Well I’ve finished the Christmas letter, which I will post below. So Phase 2 is complete. Hopefully Phases 3 & 4: preparing & stuffing the envelopes and sorting & mailing the final product will be done in the next couple of days. Ahhh, the joys of Christmas….
“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” — Mother Teresa
2006
We hope this letter finds you well. We have had a good year with the usual ups and downs of life. I often think of the scene in an old movie (from the 80s) called “Parenthood”. Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen are a couple that are struggling through the joys and trials of family life with their three or four children. The movie compares life to a rollercoaster ride. The key to happiness (according to this movie) is to learn to enjoy both the ups and downs. I (Heather) find this to be true. Life is not perfect but in learning to appreciate both the blessings and the trials that God chooses to send my way, I do find joy. And for this I praise God!!!
Hope is now a 9th grader. As an avid reader, she is really enjoying her English and History studies. She is studying the Early American History period (European conquest of America to the Civil War) and I have been enjoying the lively conversations that have emerged from her studies. She plays CYO Intramural basketball and takes art classes. She and Len continue to do Dog Agility with Tobey and Dakota, respectively. They lead their dogs through different courses, which include jumps, tunnels, etc. They have even been part of some demonstrations at some local dog shows. She still enjoys sewing, crocheting, crafting, etc. and works at the local sewing shop helping with some of the children’s classes when their enrollment is high enough. The highlight of her year was making her confirmation in May.
Lenny (5th grade) is still our athlete. He plays travel soccer, travel basketball, and travel baseball. His activities are definitely the time suckers in our schedule. He turned eleven last month and had great fun at his paint ball birthday party. Len even got in on the fun and paid for it with about three days of sore muscles.
Lily is in first grade and is learning to read. She enjoys swimming lessons and art classes. She is looking forward to starting horse backing riding lessons in the spring. Our friend, Maryann Artusa, has been kind enough to take Lily for pony rides at a local horse barn.
Peter is a real firecracker right now. He is into ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!!! I have been known to mutter, “This too shall pass! This too shall pass!” as I pull him off of one more counter or clean up one more of his messes. He is however the sweetest little tornado of activity. Our soon to be two-year old has a wonderful personality and brings a lot of joy to our lives.
Len’s company is in the process of being bought. Len is part of the integration team, which is good but hectic. It has made for some long days at work for him but we hope that is short-term. Dog Agility is really a great stress buster for him.
My latest venture has been my blog. It’s a place where I chronicle the happening of our lives. I am very much enjoying myself. For those who are online I hope that you will check it out and maybe even leave a comment or two: http://www.liliesofhope.com/doodleacres/ . On the 21st, I am turning 40 (Hopefully this letter will be in the mail before that). On the 18th, Len and I are going into the city (3 days, 2 nights) to spend some much coveted time alone, to see Spamalot (the Monty Python musical), to visit a museum or two, and to check out the holiday fare at Rockefeller Center, while my parents take care of the children. I can’t remember the last time we went away by ourselves.
Well that is all the news that’s fit to print. We pray that this has been a blessed Advent season for you and your family and that God will bless you in the coming year through the ups and downs of life.
Blessings,
Len, Heather, Hope, Lenny, Lily, Mary (in heaven) & Peter
(Hazel, Dakota, Thea, Tobey and Dallas, too)
P.S. Hope has been crocheting hats for children in an orphanage in the Ukraine. If you have any extra yarn hanging around with which you wouldn’t mind parting, she could put it to good use.
