I have no idea who is Evert Kwok, but he did make a funny drawing.

On his way to school Alex often walks past a garage, and there the employees have developed a fondness for Alex. When he passes he will even get a little present at times. Alex often repays the favor by bringing some Dutch treat like stroopwafels or some other tasty treat.

Recently Alex got a present again. Two plastic fighter men, and although we thought Alex was a bit small for these kind for toys Alex was really happy. He was fighting with his little men a lot, and he was even allowed to bring one to school… with his peers the little fighter was also very popular.

A few days ago we were in a toystore and noticed the price for the little fighters. 30 euros each! We were lucky that Alex still preferred a nice green balloon. It was a lot cheaper :)

Today it is the day of geology. I have no geological background, but that does not matter. I know a few geologists and that is enough. This year we’ll go on a nice field trip. Interesting facts, a nice walk, a pick-nick and for sure some sunshine.

Sun, swimming pool and sunblock.

A nice beer for dad and a nice old Pinkpop hat for Alex. Playing with a little ball and relaxing. Life’s good.

Salt sea water splashing in your face, accompanied by wet sand and a nice cold wind. It starts out quite hard, and I needed to use my feet quite a lot just to make a turn. After a white though you get the hang of it. You find out how to distribute your weight on the card and then things start to speed up. It is a great sensation crossing over the beach.

Blokarting is really something you need to experience!

The year is nearing its end but first we celebrate Christmas. The lights on the tree drive out the darkness and the warmth in our hearts drive out the cold. During Christmas we dream of a better future for everyone. Together we share the desire to shed light on the dark parts of our society and warm the cold relations that sometimes exist between ourselves.

We are lucky. We have our own little star right at home. A star that sends his warmth directly into our hearts. We wish everyone a very marry Christmas!

The church. We all know this enormous enterprise. Whether you believe or not, you cannot avoid seeing all the work the church has done to contribute to the society we now have. But time waits for no-one and it looks like the church is slowly losing its touch. It’s importance is dwindling. It might take a hundred or more years but the church is heading towards a future where its importance will be negligible. It will stop being the spiritual anchor for our society.

There were my thoughts, until I read some recent quotes from the current pope.

Paus Franciscus said:

“I prefer a church which is dirty and hurt for being on the streets helping to a church that is unhealthy for sitting inside holding on to the status quo”

“Priests need to get out onto the streets, into the mud and not be a passive sour prune.”

Could it be true? Might there be a future yet for the church and will the pope manage to have an affect on the enormous bureaucratic organisation the church has become? Will he really manage to reform the church from being a place to worship and a place to go if all else has failed to a place of hope offering support and help to those who need it and a place to go in order to improve yourself and help others?

The pope was elected to be the man of the year 2013. It seems a good choice. The wheels of change are set in motion and slowly seem to be starting to move towards a better future.

If he manages to change the church it will be a change for the better. No longer will the association of your actions be lost. Donations, confessions, lectures and singing will suddenly have a direct result. A donation is for giving help directly to someone who needs it. A confession is not for getting your soul clean but for getting advice. A lecture is for getting general advice and the singing together is just for enjoyment together. Stop with the bread and wine. Make the church into a place that is a nice place to be. Turn on the radio, have hobby afternoons, parties for volunteers, help afternoons, open the church for professionals providing help, social training, education, bridge tournaments, chess-events, revalidation help, you name it. Start to fight the individualism and focus on the force of the many, exactly as Jesus tried to show us more than 2000 years ago.

Change the story behind the cross. Stop it from being a symbol for a crucifixion of a man, but make it into a symbol of being together. A symbol that shows that personal beliefs are important but are less so that helping each other and working together to make our world a truly better place for those who are to follow in our footsteps.

Alex has had his first performance. It was very strange for him and in the beginning he was shaking on his little legs. Quite normal because suddenly hundreds of people were watching him. Still he did very well indeed. For us there was no doubt, Alex was the star of the event.

(Alex is the fourth from the right)

When Sinterklaas was visiting our country this year he came accompanied by a big storm. When everyone was receiving their gifts we received a bit of mayhem. Either one of the peets, or the storm destroyed the (empty) rabbit home. It was smacked against the ground.