It is Christmas morning. Millie tapped my shoulder at 3 AM ready to get up and start her day. She was sent back to bed and fell right to sleep after a few tears (cue her threatening parents- “if you wake up your sister there will be NO PRESENTS” – we are all sleeping in the same room, you see). She is sleeping soundly, but guess who is still up.

I was just reading this and marveling at this experience we call life. It is so hard to capture all the feelings, all the experiences, all the emotions of even one single day. I guess I feel this very keenly as I am with my very large family. This past week, despite all the fun we’ve been having – I have watched as two couples in my family have suffered some very real disappointments and face some serious challenges.

We all face challenges. At times it can feel like they are more than we can handle. A few weeks ago I was looking through the Christmas cards we received this year – so many beautiful, happy faces smiling at me – but as I looked at their faces I was struck, as I considered their personal histories or current situations. Each one of them has known pain. Divorce, a child with a brain tumor, mental illness, being out of work, loneliness, self-doubt, rejection.

I guess what makes this time of year so poignant, is to consider – as an outsider looking into the lives of my loved ones and being aware of my inability to understand the breadth and depth of what each person goes through- the One who does. The One who hears our heart’s cry, who understands our racing minds, who knows exactly where it hurts, why it hurts and how to make it better.

2000 years ago He was a tiny baby. Think of it! All of human kind – all our hopes – resting on him. Even the sweet mother who held His little body in her arms, and who might have even been feeling overwhelmed by her  current circumstances, was dependent upon Him for her ultimate survival.

I love him and want to say how grateful I feel for who He is and what He has done for each one of us.

His magnificent, beautiful, kindly, generous, heart understands ours. He loves us. He knows us. He is always helping us – even when we have no idea He is there, and even if we don’t acknowledge it – His love is real.

I hope I can each feel it today as we celebrate his birth. I hope you can too.

Merry Christmas!

Remember THIS room? We have been seeing a fair amount of it in the press in the last few weeks.

It is one of MANY rooms in a joint called Buckingham Palace.

One week prior to Kate and Wills standing in it, to announce their engagement, guess who was else was there (in that very room)?

My darling in-laws and their fine son (not pictured because he was taking the picture).

They all went to BP so that Stephen could be awarded an OBE

OBE = Order of the British Empire

The dignified lady pictured above pinned the said award to Stephen’s lapel.

This isn’t Stephen, as Jan wasn’t allowed to take any pictures inside the palace, but just so you can get the feeling of how it went down I wanted to show it to you!

(Not bad, eh?)

I was really sad I wasn’t there. But very happy that Jan was able to be there. Here he is to give us an insider’s perspective on the event! Take it away, Jan!

I’ve never quite had a mental image to go with the phrase ‘pomp and circumstance’ but I do now. The whole thing was one of the most impressive things I have ever witnessed / been in the middle of. From all the various footmen and other associated officials in their many and varied military and other uniforms to the Gurkha bodyguards to the sheer ornateness of the rooms inside the palace, it was utterly intimidating and awe-inspiring. The ceremony itself ran like clockwork, with lots of people to tell both the recipients and the guests what to do and when and how to do it. (I’m told there was a lesson on both bowing and curtsying, with a side of walking backwards).

It all really impresses on you the significance of the honour associated with being given one of these awards, although other than the tap on the shoulders with the sword for the lone prospective knight that day and the slightly different hardware dished out, I was struck by how the formalities are very similar for each of the recipients, with each approaching from a side corridor precisely on cue, marching up to the Queen, bowing or curtsying, and then having a medal pinned (or rather hung) on them, answering a question or two from Her Majesty (who is prompted by an official by her right ear before every recipient approaches) and then walking backwards a couple of steps, bowing or curtsying again, and then marching off in the other direction. There’s an announcement at the beginning, before the Queen comes in, indicating that “no matter how great your appreciation or admiration for the person being honoured, we ask you not to clap or otherwise show that appreciation” so it’s all very quiet, with the only speaking being the announcement of each recipient and the utterly inaudible mutterings between QE2 and the person being honoured.

The whole thing was a thrilling event from start to finish, although when it’s all done you’re left oddly at a loose end, to wander about the courtyard just inside the front of the Palace, to take pictures or generally take in the view and experience.

And now, Jan, feel free to gush openly about your father’s achievement. (Dawesome is a safe place for gushing, as regular readers are fully aware.)

British men are generally not gushers, or at least we gush more modestly than is normal in these parts, but here’s a little British gushing…

The honour was officially for “services to the voluntary sector” – all the awards are phrased in similarly generic terms. But specifically, the award was for several years of service post-retirement from the business world to the charity sector. After leaving venture capital mostly behind, the first thing my dad did was pioneer a new thing called venture philanthropy, borrowing concepts from the VC world and applying them to money donated by philanthropists to charity. With a partner, he started the first fund of its kind in the UK, which is now thriving and growing with less and less involvement from him. To quote a recent article about it: “The Trust said that over 250,000 people have benefited from the work of the 16 charities and social enterprises which have been part of the portfolio since its inception.” Enough said – a quarter of a million people!

Since that was going so swimmingly, it was clearly time for something new, and so the current project is also a bit complex to explain, but essentially involves trying to help the people of sub-Saharan Africa by building up a venture capital infrastructure in several African countries. My dad has a partner again in this effort, this time one of the lawyers who represented Nelson Mandela in his court case way back when, who went on to lead a very successful Scottish bank. This effort is only getting under way now, but it’s already promising to have a big impact.

I go to the UK about every three months for work, and I always love to hear about all the latest news. That three month interval is always just long enough for more amazing things to be happening, more amazing progress to have been made, and lots of good things happening for lots of people who need help of one sort or another. I was tremendously proud when the work he’s done over the last several years was recognized in this very formal and awe-inspiring way, but not at all surprised. It’s all very well deserved!

Cool, is it not?

So how does one, who isn’t say, David Beckham (he got an OBE for “services to football”), get noticed by the Queen and get a golden medal pinned (or hung) on them?

Here is how it all works: Someone first must nominate you. Then your name and a description of what you have done is sent to a committee of civil servants. They make recommendations to the Prime Minister. The PM then sends a list to the Queen who then announces the nominations.

And before you know it, there you are in Buckingham Palace, with the Queen of England, a lorry full of her guards, a whole lot of pomp and 100 chosen few who are there to be recognized for the good they have done for the British Empire…and all of them feeling rather awed.

I love this man.

He is a good one, I tell you! Just ask Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, that is, if you don’t want to take my word for it, chaps!

Just came across this quote from Albert Einstein:

“From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that we are here for the sake of each other – above all for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.”

On Monday I was running late (shocker) to pick up Millie and her friend Molly for dance class.

I threw Millie’s dance gear into the car and buckled Clara into her seat, turned the ignition, started to back the car out of the driveway when I realized that I would need to take the OTHER car. The mini-van. The car with enough seats for all the kids.

“Darn it!” I said.

“What happened?” responded Clara (that is the new thing she loves to say these days).

“Oh, Mommy made a mistake and we have to take the other car and we are late.” I said as stress emanated from my person.

Then Clara said,

“Jesus will help us.”

And it melted my stressed out heart.

“You are RIGHT, Clara! He will help us!” I said to her (and to myself).

I have been thinking of that over and over again since she said it. And I feel like it was a gift from heaven. Because it is TRUE! He will and does help us all the live long day!

Just so you aren’t worried that we are going to get translated and taken up to heaven –on the very same day, later, when I realized we were locked out of the house and Jan was in the city and wouldn’t be getting home until 10 PM, and it was very cold outside Millie said, in a very cheerful and matter of fact way,

“Damn it.”

Because sometimes her mom says that. Okay. I do. I admit it. And I let Millie know that she shouldn’t say it and neither should I.

We take it all. The bitter with the sweet. The rough with the smooth. The glorious with the mundane. And in the mix a few swear words occasionally get thrown in. Although, technically we are an ANGLO- AMERICAN household and in England it isn’t a swear word. Not that I am trying to justify myself. Just stating the facts.

And the fact is, I am human and not perfect.

So, I Googled my name the other day and look at what I found! How crazy is this?!

Do me a favor, go and Google your name and see what you find and then if it is cool email it to me and I will post it next to this here beauty!

Yes, that one.

It was celebrated here too.

The morning of Jan went off to play foot-ball with a bunch of guys – whilst I stayed home and entertained the ladies.

We did some festive themed “body crayon-ing” – Millie drew herself a Nut Cracker!

And I drew her a Sugar Plum Fairy.

Clara is passionate about “The Snowman” – if you haven’t seen or read this, go out and buy it today. It is pure Christmas magic. You wont be sorry! Here is her Snowman…

And her “boy”

Clearly, after the body crayons came a much needed bath

And then, once dad was back & our family began to arrive the festivities could begin in earnest!

For the first year ever we had a “kids table” – decorated by Millie and me.

(Please note: Baby Grant sat in for Eli who was a little late to the party)

While the kids ate their lunch of turkey sandwiches and potato chips we had a lunch of beef wellington and a salad with pomegranet seeds, feta and pine nuts.

Eventually Eli and his folks showed up and our happiness was complete!

(These cousins were excited to see Eno, Alli and Eli)

I had this crazy idea of wanting to ENJOY Thanksgiving dinner – meaning after working myself to the bone I did not want to be forced to deal with screaming children, wipe any noses, listen to some one under the age of 6 moaning that they didn’t like turkey, gravy, mash potatoes, etc. etc.

SO, we didn’t actually serve the real Thanksgiving dinner until 8:00 PM, when the kids were all in bed.

(Well, not all the kids were in their beds, Grant was on the sofa — which is totally acceptable if you are 2 months old)

At the appointed time, we, the adults, sat around this table in a very civilized fashion and ate a meal uninterrupted. (Well, almost – Grant joined us part way through, which is cool when your as tiny as the G man.)

It was rather nice.

(I love that song. It’s old, but it is still good)

My sister Bette came to visit us.

She is the greatest.

She came to my rescue because my usual rescuer was needed in this crazy place called CHINA.

Ever heard of it?  Just pick up anything at your house, look under it and it will say, “MADE IN CHINA” – that is where my rescuer went. He was talking to some big shots while I was back home throwing up. (He made a big presentation, I am making a small human being).

To each their own.

Back to Betta, my sister.

While she was here she…. made the beds, made multiple forts and played and played and played with the girls, changed diapers, let me take a few naps, did dishes, swept floors, buckled kids into car seats, dropped kindergartners off at school, stayed up late watching movies with me while eating peppermint ice cream.

I took her to pizza (cuz that is what she wanted to do)

I took her to Anthro (cuz that is what I wanted to do)

She is a SIZE ZERO – so it is basically like having a live Barbie doll to dress. Every time I go to Anthro I think to myself, “Oh, Betta would look so cute in that!” And well, friends, she really does look cute in everything. (But don’t hate her, she is REALLY NICE!)

I sent her into the dressing room with a giant pile of clothes. It was hard to pick what to get her – it all looked so darling!

But we did.

In the end, we narrowed it down to three things.

Here you can see her wearing one of them.

Look out Provo, she is coming back. And she is coming back in the world’s cutest trench coat EVER MADE!

Thanks for everything, Betsky!

We love you and miss you like crazy already!

So, how about we come and see you in aprox. 11 days.

Deal?!

(Get those root beer cookies ready, Grandma!)

Would you…

Take your child out of school

Drive for three hours (round trip)

Spend 35 minutes looking for a parking place and not find one

Ask your brother to risk his life to get you that parking place and put up with several angry Jewish people (one who threatened to run him over)

Get a parking ticket

Pay 56 dollars for two pizza pies

Hold a napkin to your five year old’s mouth while she spits out her first bite of pizza (which is probably worth about $1.50)

Ask your sister who is visiting from out of town to hold the dunk’n doughnuts bag up to your 2 year old while she throws up (due to car sickness)

Well, would you?

I would.

The little portion of attractiveness that was allotted to me

My “cute wardrobe” (or what is left of if after the moths got to it, curse you pesky moths)

My ability to accomplish what I used to call a full day’s work

My happy disposition

Feeling good physically for several months

My ankles (eventually)

Sleep

A scale (which is sliding daily towards a weight that makes me feel a little depressed)

Blog posts (have you been missing them, me too!)

for

this

Just making another human being, that’s all. Doing my job. Fulfilling my mission and placing a few things on the alter, as it were.

I don’t feel heroic, but maybe, I should!

If you stick around I will most likely post a few more things about Dawson number three.