Christmas Letter
Merry Christmas to all!
As we enter the season of our Saviors’ birth, I always feel inspired to look back at the many ways the Lord has blessed us this year. Starting off, this was our first full year in our new house. We have all loved watching the seasons change outside our windows. I’m grateful for the forest in our backyard where the kids can go and exercise their imaginations. I’m grateful for family and friends that have come to visit and helped make our house a home.
John continues to work hard. He participated in two more triathlons this year, doing really well. His last one he came in second in his age group. Very impressive! He is keeping up his training and hopes to do even better next year. John was just given a new calling at church in High Priests Group. He loves the people he gets to work with, and also getting to know everyone in the ward better. However, most of all, he loves spending time with the kids. He is the designated bedtime story reader, and is always up for a board game or just a wrestling match. I am grateful for a Husband who truly loves his family.
Little John entered 1st grade this year. He has turned into a prolific reader! His teacher put him in her highest reading group, but it’s too easy for him so he spends his time reading to other students instead. He loves school and is really excited this year to be able to ride the big bus. Although Mom feels little tugs at her heart when she sees her son standing at the curb in the morning all by himself. Also this summer John participated in Junior Golf at our local course. He had a great time. Next year he will be moving back and hitting from the red tees. He has already had his first legitimate par! Dad is excited that this is something they can spend time doing together. We are grateful for a child who loves to excel.
Justin is continuing to make huge strides in his development. His language and social skills are really starting to take off. He has a couple of friends that he will play with (and get excited about playing with!) on a fairly regular basis. He took some swim lessons this year and discovered that he really likes being in the “big pool”. Also this fall, we took the training wheels off his bike and now he gets to have a big boy bike like his brother! They love to go outside and ride together. Justin is also our little computer expert. Both he and his brother love playing computer games, and are able to find new games to play online almost every day it seems. He is a sweet, lovable boy, who melts our hearts in the morning coming in to snuggle in our bed. We are grateful for a child who is so easy to love.
Jacqueline is our little ball of fire! She is definitely the princess to her older brothers and is constantly trying to do the things they get to do. She was given a bike with training wheels from some friends and learned how to ride it herself. Jackie is also our social butterfly. She loves playing with and teaching other kids. She loves helping Mom. She can do laundry and set the table. Still working on cleaning the room though! We are grateful for a child who is so teachable.
Jenny continues to love watching the children grow and take joy in each new milestone reached. She loves her calling as enrichment leader and spending time with friends. She has recently taken up running and is having fun setting and achieving new goals, finishing her first 5K in October. Jenny is still playing the English Handbells with a choir, and really loves trying to master a new instrument.
We are grateful for the blessings of Heaven that seem to pour down on us daily. We wish you and yours well this Holiday season. May you feel the love of the Lord always.
John, Jenny
John, Justin, Jacqueline
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