Christmas at the UN.

Yes, we rounded another milestone in the UN. Now, knowing that this could be a difficult point in the member nations membership journey, America has been carefully planning just how each detail, party, and morsel would work together to make this occasion memorable, fantastic, and absolutely the best that it could be: bumps, bruises, and grief included!

Korea informed Fiji and America that other members would be temporarily joining the UN Dec 22-23 and Dec 27-28. America didn't think much of it other than the fact that she thought it would be a fantastic idea and a fantastic way to keep Korea occupied during the long days of the Untied Nations Christmas recess (hopefully a recess free of political sanctions and nothing but joyous celebration and relaxation! ...after all, isn't that what all political figures do this time of year?). The rest of the Schedule included Holiday celebrations (traditional American) on Dec 24, 26 and 31, and cultural bonding time with America's countrymen on Dec 25. Phew! That only leaves Dec 29, 30, and January 1 and 2 that had nothing planned. So America thought a good idea would be movie and skating on Dec 30 and nothing but relaxation to fill January 1 and 2 before school stared for UN member nation(s) on January 3. Thankfully the Honorary Spain had Wrestling practice to keep him occupied (although, since Spain has changed office space and political allies, it is no longer the job of this UN to worry about how to occupy 14 days of recess).

In preparation for this monuments occasion, it had been asked several times by America as to how this time of year was celebrated by both of the visiting member nations. Again (and as to be expected at this point) the answers received were as different as black is from white. One celebrates with small, quiet, sometimes non-existent celebrations of minimal break in the days. The other celebrates for three weeks. One will sometimes put a tree up, sometimes exchange gifts, sometimes... . The other celebrates with a massive parade through town where everyone comes out to celebrate with revelry! Going into this season, one was going to be severely disappointed and the other was not going to understand what was going on (you are left to pick who is who!). Neither has a white Christmas...and that was about the only thing that remained the same for the UN!

So here is how it went: The first set of members who joined the UN on Korea's behalf were her fellow country men. Oh man! America forgot how loud teenage girls can be! They were loud and full of laughter and energy. But they also cooked and cleaned up the kitchen all by themselves and never woke up America or Fiji. So it was a good trade off.

Honorary Spain skipped town and left the UN high-and-dry without Flamingo dancers on the Christmas Party on Dec 24. America was a bit frustrated by this fact because this was where the most chaos to be had. (Hello...35 people in a house that was built for 20, wrapping paper, and brand new set of means to celebrate the holiday, how much fun could that be??? besides the fact that America was pretty sure she knew what the member nations were going to get in those delectable wrapped boxes!). In the end, the three remaining member nations had a great time. Tons of food (as always) and the hot games this year were Anomia and Blokus.

The following day was spent with Fiji, America, and Korea spending the afternoon at America's mother/father-land. Again, playing Blokus (as every good strategy was thought to be had and now all that was needed was to perfect each move...or so some thought). Lunch consisted of make-it-your-own baked potato and salad. America's grandma was there. And yes, grandpa's presence was an obvious adjustment as he is dearly missed. Loloma.

Dec 26 rolled around, Spain made his appearance and in good fashion of America's tradition, there was monkey bread, fondue, wine, presents, and stockings! The greatest of all: the joy of celebrating the holiday, celebrating Christmas and the greatest gift of all, with family: member nations and honorary member nations in toe! One thing America has cherished over the years, are the people from afar that have come near to celebrate the goodness of this home (sound familiar??). America and the family have now entertained people from three countries and several states! Anyway, as in year's past there has always been a quote or two that gets repeated: "It's Lilac!" or "It's a CD!" and this year it was, "It's a box!" The hot gift: smart wool socks, particularly for the honorary Spain who wore thin, super light weight sock to the grave site where it was 28F and snowing. No more cold feet for him!

Sigh! December 26 came and went with a great amount of fun and spent energy and all America could think when she got home was, "Oh man, here we go again tomorrow!" as Korea had her allies (American) over. They were not quite as loud as the Korean allies and they didn't stay as long on the following day. Even though America was exhausted by the time they came, in the end it was fine because America didn't have to worry about how board Korea would be if they had not come at all.

All and all, it was a great recess, a much needed break from the school routine, and I think everyone will go into next week ready for the challenges that lie ahead. It was good -

Today America is thankful for Korea. Korea informed host America that Korea hated America. It was only due to the fact that America had blocked Korea in Blokus. America is also thankful because Korea is so super expressive! Korea has the greatest looks that send the message of disgust!

Korea Has Met America

There are just a few things about America that makes life ever-so-enjoyable for America to live her own life (if that makes any sense): sarcasm and cracking a joke at just the right time... The right time being at that crucial moment of tension that relieves the stress that has built up for one reason or another. Korea has caught on!

It took Korea quite a while to break out of the shell she came into the UN with. And immediately noticing this quiet facade, America slowly broke out her own personality as not to overwhelm Korea with it all at once. Korea is quick on the draw (America also noticed this right away)...Korea catches everything that goes on around her and follows/mimics the behavior.

And now, Korea has met America. For instance:

At church one Sunday, while greeting those coming into church: Korea was standing next to America when Fiji finally walked up to the two of them. Korea took one step to the right so Fiji could stand next to his wife, America. Noticing that Korea stepped away from America, America says, "Don't you like me no 'more?"
Korea, without missing a beat says, "Nope."
America replies with, "That's okay, I didn't like you anyway."
Korea: "Good cause I don't like you either."

At the burial - which, as America has mentioned in a previous post was cold - Korea walks up to the gravesite and turns toward America and huddles up to the rent-a-motherland and shivers in the chilly air. America wraps her arms around rent-a-nation and they huddle together for warmth. By the end, it was clear to both Korea and America that if grandpa was going to die the day before his birthday, he should have picked July to be born.

Korea joined Honorary Spain, Spain's new member organization, and America to a movie. So overjoyed...she voluntarily went to see the spectacle of world travel (Mission Impossible 4...views of Russia, Dubai, India, America, Czech Republic, and a few others).

So America has been so very impressed with Korea as a member nation, has fully enjoyed getting to know Korea in new ways, and is starting to look forward to all the time together as the world pauses to celebrate Christmas and New Year!

The Funeral

The funeral was beautiful and just as grandpa would have wanted it: full of hymns.

America neither had never been to a funeral in her own church or a burial at all so this was a first experience for her too. Both Korea and Spain were there with Fiji and America for the experience. It was good for the four of the United Nations to be together for the occasion.

For months Spain kept asking the same question: Is it cold yet? And for months America said no simply because 40 or 50 degrees is hardly cold to the bitter wind and freezing temperatures that rock the body during late January to early March...those that sink between 0 and 15F and wind chills that sink to that or lower. (They dare not be spoken of!!) Anyway, America hesitated but out of mercy says to Spain, "Yes, it's getting there." He turns to Korea with the same question and she quickly says "Yes!". Okay so Spain got a first touch of cold: Snowing at 28F in the middle of the afternoon, ice forming on the roads, and the family gathered at the gravesite. Spain has two winter jackets on. Fiji is in a fleece zip-up.

America does suppose it was cold. But when Spain got back in the car it was sure that the feet were frozen to the point of frostbite and needing to be removed. It was not THAT cold! Barely enough for frostbite, even in the light-weight footwear Spain was wearing. The UN was there for 20 minutes or so before we were back in the car - heat blaring - and on our way home again.

The snow-covered hill and grave was just as it would have been in the movies: gray skies, hole in the ground, people huddled around each other, and our breath shadows floating in the air until the temp had cooled it off. And there lies grandpa, one day next to grandma.

Oh Sigh......

America and Fiji will introduce Korea and Honorary Spain to another American tradition: the American Funeral.

If you haven't been keeping an eye on America's facebook page, then you probably do not know that America's dad's dad died Monday night, December 12, 2011 at about 7:10pm. He was born December 13, 1924 and made it a fantastic 87 years, 67 married to his beautiful bride! Here's a little bit about the man 65 people called either husband, father, grandfather, or great-grandfather:

Grandpa lived a great life even though they struggled to make ends meet for nearly all of it. He was drafted for WW2, lived through the death of a child, saw his son drafted to Vietnam (uncle stayed on the homefront), the loss of his sister and parents, lost a daughter-in-law, lived through countless surgeries, and died with his six kids and beautiful wife surrounding him. He celebrated his 87th birthday the next day with Jesus.

Grandpa was born in the old farm house and named after his grandpa. He had one sister, Grace, who died in the 1950's, they got along very well. His parents were both born in Germany (the family has the immigration and citizenship documents). He loved driving horses and hated picking stones.

When Grandpa was born:

Clavin Cooliage - President of the United States

Charles Dawes - Vice President

$0.05 - cost of an Ice Cream Cone

Model T - car they drove

Dog - first and favorite pet (also owned rabbits, sheep, geese, and ask grandma about the pigs!)

David - favorite Biblical character

Psalm 23 and 46 - favorite Bible passage

John 3:16 - favorite Bible verse

First Communion - "When I made profession of faith" (first time he had to stand up for his belief was in the Army)

Lucas Christian School - School he attended

Ms Nelie Schaap - favorite teacher (who married his Uncle Hank Kortman and became his aunt)

Mr Robert Oander Molen - least favorite teacher

Spelling - subject he was best at

The Schierbeeks and Schutte boys - were the friends he played with in school

Playing ball - favorite sport (softball catcher) and the school event he didn't forget

'My Jesus I love thee', 'Anywhere with Jesus I Can Safely Go', 'Lord Lifted me', and 'I Can Here My Savior Calling' - few of his favorite songs

10 or 11 yrs old - first bike ride

13 yrs old - first time he drove a car

15 yrs old - first shave

16 yrs old - got his first driver's license

1937 Chevrolet Coupe - his first car

16 yrs old - first time he asked a girl out - probably grandma, he thought so

21 yrs old - first time he voted

Cousin Gerrit Kortman - closest friend growing up

My wife and family - closest friend today

Best friend means being loving

On Grandpa's first girlfriend: (Grandpa says:) "You're getting to personal now" (Grandma's answer about this:) "I think it was Mina Schierbeck"

Grandma - Grandpa's first kiss

Dates consisted of - young people's, catechism, and the ice cream shop in McBain

Grandpa's heart break - when Grace died

First Plane Ride - went to California and Arizona in the 80s

Church - where he met Grandma

One lesson Grandpa learned about faith: to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. He achieved his goal of being God's child. Grandpa knew that God's love was the greatest gift of all.

Grandpa and Grandma were married August 4, 1944 in the basement of McBain Christian Reformed Church. She wore a nice dress and she looked beautiful. The wedding ceremony made grandpa feel mature. His best man was Uncle Al. His most vivid memory of the wedding were the friends and family that attended. Grandma and Grandpa did not have a honeymoon. From the 67 years of being married, Grandpa learned that you have to be willing to share.

Grandpa's first job was farming. He loved repair work. He gave the advice of being honest at work. In his 20's he farmed. In his 30's he was still farming. In his 40's he was farming some more. And by his 50's he realized farming wasn't everything. In his retirement, he enjoyed taking life easy. His favorite hobby was fishing, introduced to him by his father. The best thing about being grandpa was watching his family grow up. He said it is important to love your family/grandchildren, teach them about the Lord, and set a good example for them.

The most important lesson he wanted to pass along to his children and grandchildren was that God is our only comfort in life and death. He believed that when he died, he would go to heaven, that Jesus died for him, and that his sins were forgiven. He was most thankful for the fact that God was always with him through the surgeries that he had. He believed that you were a failure if you failed to read your Bible and pray.

Grandpa always wished he was able to go on work projects with the CRWRC and travel to Wyoming.

Grandpa was treated for heart problems the first time the week before America was born. They left the Mayo Clinic and stopped in GR to visit. They gave him 5 to 7 years. He was treated off and on displaying an ability to recover only God could grant during America's entire life: 30 years, 8 months, and 20 days before he could no longer recover.

Grandpa was born December 13, 1924 and died December 12, 2011. Grandpa, you will be so deeply missed by grandma. You will also be missed by your 12 kids and all the rest of us grandkids and great grandkids. Thank you for setting such an amazing example for us!

Today, America is thankful for Germany. You produced an amazing man!

Today is EPA Day on Mount St Cookie

Well, last week's EPA day was a total wash (ha ha). It didn't get done, there were cookies to bake, food to stock up on for hungry nations, geographic boundaries to redefine, and cultural experiences to learn about (thanks to the Smurfs).

Today's EPA day never felt so good! Over the past three days the United Nations has been attempting to scale Mount St. Cookie which has been occupying the kitchen at the United Nations headquarters. America participated in a cookie exchange that required 10 dozen cookies. The 6 batches of Snickerdoodles required were the foundation of the mountain. On top of that were sugar cookies/Christmas cookies from last week Saturday - 5 dozen of those which were nearly finished upon the birth of the Snickerdoodles (actually, that would be the foundation wouldn't it). Now there are a variety of cookies America has no idea what they are...other than the Russian Tea Cakes. Oh my goodness!

Well, last night America, Fiji, and Korea met up with some of the young people from Church and went midnight bowling. Fiji and America had their own lane which meant that in the span of 3 hours, 8 games were played - America only made it 74 frames (high score was 149 and low score was 63...only because America didn't finish the last game...that would have been the lowest score). Korea played with other allies from church and seemed to have a good time.

Three AM rolled around and we were all back in bed. Fiji woke up to educate the world on first aid measures while Korea and America slept a bit longer and cleaned the house. America has no idea how Korea felt about that but America dragged the feet and the task of cleaning up the environment, washing the clothes and even the idea of anything like that. But America would definitely confirm that the clean headquarters, particularly the kitchen and Mount St. Cookie is now of a manageable portion and it doesn't look like the bag of flour exploded on the floor. The only casualty scaling Mount St Cookie: one wine glass. Can't have everything can we?

Today, America is thankful for Canada. A Canadian friend had been talking about the snow they have had for weeks and weeks now (northern Ontario from America's understanding) and they have finally shared the joy with us...until tomorrow at least (if we're lucky).

Minutes

Well, a couple of posts ago (Ecc 3:8) There was some mention of a cold war and the lingering peace resolutions and stuff like that. America would like to update the events and clear up all the ambiguity:

The United Nations has now three member nations and one honorary member nation. What has been most striking (to America that is) about this whole situation, particularly the last two weeks of the saga, is not so much what happened in the headquarters literally so much as what has happened in the headquarters in all other ways. There has been great sacrifice.

Back in the day, 2000-ish years ago, one man stepped into this world and literally changed the way we look at just about everything. He lived a perfect life, the life that we could not live and then died to take our place. He sacrificed his life for the benefit of all those around him - that we would indeed be forgiven, made right with God, and become perfect. He did it, not because it was an easy task or one that he was "lucky enough to get the position" but he did it because it was the right thing to do. In the midst there was loneliness that no one could endure, pain no one could explain, separation only the Holy Spirit could overcome, and love that knew no bounds. The United Nations, as well as nearly everyone on earth will pause, in about 22 days, and celebrate Christmas. To those who knew this man 2000-ish years ago and to those who know him today, we stop with baited breath, hearts of such great expectation, and hopefully a tinge of sadness that this had to be done.

He kept on going because giving up would be loosing so much and this was a price too high to pay.

And so it will be for Fiji, America, Korea, and the honorary Spain that we will celebrate this wonderful advent of salvation and sacrifice.

Today, America is thankful for the incredible experience of having Spain as part of the United Nations: the late nights, movies that were never finished because America could no longer stay awake, the practices, the visits to the World Health Organization, the peace treaties and resolutions, the Spanish food you were not here to eat, the trick "and" treating, the beaches, forks, assets, uncle (it's ankle by the way), and the finger pointing, the wonderful motherland, and of course, the cold war. As you said, "It is not goodbye. It is see you later".