Sir Tirian

Much to the joy of all, Sir Tirian is alive and well, although somewhat steadier with old age. His fear of his tank's cleaning has, if not lessened, wizened, so that his terror subsides more quickly and he relapses into blissful reign of his tank with ready alacrity. He occasionally entertains himself by flinging himself against the marbles and sides of the tank in a frenzy of energy, but he refuses to allow me to take a video of him to put on the internet. Something about royalties. I, in turn, refuse to believe that he knows what he's talking about.

Trinity Youth Days

An annual event at TBC are our Youth Days, a two-day "conference" for high school and college students. This year's Youth Days landed on the 28th and 29th of December. Pastor Domm from Englewood, NJ preached twice on Monday morning on the subjects, "Know what you believe" and "Live what you believe." His messages were excellent and applicable.

The afternoon began with lunch, laid out by Mommy and Mrs. Adamo. Organized group games followed. Julie and a friend of hers played a significant role in planning, organizing, and running the games. On the whole, the afternoon went very well. Games included a flashlight scavenger hunt with candy, a block maze, "Poison Popcorn," wrapping a gift as a team with everyone's dominant hand behind their back, finding words from a box of alphabet soup, and word puzzles. The afternoon ended with an hour of playing "Steal the Bacon" - excuse me, "Borrow the Bacon!" - a youth day tradition packed with rug burns, action, and loads of fun. Below are a few pictures from this game. The first two show the opposing sides preparing for action.

And then the action . . .

After a delicious dinner of spaghetti and garlic bread, we gathered around the cleared tables for a question and answer session. Many of the questions sought to practically apply Christianity to our everyday experiences, temptations, and problems.

The next day, we all gathered early at the church and caravanned over to Camp Shiloh, a Christian camp in Northern New Jersey. Although the outdoors revealed all the pain of below-freezing temperatures coupled with wind, we participated in multiple outside activities: rock wall climbing, archery, ropes courses, and a zip-line. Then some again bundled up to brave the cold and ventured out on a hike, while some of us more frozen specimens chose to remain in the fellowship hall to do what else? - play more steal-the-bacon!

Holidays at the Carlson

Finally, we are catching our breaths after the busy holidays. And without further delay, we wish to bring you an update about those fun occasions:
On Thanksgiving, we had several families from church - reaching a grand total of twenty-five people to fit around three tables stretched out between our dining room and living room. For dinner, we enjoyed a true feast of both traditional Thanksgiving food and also some delicious Puerto Rican dishes, compliments of the Larrazabals and Gaitans. After dinner, we all remained at the table to engage in the Carlson traditional version of giving thanks. Each person received three kernels of corn, and for each kernel, we had a chance to tell something for which we are thankful. It was a wonderful time of giving God thanks for all the rich blessings we daily enjoy. After leveling some of the mountain of dishes, the parents gathered in the living room and the teenagers retired to the garage to make use of
the ping-pong table, while some of the younger children played play-mobiles and horses in the girls' room. The evening concluded with a hymnsing.
The day after Thanksgiving, another day of fellowship commenced at two o'clock, when we headed over to some friends' house for a hike and games.

The hike was fun, but cold, and we got lost several times. When we all returned to the house, we played "Telephone Pictionary" and loved it. The point of the game is to have a laugh, but it isn't very competitive. Everyone starts with a pile of small papers equal to the number of players. They write a phrase on the top paper, and then pass the entire stack to the player to their right. For the next round, everyone looks at the phrase they've received and try to draw a picture to represent that phrase. They then place the first paper under the pile, so that the next person will only see their picture. On the third round, everyone looks at the picture and tries to write a phrase that they believe summarizes the picture. The rounds continue to alternate all the way around the circle, until you receive your original phrase in some mangled form. Then, everyone shares their train, and work off dinner by laughing hysterically! In order to prolong the fun of the evening, all the girls remained for a sleep-over.
Well, moving onto the next holiday, zooming past finals, the departure of the Birketts after their eight week stay at our house, and last minute preparations, Christmas arrived. We had a very quiet Christmas Eve with the Rimbachs. Our traditional Christmas eve dinner are some Swedish dishes reminiscent of my dad's childhood Christmases. The next morning, we had a delightful family morning, opening gifts, playing games, and preparing for our guests, who arrived at four for a delicious Christmas dinner of cranberry-stuffed acorn squash, stuffed pork loin, mashed potatoes, and a variety of rolls. Daddy led a profitable devotional, and then we all enjoyed a hymn sing with Mrs. Chanski playing the piano. Afterwards, we gathered in the living room to play our new favorite game, Telephone Pictionary. To give you a taste of the game: Daddy started his telephone message with "Mephibosheth," and it ended "Snowman in front of a house." Julie started with her historical hero, "President Teddy Roosevelt," who quickly became "King David" and ended with a "Jester King." (I bet you never knew that Roosevelt was a Jester, or a king - despite his dealings with Columbia!) After a brief ping-pong intermission, those who remained began playing Catch-Phrase, and we played until one in the morning, by which time no ones' brains were working properly, and easy words were unprecedentedly difficult! The festivities finally ended, leaving us happy to have had an evening of fellowship and a day of celebrating the wonder that God would humble Himself to be born as a man.
One week later was New Year's Eve. We spent that evening with a group of thirty people at the church, playing games and eating. At about 11pm, we gathered for a devotional about "Remembering." We sang some hymns and then "prayed in the New Year." Working together, we all cleaned up the food and games fairly quickly and headed home in the falling snow. New Year's day itself was a quiet family day. Andrew headed out to a winter camp out, and the four of us who remained played some games we had received at Christmas.
On the whole, this break from school has been packed with fellowship, food, and wonderful family time. We hope and pray that each of you have also had a wonderful break.

Something Fishy

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable. - C.S. Lewis

Although the populous have requested details regarding daily life, school, and college, a story about a new member of our family is in order. Sir Tirian of the Lateral Lines is the sole survivor of a most tragic fishicide. For VBS (which, by the way, was about Jonah), I, Julie, bought forty feeder fish in order to gift two fish to each student in keeping with the water theme of the week. By the very next morning, twenty-one fish had perished from lack of oxygen. Fellow passengers in the Carlson bus subjected the nineteen survivors to brutal jokes. One helper at VBS even became the ultimate "floater fish" in honor of the deceased. Susie and I judged that placing an emotional bomb into the laps of dozens of mothers would be cruel and unusual. Not wishing to break the eighth amendment of our national Constitution, we agreed upon a plan which would place the burden of the emotional trama upon the shoulders of the main perpetrator - I was to adopt all nineteen fish. The subsequent scarring will require both time and counselling . . . Within the following week, I sent fifteen innocent creatures of the sea back to the sea (or the septic, as the case may be). Equipped for such difficulties with the quote above, I endured the agony of this situation with outward composure and a peaceful countenance, and sought to bury myself in work in order to reduce grief. After a week, I allowed myself and my siblings the pleasure of naming the remaining specimens, and so Alex, Cal, Gumpus, and Tirian joined the growing ranks bearing the name Carlson. When you name a pet, the line of disattachment is permenantly crossed. Further, I realized that I was becoming particularly attached to Tirian, the runt who was transparent (i.e. You can see right into him). This would not work. And so, to help the situation, I bought another beta fish for our bedroom, hoping that this one would steal my affections since beta fish generally have a longer lifespan than feeder fish. Unfortunantly, the beta fish did not help. True love would not be displaced. As Gumpus, then Alex, and finally Cal joined the swimmers invisible, Tirian remained the sole feederfish survivor of the forty unhappy victims.

Since Sir Tirian of the Lateral Lines was promoted to king of the bowl, he has honestly become our puppy guppy. His bowl sits on our ledge window right in front of the sink, and he will NOT allow us to forget his royal highness. As soon as a family awakens and turns on the kitchen light, he darts about the bowl hoping to draw our attention to him. Once he's gained an audience, he pantomimes eating food and then darts to the edge of the tank in hopes that our eyes will rest upon the bottle of fish food on the right of his bowl. If, during this state of frenzy, his feeder speaks in high, excited tones, and moves their finger around the rim of the bowl, Tirian's excitement pushes beyond bounds. Finally, food is sprinkled onto the surface of the water, and in his extreme extacy, Tirian often jumps out of the water feasting his eyes upon the entrees laid before him.

However, Sir Tirian has a well-hidden secret - he suffers from acute lavophobia (fear of cleaning). Everytime his tank needs cleaning, Tirian acts in his melodramatic way like a fish out of water. Somehow, the Chinese food container filled with old water straight from his tank is not good enough for nobility. It requires a whole day and a half for him to recover from the tramatic experience, because although the whole process takes only thirty minutes until he is returned to his natural habitat, he hoplessly fears a recurrence of the cleaning and almost looses his otherwise voracious appetite. Finally, after his short term memory effects blockage of the painful memory, Sir Tirian returns to his usual self - ravenous, egocentric, and otherwise adorable!

Stay-cation - continued

On August 20, day two of the Carlson stay-cation, we all headed into to New York City to visit one of our favorite places - the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the bus stop, we had a small scare. Right as the bus drove up, Detective Daddy discovered that Andrew had stashed all his pocket-knives and other sharp boy scout gear in an outer pocket of his backpack. A quick dash back to the car and a thankfully long line of passengers to board enabled Andrew to stow his weapons in a much wiser location, before the bus

departed for New York. A close call! Although Sheryl was disappointed that her favorite painting, "George Washington Crossing the Delaware," was in restoration, the day was on the whole a success. We toured the revamped American Wing. Actually, we moved backwards through the displays, because the Carlsons can

never tour anything properly, cannot take a hint from the masses of other visitors walking "backwards" through the exhibits, and refuse to notice signs stating what to do. Since it was a lovely day, we caravanned out of the museum to the adjacent Central Park, where we ate lunch and tried to nap - a prevailing fashion on city parks it seems!

For day number three, Miss Ronda treated all of us to a Sight and Sound production "In the Beginning." Sight and Sound is a Mennonite, highly professional theater located in Lancaster, PA that performs stories fleshed out from biblical accounts. The play "In the Beginning" chronicled from Creation to the death of Adam. We were impressed by the tasteful managing of some difficult portions of this story as well as the pointed emphasis upon the themes of redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ introduced all the way back in the beginning.
Some of the pictures are from our lunch/dinner at Good an' Plenty, a country-style restaurant which serves amazing food.
"Man makes his plans, but God directs his steps." We had planned to spend our weekend visiting Boston's Liberty Trail. However, during the intensive time together,

we had been able observe increasing seizure activity in Andrew. On Saturday morning, Andrew had a very obvious seizure, which my parents and Andrew's doctor judged serious enough to demand immediate attention. Andrew was admitted to the Morristown's children's hospital to undergo tests and close observation. Although this was not the plan we had hoped for, the time in the hospital was still an extended opportunity for family time of which we took advantage. We are very thankful for that God is in control and that His timing is always perfect. Further, we are thankful for the excellent care Andrew received at the hospital, and the swift diagnosis by a doctor who specializes with pediatric seizures.

Carlsons Meet Teddy Roosevelt (kind of)

The temperature was a warm 82 degrees in the President's home located on Long Island, Sagamore Hill. Sagamore Hill - the location of unparalleled fun and games, the Summer White House of America for seven years - was the only house President Theodore Roosevelt, his wife, Edith, and his six children ever truly consider home. Although Oyster Bay, Long Island, was often used as a summer resort for wealthy New Yorkers, Roosevelt chose it as the location for his permanent residence. As one steps onto the porch, they encounter what Roosevelt felt was essential for his country seat, from where three bodies of water were visible (before all the trees grew). During his presidency, Roosevelt received many dignitaries, ambassadors, diplomats, boy scouts, and guests on that very porch. Inside are many of Roosevelt's original pieces of furniture, animal rugs, and wall hangings. The largest room of the house contains many of relics from Teddy and Kermit's hunting trips in Africa and South America. Framing the entrance curve two massive elephant tusks. On the desk sits a ink pot carved our of a rhinosorous hoof, and directly below it, an elephant hoof has been efficiently converted into a trash can. All throughout the house are gifts from foreign diplomats and monarchs. The entire house is so accurate that one almost expects to be greeted by quiet Edith in the parlor, run into Roosevelt coming out of his library, or have some boiling hot concoctions dropped on your head by mischeivous Quinten or Archie.
The Carlsons commenced their stay-cation by driving out to Long Island to visit Sagamore Hill National Park and Teddy's beautiful house. Also in the park is Teddy's son's house, Old Orchard, which has been converted into a small museum with relics of the family and the President. Behind the museum is a path through some woods towards Cold Spring Harbour, where the kids took off their socks and shoes to wade in the water.
After lunch, we drove down the road to the family grave yard, where we located the graves or memorial stones for each of the immediate Roosevelts, except Alice. Roosevelts were buried where they fell, and so many of those memorialized are actually buried elsewhere, because they were serving in the military. However, Teddy Roosevelt, the man of action, died in bed, and so we were privileged to see his actual grave in the small, shaded graveyard.
We returned home late, having enjoyed great family time and an educational while relaxing day of fun.

Everyday Life

We've certainly had plenty of posts about the exciting things that are happening on the Julie front, but you all probably would like to be reassured that the others in the family are keeping plenty busy.
Daddy is ramping up for a trip to the Philippines where he will be teaching a pastoral module on ethics as well as preaching several times in various places. He's ending his trip with a short visit to Hong Kong and the Chungs.
Busy as always, Mommy is working to close out the last school year and prepare for the upcoming one, with one less student. *tears* She has also been spending time helping a couple of older ladies in our church with medical, financial, and other personal matters. She's also running two Boy Scout first aid merit badge sessions, wading through many CALVARY co-op matters, trying to accomplish her summer-cleaning/project list, and planning for VBS in August.
In between and beyond all the excitement, Julie is still the same old Julie. She's working three days a week at the church and gives piano lessons on Wednesday. She is working really hard to finish the Crown (see the 2008 post for the trailer).
Sheryl is enjoying summer, and of everyone, seems least busy, but don't let that fool you. She's teaching three students the violin, and has been really diligent with regard to the co-op yearbook, which is trying to get finished! In between responsibilities, she likes getting together with friends and planning fun things for us siblings to do.
And Andrew . . . he's been astounding the family by his determination and diligence as he prepares for his six day of Boy Scout camp next week, but he still finds plenty of time for fun!
As for upcoming events: Vacation Bible School begins August 3rd, with Julie and Mother dearest teaching separate classes, and Sheryl helping in another class all together.
Then after our resident pastor returns from the Philippines, we're hoping to have a few days of vacation in which we'll be doing some day trips, etc.
Therefore, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. The Carlsons are keeping busy and at the same time greatly enjoying the Summer of 2009.