Christmas 2009

Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.
Luke 2:14

A Christmas Letter from Quenton to all of our friends and family:
Merry Christmas Dear Readers!
'Cookies in Krakow' may very well summarize the last year of the Martys' lives. Our family business in Krakow, Poland called More Than a Cookie was certainly a source of learning, great joy, and adventure for each one of us. Actually, there seems to be no words sufficient to fully describe the last year...it's simply been another display of God's goodness, mercy, and grace in our lives. Thank you Lord!
Our cookie crew of 5 boarded a plane in January with the goal of helping the family business to expand. As we approach the one year mark, we can enthusiastically say that our mission has been accomplished. The foundation of More Than a Cookie seems solid and we were blessed to have a part in laying it.
Each one of us had our role in building the cookie business, not the least of which was taste-testing each delicious product! Briar would often help Grandma in the kitchen and push m&m's into the peanut butter cookie dough just before the cookies were slid into the oven.
Truman joined me on cookie deliveries and errands. He also worked with me at our store in the Old Town of Krakow. He became quite good at keeping the store clean and running the cash register. Truman followed each completed cookie sale with a big smile and said, "Dziękuję" ('Thank You' in Polish).
As the oldest of our three, Eden put in the most time at the cookie shops. On a few occasions, she even worked 14 hour days and still came home with a bundle of energy! She became an expert at running the cash register, and even helping to change the register tape at busy times...a task which often got me flustered. Her endless energy and attention to detail made her a great cookie consultant!
Bethany had a tremendous role in helping lay the More Than a Cookie foundation as well. From the routine task of washing our towels and aprons every day, to writing product descriptions and helping design the menu or creating recipes for our next new product, to hand-painting special touches at our Old Town store, she helped make our business special. Also, thanks to Bethany, our newest craze is “Cherry Cheesecake Thursday.” Some customers prepay for the following Thursday to ensure their piece is not snatched up!
We all love our family business and we're excited to see how it will continue to expand in the future.
Our lives in Krakow weren't completely consumed by the cookie business. Of course, this blog holds many of those tales, so don't hesitate to consult the archives.
Like most Krakovians, we enjoyed countless trips to Old Town to explore. There are hundreds of shops and cafes that fill the cobblestone streets...after all, it is the LARGEST market square in Europe. We often found ourselves checking out the quaint restaurants to enjoy family time.
We were blessed to be a part of Krakow's International Church. Our kids found great friends and spent plenty of time having play days and sleep overs. Bethany was involved in singing on the worship team and I had the chance to teach on several occasions. We've made many dear friends.
My conclusion to this year's Christmas letter includes an announcement. No, not another addition to the family, but rather another change. We're moving back to Minnesota!
Through much prayer our family decided that the foundation of the business was laid and now was the time to move to the next level- franchising. This decision was followed by some clear answers to prayer as we had some fantastic Polish friends approach us about getting involved. We have since franchised our Old Town store and now look to some exciting things for 2010.
So why move back? We've realized that our role in the business was to lay the foundation, preserve that foundation and allow others to expand our concept. To accomplish that, we don't really need to live in Poland. That said, my mom and dad do plan to stay for the foreseeable future to ensure things progress as planned.
Why Minnesota? Bethany and I have been away from our family in the Midwest for nearly 7 years, with just a handful of visits sprinkled in. We're extremely excited to move back and be a regular part of family gatherings. We are also eager to reconnect with our dear friends and church family.
I've accepted a position with HOPE International that will allow me to raise funds in the Midwest region. I will focus on enabling more funds to go to our microfinance clients around the world and also raise money for the Tomorrow Clubs children's ministry in Ukraine.
Of course we're already planning our next trip to Krakow so we can see the growth of the business and have more cookies, brownies and cupcakes. But for now we have a great peace and confidence in what the Lord has for us in the transition back to Minnesota.
I close this letter reminding myself and all of you about the wonder of the Christmas season. Our Savior was born so you and I could leave behind our lives as selfish and sinful people and have new life in Him. This new life brings indescribable peace in the midst of great challenges as we place our confidence in Him. So may this holiday season be spent loving our Savior, our friends and family, and our world. In that, we will begin to know our Savior's love and the reason we so look forward to this holiday time.

Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and many blessings from Quenton, Bethany, Eden, Truman, and Briar

Polish Food

Considering we've been living in Poland for almost a year already, we really haven't indulged in very much Polish cuisine.
That said, just the other day Q came home IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY...which in itself is always a special treat...and took us all into town for lunch at a Polish restaurant. We had our favorites: Zurek (ZHOOrek) a traditional very flavorful, creamy, and sour soup with a pile of mashed potatoes right in the middle...



...and Pierogi (with meat inside)

We all thought little Brizee was so cute with her big soup spoon.

I Drive a Mercedes

...but it's not as exotic as that sounds.


The broken shift knob--not exactly what you'd call "ergonomic"

If this van could speak...Oh the stories it would tell. My in-laws bought it in Ukraine years ago when they were living there, and now it's become quite the family vehicle for all of us living here. We've piled in our 3-generation family of 12 to go to church...and sometimes we even have friends who join us. The more the merrier. We've had a lot of good laughs about this van and its missing parts and falling off pieces...come to think of it...I guess it's a good thing this van can't talk (wink wink).
But it {most of the time} never ceases to get us from point A to point B often with our precious fresh baked livelihood in tow. So we mostly just love it.
We are grateful to Mom and Dad for allowing us to use it whenever we need for our many adventures.



...and don't even get me started on the TRAFFIC IN KRAKOW! This is the reason that I can count on one hand how many times I've gone into 5th gear.

Two Room Flat

That is: "one bedroom apartment" for my American readers.

Some pictures of our little place. Although typically a family of 5 would choose to live in a bit larger home, we have felt completely content and comfortable since we moved here last January.

Q and I have our bedroom in the living room...it's big enough...there's double doors that lock...there's a fireplace...so it's all good.
[please ignore the picture-less frame above the bed. It's on the 'to do' list]



The patio doors go out to our deck and our cute little backyard. We enjoyed this pretty backyard view at so many family dinners and celebrations out here this past spring and summer.

My kitchen! I've spent many hours in here. As most of you already know, I LOOOOOOVE to cook and bake. I even did some experimental baking for More Than a Cookie so at times this was "B's test kitchen". I am so grateful to be able to be home with the kids and homeschooling them and to cook wonderful meals for my family and eat supper together every day. I've been able to keep up with my housework and laundry. It feels so good to clean {my own} house for a change. In the past, I've always spent all my energy on all my clients' houses. I just feel so blessed to finally be a stay-at-home mom and wife. It's a dream come true for me. I've tried so hard to not take it for granted for a second.



the three boxwood wreaths in the foreground were a gift to me from Q last spring "just because". He knows I love wreaths...I LOVE HIM!



In the background is the little entryway to our apartment...the double doors go into our bedroom/living room

Obviously, the kids' room! It's just barely big enough to fit their three beds. But big enough nonetheless! They've had such good attitudes about all sharing a room, but I'm sure they will be happy once they finally have more of their own space.

Eden's bed

this is Briar showing off her "posters" it's actually just pages of a princess magazine taped to the wall--clearly the work of a 3-year old.


I guess these pictures speak for themselves...



...well, there you have it! European living for the Marty party!

Giving Thanks

We have so much to be thankful for...Our Thanksgiving feast lacked nothing. The food was traditional and amazing. Things we Americans take for granted: marshmallows, pecans, and canned pumpkin...oh and we were lucky to find [very expensive] sweet potatoes at a high-end grocery store here in Krakow. AND thanks to family and friends for sending us all the necessary ingredients to make our meal complete!











We had a special Thanksgiving here with Q's parents and youngest brother (Justin). We missed Jessica, Steve, Rose and Jimmy...they are already in the states celebrating the holidays with family there--WE MISS YOU GUYS!!! It was a sweet, memorable time. We went around the table and each said one thing we are thankful for this year. It was very meaningful. God has really blessed us. I am so thankful for all of the special family time we've had this past year in Poland. Even though we've been working long hard hours getting this business off the ground, it has been a year of immense healing, growing, and reconnecting as a family. We have many special memories from our time in Lancaster but we've realized how crazy our life was there. Living here has given us a chance to step back...slow down and re-realize the importance of family.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers...I am thankful for YOU

Lefse

Quenton and I both have Norwegian in our blood, so lefse is a family tradition for both of us. I remember at all the family get-togethers around the holidays spreading it with lots of butter and rolling it up with brown sugar inside. And, my mother-in-law has told the story a million times about when Quenton was young and he found and ate -without permission- a huge...HUGE...stack of lefse that she had spent hours preparing for a special occasion. He will surely never live that down.
This year, Eden (and Truman and Briar too)got to get in on the family tradition and help Grandma on the Monday evening before Thanksgiving to make THE LEFSE.

Oh what fun they had and what a great learning experience for Eden. Grandma let her do every step all by herself and she did a great job! ...and then on Thanksgiving we all got to eat it!

bein' silly

Grandpa gets in on the taste test

"Lefse is beautiful" it says on the {lefse cozy}

Leaving a Legacy

Today is my paternal grandparents' 71st wedding anniversary. What a legacy! I am so grateful to have such amazing examples to follow. At the end of October my parents celebrated their 44th. Growing old with the one you love is such a gift. It is what God intended marriage to be...FOREVER.
We were in Wisconsin a year ago just in time to celebrate their 70th. This year we send our wishes from afar but look forward to seeing all of my family at Christmas!
These pictures were taken last January at our "goodbye party" this was the last time I saw my grandparents before we left for Poland!

My grandmother is now 90 and my grandpa is 93

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa! I love you!

Tru Dawg!

Truman is EIGHT!!! Everyone always says it, but when my kids have birthdays it only seems more true...Time goes by so quickly!
We woke Truman up by singing Happy Birthday to him. Then, I told him the whole story about the day he was born and of course when I got to the part when the Dr. said, "It's a boy," I totally started crying. OF COURSE. I can't even teach these guys History without tearing up!

Truman LOVES chocolate! For his birthday cake this year, I made a 4 layer chocolate cake with whipped cream filling and dark chocolate frosting.
IT. WAS. YUMMY. I think I even like chocolate more after eating that cake!



We celebrated as a family...Grandma made her famous spaghetti with meatballs dinner and we set up a long table in Grandpa and Grandma's living room! Eden was working on the decorations for the party all day! She's such a fun big sister...a great party planner!




he received gifts and hugs from his cousin, Rose


Grandpa's gift started out ...now that you're 8 you have to work for your gift! There was a series of clues to find all over the house. He found this one in our fireplace,


Finally, the last clue led him to his own pillow where he found a card stuffed with US Dollars and Polish Zloty!



Truman had two friends over for his birthday party! Philip and Kaleb are his friends from church. The party started at the Krakow Tigers [American Football] game! The boys got good and muddy playin' their own game of football on the sidelines, and then we took the boys to our house from there...
Truman got a Wii for his birthday from Uncle Steve and Aunt Jessica! We have been having so much fun with it so Q decided we should do a Wii sports tournament at Truman's birthday party.

Truman wanted to have pizza for supper so I had the kids each make their own

We are in the right business for this kid! He has a sweet-tooth unlike anyone else I know! So, for his party Grandma made sure he had his favorite, chocolate chip, and I decorated it with another favorite, football!
Truman blowing out his candles...or from the looks of it in this picture, perhaps his friends beat him to it!

Well, I just want to take this opportunity to say, Truman is a complete joy to Quenton and I. He is just such a great little guy in every way. We are so proud of him. He has a great sense of humor, he's always making all of us laugh. He is a great little brother to Eden and the best big brother to Briar...I love to watch him with his sisters. His cousin Jimmy ADORES HIM! He's so great at any sport he tries...football of course being his number one favorite. He's so helpful to me around the house with anything I ask...I seriously only have to tell him once to do something and he just does it...FOREVER! I think I taught him to make his bed when he was like 3 or 4 and I told him he should do it every day...well, guess what! He's done it EVERY DAY SINCE!!! And the same goes for taking his dishes to the sink after every meal he NEVER forgets! He's caring and gentle and loving and kind, patient, sweet and thoughtful...I truly can't say enough good about him!
Happy Birthday, Truman, WE LOVE YOU!