Monthly Archives: December 2008

This Christmas was unusual in that I only made three gifts. Normally I make a whole load of home-made gifts. But this year things didn’t quite come together, and there just wasn’t time to make a lot of hand-made stuff. So I only made three.

The first was a DVD for the grandparents of home videos and a slideshow.

The second was a book for Harry (Wyatt’s dad). It was a book of images I took at Stan’s funeral. Stan was Harry’s handicapped brother who passed away unexpectedly in July of 2007. I know Stan meant a lot to Harry, as evidenced by the fact that in the six years previous that I had known the Christensens, Stan was at every holiday or family event. Harry often went to visit Stan (who lived on his own in Provo) and would spend time with him taking him to church or the movies or out for a burger. I thought he might appreciate this book. I think he did.

One of my three home-made gifts this year was a DVD for the grandparents. It included family video clips and this slide show of the babies. It has been a great year. It starts with Christmas last year and ends just before Christmas this year.

A neighbor girl gave Olivia some darling hair clips last summer. They were so cute, I wanted to get more for Christmas. At the mall they were $2.00 per clip! Online I found them for about $1.00/clip, but then you had to pay for shipping. Finally I decided I would make them myself.

So, about $10 in supplies later, Olivia has over 30 clips (and still supplies to make about 50 more!) They were a great stocking stuffer.

So this is the first year Olivia has really been conscious of an old man called “Santa Claus.” She sat on his lap at the ward Christmas party. She saw him as we passed by in the mall. He even came to mommy’s wood carving club Christmas party. She seemed to grasp that Santa would bring her a gift on Christmas day. Through out the season we’ve asked her: “Olivia, what do you want Santa to bring you?” to which she would reply with eager anticipation: “A bell!”

Wyatt and I would look at each other confused. There were no high tech colorful commercials advertising the latest must-have bell for three year olds. There were no cartoons in which a bell was a central figure. None of her friends wanted bells. Where did this desire come from?

Still, as we asked the question again and again in the ensuing days and weeks, the answer was always the same. “I want Santa to bring me a bell.”

Next year, I am confident, Olivia will be entrenched in the marketing masterpiece of four year old consumerism. But this year, Olivia’s gift was simple and beautiful, bringing back perspective on what gifts we should all hope for at Christmas.

When she opened her bell on Christmas morning, she said in delirious excitement, “Now we can sing Jingle Bells!”

Today Olivia, Calvin and I made a gingerbread house. It was a lot of fun. Mommy liked putting it together, Olivia enjoyed decorating, and Calvin loved eating the candies.

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My degree is in International Development. What’s that? It’s basically the study of cultures and people around the world, and the development challenges they face. It includes theory and practice in today’s international aid approaches. It’s a great degree for working for an NGO or the United Nations or going to graduate school. It’s not a particularly great degree if you want to bring in BUCKS.

In my undergrad years I worked and volunteered for various NGO’s, learning about how the development world works. Basically, there’s a ton o’ corruption. Wow. Was that jaded? Since college I have realized that joy is an innate part of the plan of salvation, and Heavenly Father seems to spread it around regardless of a persons social or economic circumstances. Does this negate the need for charity? Does it negate the need for development? No. But it does make my shoulders tense with annoyance when Brad Pitt comes on the television:

I’m Brad Pitt. I make mo’ money. I’m beautiful. You respect me for no legitimate reason. I endorse this ad.

It makes me realize that changing the worlds problems is much more complex than the 30 second television ads or media spots make it out to be. And as for saving the world . . . I’ve come to realize there’s only one person that can do that.
Now I sound like a regular cynic with a chip on my shoulder. I console myself with my justification that I do donate (much more than) my daily cost of a pick-me-up beverage to various organizations that I believe are able to provide true help to those in need. I also try to be a kind person who is mindful of those around me, whom I can immediately help with my words and deeds. I don’t think of Brad when I’m doing it either.

Okay, now that I’ve shouted from my soap box, check this out. Grameen banking (the type of aid they are suggesting in this ad) has actually been shown to be one of the most effective types of aid in development. Grameen banking involves giving a loan (complete with interst rate and repay conditions) usually to a woman who uses the money to start a small business. She then is able to improve the lives of her and her family, pulling multiple people, and multiple generations out of poverty.

I’m Andrea Christensen. I make mo’ money. I’m beautiful. You respect me for no legitimate reason. I endorse this ad.

Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. 

-Luke 6:23

Click on Image for Larger Version

Forever Olivia has said “O-Iggy-Uh” when referring to herself (well, she doesn’t talk in 3rd person, but when she tells someone her name, that’s how she says it). Then about a week ago, she started saying “Olivia.”

“Listen mommy,” she would say to me. “O-livia” She would pronounce the last part slowly, her eyes on me to be sure I was paying attention.

“Good job, you said ‘Olivia’”

But I still called her my “O-Iggy-Uh.”

Then today–

“No, mommy, I not O-Iggy-Uh. I O-livia.”

I stand corrected.

I will miss O-Iggy-Uh.