocean, find jellyfish and sand dollars, stay up late, swim in the pool, shop at gift shops, go out to eat, and enjoy time together. It was challenging sometimes to step all over and bump into each other and try to remember that spending time together is more important than PERFECTION. As you can imagine, sometimes the house felt big and sometimes it felt small. We laughed and cried and learned more about each other as adults and the fierce love we feel for each other and our children. On the way home, we had two days in Kentucky with Jill and Mark. We got to spend time at the lake with my dad and Karla, have Heidi and Allan here in May and again at Thanksgiving, and Jill and Mark here in October. Mom and David are in Rochester full time now that they’ve sold their place in AZ and are enjoying getting to everyone’s basketball games and concerts.
Pets
Here’s the rundown–Dash - Great Pyrenees/Goldendoodle - 7 years old and thinks dog food is the best thing on the planet. Tucker – Golden Retriever - 6 years old with a deep affinity for Lyndee and frozen poop. Mia-The tortoise who is STILL at summer camp with the Kohners. Wrigley – yellow lab – age unknown, likes to demonstrate ownership of his spot on the couch. Cat #2 - Leo - went to the litter box in the sky when he wandered too close to county road 3. As of the writing of this letter, I’m hoping my cat luck turns around as #3 and #4, Lucy and Pepper respectively, have taken up temporary residence in the laundry room until the garage dogs accept them into their midst.
This Christmas season, we hope that you have more sweet than bitter. But if you don’t, rely on those memories of times that were sweet. A quote from a new favorite author, Shauna Niequist, “When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” Let us be present enough in this season to celebrate and to grow, and if the two can coexist, we can do both.
~Love, Matt & Amy, Gabe, Ben, and Lyndee~
Dash, Tucker, Wrigley, Mia, Lucy, & Pepper
