I Really Love Ya Brother!

Dear Joshua and Luke, Yes, you two boys really do love each other. You are so lucky to be brothers and friends, even if you do not feel that way every moment of the day. I know you both feel that way most of the time. This is the conversation from last night as I lay at the bottom of the bed waiting for you two to fall asleep:

Joshua: "Luke, I really love you."
Luke: "I really love you, too."
Joshua: "Can I hold you?"
Luke: "Yes, Josh. Just don't make me hot."
Joshua: "Do you want to sleep in my bed all night?"
Luke: "Yes, I do."
Joshua: "If I get up to go in mom and dad's room, I will wake you up and take you with me.
Luke: "OK."
Joshua: "I mean I will try my best and remember to get you."
(And just for the record, Joshua did not get his brother in the morning when he came in.)

What a sweet conversation! Just melts my heart! Here's a little background. Both of you really like sleeping in our bed. Most of the time, you come into our bedroom at various times of the night. Dad and I are really proud of you when you manage to stay in your own beds until morning when mom gets up to get ready for work. We have tried many incentives to motivate you to stay in your beds, but none has worked very well. I am not sure why, but I can tell you that I really don't mind much. I do know that you will not still be sleeping in our bed when you graduate from high school, so it will be OK. I am often reminded that our time with you is so short. You both will be grown up with your own families in the blink of an eye. If you want to lay in our bed to be close to us, for warmth, comfort, whatever, that is OK for now.

"I would like a batman set for Christmas!"






"I would like a 'How to Train Your Dragon set. And I don't know what else. Surprise me!"

Joshua and Luke going on a bear hunt at the St. Nicholas party.

Joshua and Luke posing with St. Nicholas.

Boys - Do keep in mind that our patron saint - St. Nicholas - reminds us that it is our responsibility to take care of the most vulnerable in our community. This includes small children older people, sick people, etc. While the Christmas season is a wonderful time for several reasons, let us remember that it is Jesus's birthday. Let us look at what we can do to help Jesus do his work on earth.

I love you more today than I did yesterday.

Love,

Mama

Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For.......

Dearest Joshua and Luke,

This has been one of the best Thanksgiving's ever! Our family has so much to be thankful for. Here is my list so far. The list is not in any particular order.

1. My Family - Being your mom is the best thing I have ever done in my whole life. Being your mom is my most favorite thing. I love how God created each of you exactly as you are. And Eric - I couldn't have done it without you. :) You are always there to support me and help me in raising our boys.

2. I am thankful for the sounds of family in our house. I love the sounds of the giggles, laughter, stomping on the floor, lego blocks, Magna blocs, pages of books, pretend light sabers clashing together, coloring (yes crayons make a sound), craft sticks, etc. And I love how those sounds are magnified when our extended family comes to visit.

3. I am thankful for grandparents who love my boys so much. The sound of grandma reading a book to Luke or talking with Joshua about whatever he is doing.

4. I am thankful for the people in my life that inspire me and encourage me to be a better person. People who listen to me, and offer support when I need it most.

(The kids making the traditional Thanksgiving turkeys from fudge striped cookies, chocolate covered cherries, chocolate frosting, and candy corn.)

5. I am thankful for the children that I get to see every day at work. These children inspire me to continue my work as well as give me so much hope for the future.

6. I am thankful for the community that I live in. My community respects life and children. They help to provide a solid and supportive environment for my family to live in.

7. I am thankful for St. Nicholas Church and Father Hitpas. St. Nicholas is a great church community to raise my boys in. I love what it has to offer our family. I love the fact that Father Hitpas is one of my favorite people who inspire me to be a better person each time I listen to him.

(Grammy is reading from the book of Genesis to the family. Grammy just gave the boys a stand for the bible to rest on while at the prayer table. Luke is especially proud of it.)

8. I am thankful for my family and friends. I have been so blessed with people in my life. I feel very lucky to be surrounded by friends and family that love me very much.

9. I am thankful for other fellow bloggers who have inspired me to be as diligent as I can about blogging for my boys a few times each month. I love the other blogs I read and keeping in touch with other family's lives through this form of communication.

(Ethan and Joshua playing in the sandbox in the backyard.

Luke and Elsa are in the house watching Peter Pan, Luke's favorite.)

10. I am thankful for each of you reading my blog right now. You must be special to my family that you are reading about us. I would name names, but I do not want to risk not mentioning someone really important to us. Thanks for being who you are.

Joshua's November journal entry from school:

(Turkeys eating nuts and berries, little bugs, and seeds.)

Another journal entry:

(I am glad the pilgrims and Indians met.)

Elsa, Joshua, and Luke giving thanks during "The First Thanksgiving Play." Ethan was playing music on the piano in the background.

I love you both more today than yesterday.

Love,

Mama

Walking Toward a Cure Continued.....

Dearest Joshua and Luke,

A few weeks ago Joshua's team, Joshua's Jedi's, walked toward a cure and raised over $600 for food allergy education and research!!! Thank you so much to our family and friends who helped us reach our goal. The support of our friends and family goes a long way. Friends who prayed for others with food allergies as well as those who donated money to this cause that is so near and dear to our hearts. Also, thanks for your kind messages and words of inspiration. We will find a cure or keep working toward a better way to deal with life-threatening food allergies.

What was supposed to be a two mile walk around Creve Couer Park turned into a 5K. It was a gorgeous day - sunshine filled the sky - and our family joined 535 other walkers to walk toward a cure. It was a great event. Afterwards we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory on the landing to celebrate.

I love you both more today than I did yesterday.

Love,

Mama

I Think I Smell A "Cigarit"

Dearest Joshua and Luke,

I know it has been a while since I have posted, but things have been very busy. Just last weekend alone, I was at Children's Hospital with Luke due to his difficulty in breathing with his asthma. We had called the doctor's exchange Thursday evening, and started Luke on predisone, but by Friday night, Luke's condition had worsened - even after two doses of oral predisone! So...Saturday included a nice nap for Luke and mom. When I got home from the Emergency Room at 4;30 am, I had noticed that many pumpkins had been smashed in my neighborhood, including mine. I was sad and mad. I was mad at whoever came onto my porch and smashed your cute little painted pumpkins that you painted with Grandma. Who would do that? I was sad that I had to explain to you that some people do not think about others, and just aren't nice. But we decided that we needed to pray that they become more like Jesus. On Saturday we said goodbye to Daddy's Ford Ranger. A lady slowed down in front of him to glance at a yard sale, and Daddy hit the back end of her car. Luckily, no one was hurt, but it is not worth fixing at this time, so bye bye truck. The truck originally belonged to Papa Mort and for a brief time to Uncle Luke. Daddy has had the truck quite a while, and it has been nice to have around as a third vehicle. I have been sick, too, but my symptoms seem so trivial compared to your colds and asthma. Sunday was spent getting new shoes and a coat, but we had time to walk along with both of you as Luke rollerskated around the trail and the neighborhood, and Joshua rode his bike. It was so much fun, and a great day to be out in the neighborhood! What a weekend!

On the way home from pictures at church and dinner at O'Charley's, Joshua said, "I smell something bad. Really bad." I said, "I don't smell a thing. What does it smell like?" We smell a lot of skunks in the woods behind us. Finally, Joshua said, "I smell a cigarit." I repeated several times, "A cigarit? What is that?" Finally, Joshua told me it was a long thing that you smoked." I said, "Joshua, where have you heard about a cigarette?" He said, "You told me about it." With lots of thoughts in my head, I told Joshua that now I knew what he was talking about, but I did not think he was smelling a cigarette. Daddy and I explained that cigarettes were bad for you, and not a healthy choice. It was not a conversation I was expecting to have now, but the interesting thing was that Joshua or Luke has never asked us about smoking or what people are doing when they have seen someone with a cigarette. So....I told Joshua that when he learned about being drug-free a few weeks ago during Red Ribbon Week. Cigarettes were not a healthy choice for our bodies. Then, Joshua talked about a few people that he has seen with cigarettes and nothing else was said. I am sure that we will have many conversations about it years from now. I can say that we have talked a lot in your short little lives about being healthy and making good choices for your body. This includes cigarits - cigarettes - and so many other things. I hope you never experiment with cigarettes or any other drugs or alcohol. I can tell you that Daddy and I will always be involved with what you are doing, and how you are doing for a very long time. What you do will be our business for a long time....at least until you are 30. Cigarettes are not cool and are not good for anything. We will talk more about this......

Here are other pictures from the last few weeks:

Joshua posed with Fred Bird at A Walk for the Cure in Creve Couer Park last Saturday. Joshua's Jedi's raised over $500 for this walk. This was supposed to be a 2-mile walk, but one hour into it, we started thinking that we were walking further. Somehow the trail got mismarked, and we actually did a 5K. Wow! Way to go, guys! Thank you so much to our friends and family that supported us! Your friendship, thoughtfulness, prayers, and donations meant so much to us!

Joshua and his best buddy from school. They were sharing books at the book swap while sipping hot cocoa and eating teddy grahams at Family Reading Night. Notice the cool jammies! Luke wanted to know what the police would do if they found out that we wore pajamas to school!!!!



Batman and Darth Vader - how scary! We had so much fun trick-or-treating this year. We walked around our new neighborhood, and we must have had about 250 trick-or-treaters at our house. Thank goodness that Aunt Tina and John joined us for dinner and passing out candy. They passed out candy most of the time that we were trick-or-treating with the boys. It was great spending time with them. Aunt Tina and I had fun reminiscing about our favorite Halloween times growing up.

I love you more today than I did yesterday.

Love,

Mama

Never Give Up - Life Lesson #703

Dearest Joshua and Luke,

Earlier this week, I was sitting on the couch going through Joshua's school folder, and Luke came over to me, leaned on my knee, and said, "I give up, Mama." I have to say that I was quite startled since I had never heard Luke or Joshua ever say these words before. I immediately put all the papers down, and said, "Luke, What's wrong? Why do you give up?" Luke said, "I can't find my mask. I've looked and can't find it." So many things were going through my head, but mostly my thoughts were....What do you mean you give up? You can't give up. You are only 3. Where did you ever hear that giving up was an option in life? A few seconds later, I said, "Luke, don't give up. Did you look in your room? Playroom? Living room? Etc. Then, I went on to explain to him that we don't ever give up on something we really want, and I was sure that Luke really wanted to find his batman mask.

*****

I am happy to tell you that we did find the mask with very little trouble and not too much looking around. This may seem a bit trivial to some, but I feel that this lesson is worth sharing over and over or as much as necessary. I do not ever want my boys to give up on anything that they want to achieve (even if it is just a batman mask now). I want them both to know and understand that they can achieve anything they want as long as they do not give up and keep trying. I will refer them to some of the greatest people and their achievements that took some perseverance - Abraham Lincoln went to war as a captain and returned as a private. But went on to become the 16th president of the United States. Winston Churchill was retained in school, but later become prime minister. Albert Einstein did not speak until he was 4 years old, or read until he was 7 years old. He was even expelled from school. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. The other thing I want my boys to know is that we do not ever use the three words - "I give up." Mom and Dad will always be here to help you, assist you, support you, or to be here for whatever you need. We will do everything we can to help you.

Joshua took time out of his school field trip to pick pumpkins in order to be a cowboy!

Joshua and Miss Jan, Joshua's piano teacher. Even though getting in all the practicing is a challenge, Joshua is doing great with piano. He has even started playing songs without the letters on the notes. He can play "C D E" songs on the piano with no assistance! Look out Patty Cake and Step Up and Step Down songs!

Joshua and Luke enjoying the sandbox in the backyard.

Luke at the Shake, Rattle, 'N Roll Halloween bash. He is marching around with the sticks!

Fall Fun!

Dearest Joshua and Luke,

It has been a sad week at the Litteken's. One of daddy's very good friends, Larry Schmitt, unexpectedly passed away this week. He was in a bad motorcycle accident. We really do not see him very much. Both daddy and Larry have been so busy with their families the last several years, but they lived next door to each other since Daddy was 7 months old. They ran around a lot together in high school and growing up, but grew apart some since they both got married. Larry was a groomsmen in our wedding, too. He will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we will miss him. It also reminded us how precious life is, and to keep enjoying every minute of it.

You both had your very first sleepover at anyone's house. It came about kind of unexpectedly. Mom and Dad went out for our every other month Lookingglass Playhouse date while you both stayed at Grammy and Papa's house. When we got back, Joshua was almost asleep. He fell asleep listening to Grammy read Peter Pan. We tried to wake him to tell him that we were leaving, but he continued to sleep. Luke said that he was read to sleep at Grammy's house. I was a little unprepared for this, but I knew that we would be coming over to get you early at Grammy's house. On the way home, I kept thinking that Grammy was going to call us and tell us to come back and pick you up, but she never called. It was definitely different coming home and being here without you. Grammy said that Joshua woke up at about 4 am and asked Grammy if "Mom and Dad had left him here." Then, he went back to sleep. Both boys were disappointed when we came over to get them so early the next morning.

The fall weather has been great this week - lots of bike rides and time spent outside. Today we spent the afternoon with Grammy at a fall festival. We have gone almost every year since Joshua was two. There is always a hay ride, games, fresh apple cider, painting pumpkins, a bounce house and tons of fun. Then, church with Grammy and dinner with Grammy and Papa. We arre very blessed to have Grammy and Papa be such a big part of our lives.

Please pray for Nana. She misses Papa Ed so much. Please pray for Papa Mort. He seems to be getting weaker and weaker. It is getting harder for him to do anything. I love you both more today than I did yesterday.

Love,

Mama

Thanks to Christopher Columbus!

Dearest Joshua and Luke,

Thanks to Christopher Columbus we have had an amazing weekend! Fall and fun is in the air! On Friday evening, Dad and Joshua went to Pere Marquette State Park for owl watching.....Joshua calls it owl hunting, but let me assure you that there was no hunting involved. It started about eight o' clock in the evening. A two mile walk up the bluff - yes up the bluff - as they passed so much wildlife and nature. Joshua was such a trooper. Everyone that was there - about 150 people- were amazed at Joshua's stamina for the event. There was no light on the trails either. On the way down, Joshua actually fell asleep, and Daddy carried him down the rest of the way. A surprising thing happened at the end of the hike - Joshua woke up just in time to have Dad roast a hot dog and a few marshmallows for him. What a night for these two boys.

Saturday was spent playing and visiting with Grandma Nichols. We went to lunch together, and she came over and played with the boys in the afternoon and watched a movie with the boys in the evening. She even helped me go through toys in the toy room to try and make a little more room.

Sunday began at the Atrium for us. What a great way to start the day. We had atrium and church. It was a great message at church that we all brought home. Father Bill reminded us to be thankful and express our gratitude for God. He challenged us to think about how we can do this more deeply each year. Joshua and Luke have been discussing what they are thankful for all day.....which is kinda nice. It reminds us all. Before bed tonight, the list included mom, dad, Joshua and Luke, the swing set, hots dogs, marshmallows, and chocolate of course - and the new sandbox. It was a beautiful evening sitting out in the backyard with the fire pit, yummy food, and the beautiful timber behind our house. What a great night!

Joshua bowling for the first time at Molly's birthday party.

Sarah took Luke to the pumpkin patch.

I love you both more today than yesterday.

Love,

Mama