Got Christmas?

So, December is upon us, I can't believe it! Only 23 shopping days....and I could care less! In fact you can call me Atomic Scrooge.

Things have been hard....I don't want to complain, because really I shouldn't, but things have been hard. Some family members are moving away, I am still so very sad about the adoption falling through and a close, dear friend was just diagnosed with breast cancer (don't start me on the importance of the mam-gram again, ladies). I read that store employees are dying on Black Friday (gives it a whole new meaning, doesn't it) and that people are just being rude in general. I (for once in my life) don't feel like shopping, we are only doing the minimal Christmas decorations, and I am just plain tired. I feel like hiding under a blanket (although a cashmere one would be nice, hey Santa). Apparently the Grinch has come and stolen the entire holiday from my heart.

I have a beautiful little boy and I must must must pull it together for him! So I ask you....are you a natural born Christmas person, or is there something that helps you get in the spirit? Is it decorating, singing Christmas songs or a specific tradition? I know that I need to count my blessings. I know that I am supposed to feel the spirit of Christ. I know all of the things I should do. I want to know what it is that YOU do.

Share with me what makes Christmas for you. Because this is not who I want to be, and I need a hand up out of the self-pity pit!

In Concert!!!

UPDATE: My streak of really bad luck continues!! This concert is cancelled. Will let you know when there is another performance

I have very little information at this moment, except for a date....but Atomic Amy and The Spent Rods will be performing LIVE AND IN CONCERT on December 14th......It's a Sunday which I know is tough, but it was the only date that would work. I can tell you that it will be in the evening and that we will be performing with 2 other acts. There won't be a lot of advertising, we are all just supposed to bring our own crowd, so we need y'all out there. Save the date, if you can, details will follow ASAP!!!

Love Songs, Nothing but Love Songs

Atomic Amy and the Spent Rods have enlisted the assistance of a booking agent who specializes in wedding gigs. Now this is funny for a couple of reasons, the first being if you ever have seen the movie "The Wedding Singer"(which is frighteningly realistic).....then I need not say more. The other is because she asked us to put together a demo CD. This is great because we get to go into the studio!!! I love this process - you go in warts and all and you come out sounding so much better than you are....plus it means I will have something to share with anyone interested in hearing us. She has asked us to include a love song, something that the bride and groom might dance to for the first time as a couple. This is where it gets funny, and not just a little tricky. We realized that we don't do any love songs!!! We do lots of please-come-back-to-me-can't-live-without-you-I'm-dying here-honey songs. We do NOT do any I-love-you-I'm-so-glad-I'm-with-you-you-are-the-one-for-me-and-I'm-glad-you-haven't-left-yet kind of songs. We got nothing. Nada. Zip. And we have to do this on Saturday. I am feverishly working on Corinne Baily Rae's "Like A Star" because I begged, screamed and kicked for it. I am also working with them on "Songbird" as it is one of my favorite love songs and I sang it at my own wedding. The guys have tossed out a few (but not very many) so it got me to thinking.....what is YOUR favorite (slow) love song, and why? I would love to hear your suggestions.....looks like we need to beef up in that department and pronto if we ever hope to sing at weddings, right? So let's hear it! Trust me, all songs will be considered. But I have one rule, and I hope it doesn't offend, NO CELINE DION. Now let 'er rip!

Here Comes the Sun

We feel like the most blessed people in the world. We have been so enveloped in the arms of loving friends, it is almost too much to take. Flowers, gifts, plates of cookies, 12ers of Diet Coke and even a Movie Car (this is Connor's name for the little Lightening McQueen car that my SGC posse brought over for him, no one has been left out) Cards, phone calls, e-mails, texts, comments on the blog and in some cases, just the space we need that has expressed concern, love and most importantly, hope. We have appreciated it all.

Tonight however, was a little unique. The doorbell rang and Lon went to get it and there was sugar cookie mix with a little sign that just said "Hi". It was cute and we speculated on who the mysterious little gift givers could be. But at bedtime, after closer inspection, Lonny called me back to the front door ("Do I have to put pants on?" "Uh, yeah")

I open the door to discover.....


All over the grass closest to the door, all shapes, colors and sizes. Each one had a message of love and inspiration. According to the biggest heart, we were to call the doctor because we just had a "Heart Attack"! Our hearts are so full, we just may. Thank you to the beautiful Christensen family whom we love and adore. You are all amazing.

And that goes for everybody. Thank you for helping us to slowly see the light again, and to feel the warmth of the sun on our souls. I can't say it enough, we love you and we thank you. Brighter days are on the horizon, we just know it. Thank you for the continuous reminders.

Destination, Southern California!

As promised, here are some photos from our spur of the moment California trip! While traveling under some difficult circumstances once, my veteran world traveling, laid back no worries husband called me a Super Duper Trooper! One of the highest compliments you can get when journeying about, as far as I am concerned. I am very proud to say that my little boy also earned his Super Duper Trooper badge while on this trip. He had no preparation, we just put him in the car and headed south! We stayed in a beautiful hotel room overlooking Mission Bay in San Diego and could look out and see the boats in the harbor.

We were right across the street from Sea World and just up the road a spell from the world famous San Diego Zoo. We went to both. I learned that we probably would have been better off just going to the Balboa Park for free, because Connor was more interested in rocks then any wildlife or sealife. But there were a few things that caught his eye....
Connor had the most amazing encounter with a playful polar bear! We got to go right up the glass and see them swimming around underwater (you would be AMAZED at what good swimmers they are!). This particular polar pal decided to put on quite a show for Connor, complete with playing with his ball. It was so cool!


Connor also loves caves and getting in tight little places. My friend Elaine thinks he is going to be a spelunker (is there ANY chance I am spelling that right?) so when he found this little spot, he had to drag Mom and Dad in with him....

At Sea World there was a big old scene because for a mere $20.00 per person, you could go and eat breakfast with Elmo and Friends. We tried to walk past it casually, but Connor spotted Big Bird, took off running, broke through the security barriers and ran past all the kids who actually paid money, towards BB with his arms outstretched screaming "Big Bird Big Bird" (if you have ever seen the footage of those girls from the 60s seeing the Beatles, you will have an idea of what I am talking about). Big Bird was clearly confused as to what to do, he didn't want to have too much contact and royally cheese off the families who paid, so he just kind of waved at Connor and moved away. I was left to pick up the pieces of a screaming toddler. Because this all happened so fast, we only have video tape of the encounter and most of it is the heartbreak of a little boy and his mother crying because, well that's pretty much how I spent most of this trip! In otherwords, UGLY. But I digress. Later, in the Sesame Street Bay of Play, we were lucky enough to run into Elmo and Zoe! Connor ran as fast as he could right into Zoe's arms....it was so sweet! She held him for a super long time (it was if she knew we ALL needed it) and told him that she loved him. You can barely see him, he is lost in all of Zoe's wonderful monster furriness!

Then Connor got to meet the biggest rock star of all, ELMO!!!

I think the Big Bird incident was forgotten. I think. He now has a stuffed Big Bird.
Later, back at the pool, Connor tackled the slide ALL BY HIMSELF!!! He was such a big boy and loved it so much!


Finally, a trip to my parents graves so Connor could say hello to his Grandma and Grandpa who live with Jesus. This was difficult and though he won't remember it, I felt it was important. I miss my parents all of the time, but especially when things are hard. It helped alot to be back in the place where I grew up, back in the place with so many wonderful memories for me.


We feel so blessed that we had the opportunity to take this unplanned trip, to begin the healing process and make new memories. There have been many tears shed and much chocolate eaten (thank you Ginnie, Lisa, Marcie and Pearl for my new peanut butter M&M addiction - I can barely fit in my new Shamu Rocks! T-shirt, so again thank you very much) many prayers whispered. We still feel that our baby is out there. So again, I ask you to please keep your ears and eyes open. Please think of us and feel free to mention even the slightest little thing - adoption stories are incredible, even the ones that fall through. There are always, always lessons learned, even if they are hard. We love all of you so very much!

When The Going Gets Tough...

the Pehrsons get going! We have just returned from an impromptu trip to Southern California. We are doing as well as can be expected and enjoyed the time spent together as a family. We had exciting adventures at the San Diego Zoo and Sea World and I will post pictures in the next few days. We also took the opportunity to visit my parents gravesight in Huntington Beach (sorry my beloved Callies, there wasn't time for a visit - it just wasn't that kind of trip). We just wanted you all to know we have felt your love, and have appreciated the thoughtful gifts, phone calls, texts and e-mails. We are indeed blessed....it is good to be home. We look forward to what the Lord has in store for us.

Sadness

It is with great regret and heartbreak that we have to report that our adoption has fallen through. I know that you all love us and care about us and will want to know what happened, but it is much too difficult to discuss. We appreciate if you will just know that we are hurting beyond measure, and need time to heal and grieve.

Lonny feels certain, as do I, that there is a baby out there for us. We are holding onto that with all of our might and relying on faith, family and friends to get us through. Please just keep us in your thoughts and prayers...