2008 Christmas Greetings from our Family

"Children are a blessing from the Lord," Psalm 127:3

We are very blessed.

It is always an interesting challenge to get this many people to look at the camera, to stop fidgeting, to stop touching each other and to make a normal face. Every year we take 20 or more pics to try to find the perfect shot. Each previous year, one person ended up looking dorky, because there wasn't a perfect picture.

This year everyone looked great - little Brookie is a little excited,
 but her finger wasn't up her nose in this shot, so it was a keeper.

My guest blogger today is my daughter, Grace,
the author of this year's Christmas letter.

She did a great job.

Greetings from the Our Home!

Well, another Christmas is upon us, and I, Grace, was bestowed the privilege of writing the wonderful Christmas letter.

To begin with, this coming June we celebrate our fifth year of living in Washington. Scary how time flies. Seattle has done us good, and we now know the difference between showers followed by rain and rain followed by showers. We also are astounded when this big yellow ball comes through the rain clouds and warms us up. I hear the tourists call it the sun.

Mom and Dad

are getting gray hair, wrinkles and are wondering if it is too late to change their minds about having six kids. Mom joined a Writer's club and loves to get out of the crazy house. Dad still works at a computer company and can't wait to be home at the end of the day, to get away from the crazy computer geeks.

Aaron and Jana

currently live in a small cozy apartment about two hours away from us. July will be a very special month for them; first they will have another baby and then Aaron gets out of the Navy. Meanwhile, Jana is busy eating pickles and chasing Brookelyn.

Dan

is busy drinking coffee, banging on the drums, and fixing his car. Funny, the past two Christmas letters have said, "Dan is planning to go to college next year...." I don't want to break the tradition, so, Dan is planning on going to college next year in Minnesota for Music Production. Sometimes I wonder if he will go to college at all.

Bethany's

day consists of sleeping in, (because she was up late the night before watching a Cary Grant or John Wayne movie), scrounging around the house, maybe running some errands for mom, cooking, and helping around the house. The evening sets in and she chooses another old movie to fall asleep to. Oh, what a life! Also, she is currently teaching a young girl how to sew and helping Bekah with school.

I, Grace,

am a busy sophomore who misses her sleep. School, the kitchen, my books and babysitting take a lot of my time. Also, I have mastered the art of procrastination, so if you want to learn sometime, just ask. If i ever graduate I want to to to Lake Washington Technical College and get my degree in Baking Arts.

Jon

is a typical boy and would rather be with his imagination than his schoolbooks any day. his afternoons consist of making guns, building forts, fighting Nazis (he loves WWII history) and he has become quite a strategist and tactician. When he is not in war, he is off in the NAB playoffs beating the Lakers. When mom forces him into reality, he actually 'enjoys' school. Who knows, maybe someday we will all be working for him.

Rebekah

is also best friends with her imagination. She goes to college and coffees with her friends, but her biggest worry is whether to wear her pink dress or jean skirt with a flowered top, and then her purple fuzzy heels or her cowboy boots?? Oh, the decisions of a six year old. In reality, she is in kindergarten and is slowly, but surely, learning how to read.

I hope you will have a most blessed Christmas, and remember, it's not about the presents, pretty lights, yummy cookies, or decorations; it's all about the Lord Jesus.

Luke 2:10-14

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; I am bringing you good news of great joy, for all the people; to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a child wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace goodwill among men!"

Love,

Our Family