DCFL 2006
Originally uploaded by Mike Fields

DCFL – (acronym) Dreaded Christmas Form Letter
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This has been another exciting year for us. It started with my brother’s wedding on New Year’s Eve. Dave and Alisa were married at a beautiful historic chapel on Jekyll Island. Bren and I were very sharp in our matching penguin suits (Chrystine was pretty too). I’m really proud of Dave. I know I’m older, but in a lot of ways he’s been the mature, responsible one. I’m glad he’s found someone special to settle down with, and I pray that he and Alisa will be as happy and blessed as Chrystine and I. I know being with Chrystine has made the hard times easier and the good times that much better. We’re getting ready to celebrate our twelfth anniversary. I know there’s no way I’d rather have spent those years and no one I’d rather have spent them with.

“You can do all these amazing things, and sometimes you think that you will burst wide open…, don’t you? There’s one thing I know for sure, son. And that is, you are here for a reason.” – Jonathan Kent

Bren has had another amazing year too. He has been in a wedding on Jekyll Island, visited the Statue of Liberty, seen snow in Times Square, and seen New York City from the top of the Empire State Building. He saw first hand in Orlando that it’s A Small World after all (and sometimes an annoying one) and zipped through the stars on Space Mountain. He’s seen many of the wonderful creations on this small world. He saw the graceful belugas and the monstrous whale sharks at the world’s largest aquarium right here in Atlanta (small world indeed) and saw his first shows at the Fabulous Fox Theater and the Alliance Theater. We’ve picked up some new hobbies this year too, besides traveling and sightseeing. We’ve started hiking for one. If I’ve been a good boy this year, Santa might bring me a GPS for Christmas. Then we can start geocaching. We’ve also started something called Bren TV. We film fun activities or visits in a pseudo talk show / documentary type style. Bren really looks forward to his special guest stars, and he LOVES watching previous episodes with family and friends. One of my favorite things we do together though is build with Legos. We’ve built Lego race cars, garages, vehicles and hideouts for superheroes and super villains, and weapons to fight mutant dinosaurs. Now we need to build some shelves so Chrystine can see her dining room table again. Bren is developing so many skills and interests. It’s fascinating to see him grow. Today he told me he doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up. I told him “that’s ok, you can be anything you want to be” (I’m 37 and still don’t know what I want to be). Over the years, he has demonstrated boundless potential. One thing is certain; whatever career Bren chooses, he’ll do amazing things.

“You will be different, sometimes you’ll feel like an outcast, but you’ll never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine.” – Superman

Bren went to summer camp for the first time this year. The youth minister at our church is camp director so I got to be one of the counselors in Bren’s cabin. One whole week with no computer, TV, or video games; I’m not sure how Bren made it (and by “Bren” I mean “I”). At the beginning of the week he was scared to try new things and afraid of not being as good as other kids. But they really embraced him and encouraged him. He did so many things that just days before he knew he couldn’t do. By the end of the week he had led a prayer in front of 150+ people and was participating in and enjoying all the activities. On the last day of camp we watched a video of the week (one of the guys at church is a professional videographer). When a clip of Bren was shown (an advantage of being friends with the videographer), everybody clapped. I was so proud I thought I would burst wide open.

“They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. It is for this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you—my only son.” – Jor-El

Bren’s developmental psychologist said something even more enlightening than usual at our last visit; “We only grow when we’re stressed.” When our bodies encounter prolonged resistance, our muscles grow in response. Likewise, when we face adversity, we grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. For Bren to reach his full potential, we have to let him learn to succeed, and fail. We have to let him stretch and explore. Sometimes he’ll get hurt. But he’ll learn so much more. His self-esteem will not be based on outside influences. Our job as parents is not to shelter him, even while we try to make sure what he takes in are positive things. Brendon’s job (our job as individuals) is to figure out how best to use what’s inside. That’s the source, the fuel for growth. True strength and confidence come from within.

“You wrote that the world doesn’t need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one.”- Superman

Sometimes, we all feel like we don’t fit in. Sometimes we all feel alone. But we all possess the potential to do amazing things. We only need the courage to face failure. It makes success that much more significant. And that makes us stronger. As stronger people, we are better prepared to make a positive impact in someone else’s life. We never know when our strength will be the lifeline someone else is crying out for.

Merry Christmakwanzukkah!
Mike, Chrystine, and Brendon