The Christmas Letter

Pin It I love to read Christmas letters. I really do. I admire the way people have of wrapping up a year into a few paragraphs and you can feel like you're caught up on their lives after reading it. I love the way people can spin questionable circumstances into a happy story. People are never as optimistic in life as they are in their Christmas letters!

I've attempted several times to write a Christmas letter. I just can't do it. I can't manage to turn "my three year old has seventeen temper tantrums per day" into anything other than what it is. I can be creative and all, but really, who wants to read "my three year old has perfected the skill of expressing his desires in a manner which produces excellent and quick results"? Well, I guess that's one way to put a positive spin on things.

This year I really want to try. I don't want to gloss over our imperfections (for they are many!) but do want to share some of what the kids are into, and how the Lord has blessed us this year. I'm not clever or particularly creative, just so, you know, you don't get your expectations up or anything like that.

So, without further ado, our Christmas letter. It is what it is.

Dear friends and family,

Wow, another year is almost over. How time flies! Here's a 2008 update on our family.

I would guess the biggest change we've had is Jim's new employment. For the love of all things military, Jim has rejoined the National Guard. I think it's mainly for the cool uniforms. He's still at the prison too, the NG is just bonus income, plus he absolutely loves it, so it's good for him.

Gabbi is now in the 5th grade and is in a rush to grow up too fast. Sometimes I look at her and see the lady she will be in the future. Sometimes I look at her and see a small child who just wants to fight with her sister though. Ah, the tween years. Such fun. She is Brendan's hero most of the time; the Lord really has put a special bond between those two. She is going to be a fabulous mom one day.

Madelyn is now in the 2nd grade and is my surprise super genius child. I feel bad that we didn't have very high expectations for her intelligence. Her job was to be the cute one. She's a bright kid though! Her other accomplishments for the year include a fabulous Alvin and the Chipmunks impersonation. Except it's not really an impersonation. It's her real voice. It really is the absolute sweetest little voice on the phone. Don't believe me? Give me a call and I'll let her answer.

Then there is Brendan, aka Buzz-Man. He loves to jump off the furniture and has perfected the art of the temper tantrum. These tantrums tend to occur with regular frequency every. single. time. we leave the house. I've gotten more dirty looks from random strangers for being the mom who can't control her fit-throwing kid than I can handle. He's also a really sweet boy though. He loves to help out around the house, even when his method of helping out isn't really all that helpful.

And me? I just continue trying to keep all of the plates spinning. :) Being mommy to three and wife to one is tough some days, but I wouldn't change it for the world!

So there you have it ... I hope you have had a fabulous 2008, and I wish for you the happiest blessings for 2009.