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URBAN TIMES CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER

2007 was amazing and busy as always for both Marty and I! After a busy winter season spring came in with a bang. The Fest for Us (that’s the huge Easter Celebration held every year at JPUSA) was amazing! Marty brought a “Birds of Prey” program from a local rehabilitation center that ended up being standing room only! The place was packed out! It was really awesome for Marty to be able to share his passion with the whole community. I hosted the Coffee House at the Fest for Us again this year with my friend Bethany. The Coffee House was decorated like a 1950’s diner complete with an eight foot tall jukebox, movie posters, albums hanging from the ceiling; the works! The first night of the coffeehouse featured a big screen showing of “Singin’ in the Rain”; Saturday brought several bands to the stage and then a rockin’ swing dance that went until after midnight. People were dancing on the stage, into the hallways, into the main dining room – it was awesome! Then we finished up the coffeehouse with a big screen showing of Casablanca. What a crazy weekend! Marty continues to work at Riverview Self Storage and, with the upstairs getting finished and a new elevator, it’s keeping him busy. Jesse still works as Human Resources for Lakefront Supply, and now has her own office with a lovely assistant, Miss Alana – who rocks, by the way. Marty still goes bird watching every chance he gets and Jesse’s passion for Swing Dancing just keeps growing.
In May, Jesse and Cindy went to Philadelphia to meet the great Frankie Manning (for those who don’t know, Frankie Manning is basically the godfather of Swing Dance). Frankie is 94 and still travels and teaches. Cindy and drove two days each way to be taught by him – it was amazing. Crazy, but amazing!

In June, Jesse went with Creation Station (that’s the kids program at Cornerstone Festival that features a lot of the JPUSA kids) on a mission’s trip performance to Colorado with – get this – 17 teens and tweens! It was the most fun! We were all totally light headed from being up in the Rockies, but what with all of the kids we worked with there, the driving, the serious talks, the dancing in the car, and all the laughing, laughing, laughing it was an experience I would not trade for the world.

Cornerstone Festival was fun but exhausting this year and kind of hard because Marty had to stay behind and work at Riverview since we were down a person at the time. So off I went to the Festival, less than a week after getting home from Colorado – that was way too much so close together. August brought lots of heat to Chicago and (finally) our vacation! Woot! We vacationed in Bushnell where we spent a lot of quality time together just hanging out. I worked on writing my book, read several of them, watched a couple of movies, laid in the sunshine nearly every day, took lots and lots of walks with the love of my life, and relaxed. Marty hiked for miles, birdwatched, fell asleep on the couch, took some awesome pictures and relaxed. We saw an Elvis impersonator in Bushnell and then a Neil Diamond impersonator in Colchester up the road. Wow. Eric and Cindy, the Davis’ and the Cameron’s were down there at the same time so we ate dinner one night with the Cameron’s, invited the Davis’ and the Claytons over for a big grilled out dinner, and spent a few evenings playing cards with the Claytons. Cindy and I did a few days of shopping and the guys went birding together a few times. One day I spent nearly four hours in their hammock reading with Kolya, Cindy’s seven year old daughter, while Marty and Drexel, the Claytons five year old son, played with a wind up plane in the shade. Needless to say, it was such a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation that we were – get this – ready to come home. When does that ever happen? We celebrated our nine year anniversary this year and added another leaf to our collection. Marty hit 41 and I turned the big three-oh. I suppose that means we should start acting like adults now……nah.

October brought a lovely autumn to Chicago that lasted a very long time. October also brought the wedding of our friends Bethany and Elijah, in which I was a bridesmaid and general helper. It was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever been to and I was honored to be a part of it. We spent Thanksgiving at JPUSA this year, just us and friends and managed to get a whole day in Michigan with Marty’s family. Marty’s mom, Jewell, moved back to Michigan early in the year, and she has settled back in very well. Even though Marty and I both miss her, a lot, we are so thankful that she is where she is happiest. It was wonderful hanging out with Mom and Diane! Nick and Angela have moved back to Michigan along with Justin so we got to spend some time with them, although it’s never enough. Renee and John came up for the holiday with Tristyn who is getting so big. She’s convinced that she is ready to go to college any day now. What a doll. Christmas comes soon, and our room is already decorated with our lovely little Christmas trees, our Veggie Tales Nativity Scene and our ceramic village along the top shelf covered in snow. I am soon to go and visit my family (Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents) in Washington and my dear friend Sarah and her family. After that we are spending a quite Christmas at home.

I love Christmas at home….I love the smell of baking in all the kitchens in our building, the gingery, cinnamon-y and chocolatey scents wafting about. I love late mornings and good coffee. I love sitting in my room with nothing on but the Christmas lights (get you mind out of the gutter; you know I mean the Christmas tree) and hanging out with my sweet husband. I love decorating for the holidays and murdering all of the dust bunnies on my top shelves to do so. I love wrapping gifts and making them look pretty enough that you don't even care what's inside. I love sitting in the hallway and having random people wander by and offer you a fresh baked cookie. I love homemade bread and butter and jam for breakfast from my friends. I love the excitement in the air as Christmas gets closer. I love my sweet husbands wrapped gifts that he is so excited to give me. I love how Marty always guesses his gifts and almost always gets them right. I love friends stopping by for homemade eggnog and visiting. (I also love homemade eggnog) I love drinking tea on my couch with my book. I love, LOVE Christmas music. I love checking out everyone else’s idea of what Christmas trees should look like. I love the 4th floor Christmas party with Tom Cameron's venison chili. (mmm..mmm...GOOD!) I love passing out gifts. I love the peaceful moments among all the insanity where you stop and remember the real reason for Christmas and how all of your true friends don't really care whether or not your Christmas cards are mailed on time or whether you get them a present or not; they love you no matter what....There is just nothing in the world like a Christmas at JPUSA.

Here’s hoping that during this Holiday Season you find many quite moments where you can catch your breath and remember why we celebrate this season – when God cared enough to send the very best He had to give, His Son. And the angels came bearing good news, which was not about a half price sale. And this is WHY we celebrate; there's more to the fun of the season, and it can be enjoyed....but we must always remember why we have the holidays in the first place. Merry Christmas everyone. May this year lend you many, many moments of peace among the craziness.

-Jesse & Marty