Merry, Merry 2014

High, low, what do you know? Our nightly dinner table question does a pretty good job of covering the bases of each day. Let’s see how it works for covering the important moments of the past year in Watson Land.

High:

Any travel adventures are highlights for sure  — our week in Kauai soaking in the island magic, San Francisco with Leah’s dad and the Giants, a Newport Beach escape sans kids for our anniversary, camping with Westmont friends…and when you live in Santa Barbara you can make any day feel like a vacation with a hike up the hills, a walk on the beach or grabbing lunch at the harbor. The constant was that our favorite memories centered on time spent together.

Mark had a big year professionally with movement and momentum after the work of laying a new foundation these past couple of years. He recently accepted a position as Chaplain at Valle Verde, a large-scale retirement community in Santa Barbara. It brings together Mark’s love of ministry with his heart for the elder community — along with a flexible schedule and full medical benefits (woohoo on that front).

Watson Fiduciary is also off and running with Mark’s first round of clients. Double duty often translates to long hours, but we’ve never seen Mark more fulfilled professionally. It is wonderful to watch him shine; one of the families of a fiduciary client called him, “our hero.” We agree.

It was also a year of transition for me professionally. I started the year assisting in the launch of Watson Fiduciary building Mark’s website and marketing materials. This led to a handful of consulting jobs doing the same for other small businesses.

I reconnected with one of my former bosses from way back when (my last name was Smith and my hair rather fluffy) who was starting a new academic publishing company. Timing and fate came together as I became the Director of Marketing for Mission Bell Media. It’s a great fit. I continue to do some editing for Eat Drink Garden on the side. It’s a huge gift to have meaningful, flexible part-time work that allows me to grow professionally and still pick-up the kids from school most days.

With all this movement in the household matched with living smack in the middle of Montecito (which we love but can feel a little nutty at times) we’ve realized the need to be vigilant about taking timeouts for reflection and prayer. As the heart of our home, I especially need to be listening, open and centered. With Mark’s encouragement I’ve been able to take some solo retreat time, which has benefitted all of Casa Watson.

As for Ben and Clara there is the customary list of accomplishments and interests, but upon reflecting on this year what comes to mind is how they’ve grown in maturity and love. Together, these kids make for a powerhouse duo of compassion, humor, thoughtfulness and fun. From the start, our chief parenting goal was pretty selfish — raise kids we want to spend time with and at least for this season, we’re scoring a win.

Now in second grade, Ben continues to be our thoughtful, inquisitive guy with a love for fantasy, adventure and chatting. He’s either reading Percy Jackson books or outside having “battles” with his sister, sword in hand ready to fight for truth and justice.

Clara welcomed first grade and the chance to “not be in the baby class anymore.” However, at home she will forever be our baby girl full of humor, cuddles and creation. She is always crafting something — from sweet cards, to wearable jetpacks, to cookies in the kitchen with mom — with a trail of markers, tape and imagination.

Low:

By far, our low was the swift and devastating loss of Mark’s oldest brother Paul to aggressive cancer. We’re thankful that Mark was able to go to him and have the chance to say goodbye. We then all traveled to Ohio later in the summer for a bittersweet Watson family reunion. Any and every other low seems trivial in comparison. 

What do we know now that we didn’t a year ago?

Mark can build a tree house with his own two hands.

Ben is a faster reader than even his speed-reading mama.

Perfect “life balance” is an unattainable goal, but making considerate choices daily leads to more intentional joy and fulfillment.

Clara has mastered the craft of writing love letters —“Everything that is love is you.”

The liturgy, beauty and compassion of the Episcopal Church feels like home.

Ben can name every Greek god and tell you all about them.

The kids are officially diehard Giants fans. A World Series win when you live deep in Dodgers territory is a thing of beauty.

We can pitch a tent and build a fire without arguing.

Clara can rock the electric guitar and sing show tunes with gusto.

The fifteen-year marriage mark feels like a true accomplishment —deeper roots and stronger branches offer good protection in those storms.

It’s a fun season as a family when everyone can read and ride bikes (just not at the same time).

Straight paths are overrated.

With hearts full of love and gratitude we send you wishes for a joyous holiday season. As Ben likes to say, “I’m thankful for the whole universe,” – thanks for letting us be in your orbit. We are better because of the light and love you shine into our lives.

With love,

Mark, Leah, Ben and Clara

Thanks again to Evan Janke for these beautiful pictures. We love you!

Fall Round-Up

What did our fall look like? The start of first and second grade, a knight who turned eight, a matador who rocked it out at Soho, a celebration of fifteen years of marriage, Thanksgiving with friends and the daily grind at super speed, Santa Barbara style.

First Day of School

First Grade.

Ben writing out his class list. 
We prayed a blessing for each kid and teacher the night before school began.

Ben finally had to admit defeat, he had officially outgrown the coveted red Ninjago pajamas.

Just an annoying pic to remind you we live at the beach. Believe me, we pay the rent for these snaps. 

Ben turns eight and our Lego collection grows...and grows.

Beachside birthday blessings.

You can see why his nickname is Sunshine.

Fall Sing. Outfit by Clara.

Anniversary Date Night.

Halloween 2014

Sir Benjamin

Lady Clara

Gondola ride in Newport Beach

Balboa Island

Cheers to 15 years!

Thanksgiving 2014 (Neunuebel House Crashers)

Dream come true to spend the holiday with the Ward family.

Clara's Girls Rock performance.

Cheers and love!

Summer Scrapbook

We’ll always look back on this summer as the summer when Mark’s brother Paul died. With that memory there is grief and sadness, but also a tender reminder of the gift of life and family. Mark traveled out to Ohio late spring to spend time with his oldest brother and to say goodbye. They knew it would be their last earthly meeting.

What do you say to one of the few people that have been in your life forever? What do you tell your kid brother? Paul told Mark — make memories with your family. Spend time together, have adventures together, live life together. For Paul, those were the moments that sustained him as he faced the end. Mark came home and talked about time together with Paul, Cully, and the kids gathered around his hospital bed sharing stories and laughs from various vacations, adventures and misadventures from the scrapbooks in their hearts.

It always sucks to learn lessons the hard way— the grief, agony and loss way. However, the dark valley moments lead you to truly feeling the sun on your face. It strips away all the surface stuff we let rattle around in our heads and hearts. This summer we sought and sometimes fought to make those memories together. Juggling two working parents, summer break and all the effort that goes into getting four people anywhere for any length of time — it wasn’t always pretty. It was actually rarely pretty, but it was good. We added to our list of memories and misadventures, we held on a little tighter and sometimes even spoke a little sweeter.

Yes, it was the summer where we traveled out to Ohio for Watson Fest 2014, explored San Francisco with my dad and camped out with some of our Westmont crew…

…but the memories are found in the smaller moments — Matt and Abby leading the kids through Columbus Zoo reliving their own childhood memories, Mara and Vivian sharing story time with Clara and our hearts longing for Grace, the kids telling almost 75-year-old Aunt Ann that she’s in “great shape,” and Grandpa Watson showing the grandkids magic tricks he tried on his own boys back in the day.

Driving over the Golden Gate bridge in a convertible bus watching Clara look up to the blue sky and steel, my dad sharing family stories that date back to the 1906 earthquake, a night walk down Post Street to the sound of a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace and hearing Ben cheer and whoop at the Giants’ game (even if we lost), beaming with pride as someone told him he was, “the #1 fan of the game.”

Transitioning from beginner campers to experienced campers who sort of/kind of knew what they're doing, gathering around a fire with the old, true friends where conversation comes easy and honest, the patience of community tolerating you before that first cup of coffee, falling asleep looking at the stars above your tent and the privilege of living life in all of it’s stages together, the love and laughter helping to soothe the rougher edges.

It will be the summer we held our tribe of four close, grew up some together, frayed each other's nerves, and made some pretty good memories. I think Paul would tell his kid brother that he made a good summer. Especially after spending time with Abby, Matt and Cully this summer, we wish we could tell Paul that he made a good life — a feast of year-around memories with those he loved most.