Christmas Wishes 2008

Happy Holidays!

It’s hard to believe another year has passed. Once again, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and the blessings we have been given. We’re so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area of the country and to enjoy freedom and security. Here’s a little taste of what we’ve been up to this past year…

David still flies the friendly skies several weeks a month with his job as a Senior Construction Manager at the Wal-Mart Home Office. In the last couple of years, he’s gotten to know parts of Michigan better than he ever thought he would! He tries to hunt and fish whenever he can, which isn’t as often as he’d like. David’s recently put his DIY skills to the test as we’re repurposing the garage…It was going to be a den for the family/design studio for Kristen, but he’s now dubbing it "The Craft Cave" after seeing the amount of scrapbooking and crafting supplies that are coming to the surface in their move across the house.

Kristen is always found volunteering at church or the three different schools the kids attend, or hanging out at the scrapbook store where she teaches classes. She’s starting her own business designing scrapbooks for others and selling scrapbooking kits; "Urban Butterfly" should take full flight in the first part of the new year. Our family expanded a little this year in the most surprising way…her birthmother Marianne recently found her after years of searching. They are looking forward to a reunion in the upcoming weeks. What a blessing it has been to be able to personally thank her for the ultimate gift of life.

Colin, 15 and 6’ 1" tall, keeps us constantly moving…with high school cross country, track, and basketball, (he plays on both the sophomore and JV teams) and his traveling lacrosse team, there’s always a sporting event we can watch. He’s a little sad that he took a year off from football after several years on the field…and his high school just won the state title without him! He got his drivers’ permit a few months ago and is anxiously awaiting the Sweet 16 in March that will allow him to drive himself freely around town. Funny thing, he hasn’t really mentioned dating much, and the fact that the magical upcoming birthday opens that door, too…though with all the girls that follow him around, we’re sure it’s not far behind.

Lindsay turned 11 this month, and she is growing up faster than we’re ready for her to! She’s quite the musician, still taking piano lessons, and now singing in both the middle school’s choir and the Bentonville Children’s Choir. She also plays lacrosse and has turned into quite the athlete! She’s become a whiz on the computer and a babysitter extraordinaire. She has a bold imagination and is not afraid to try anything, and we love her courageous spirit.

Rebekah turned 8 last month and she’s anxiously awaiting her upcoming baptism. She’s also growing so fast—Kristen’s bound to be the shortest person in the family in the not-so-distant future! Bekah is definitely the trivia princess at our house, with a genius brain that remembers everything she learns. She takes piano lessons, and she also sings in the Bentonville Children’s Choir. She loves the second grade and is interested in everything—especially space, which is her latest love. She’s determined to be an astronaut when she grows up, and we’re sure she can do anything she puts her mind to.

We hope you are all happy, safe, and well this holiday season. This year, more than ever, we’re taking time to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas and to give thanks for our savior Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us. May you find peace and joy in the coming year.

Love,
The Blacks

Happy Birthday, Lindsay!

Time for birthday fun again at our home...

Lindsay has turned 11!

Really? My little baby girl is this old?

We celebrated the night with our family that lives close by and her favorite dinner: fried chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, garlic bread, corn, and pink lemonade. And Mom's famous Texas fudge cake for dessert. Yum. Good choices, babe!

Funny how the gifts are getting more grown up--no toys for this tween! She racked in a new pair of pierced earrings so we can try this process again (don't let the holes close up this time!), trendy new boots, a gorgeous sweater and necklace, a couple of books, and some cold hard cash so she can buy the perfect little trinkets for herself...hey, these are cool gifts that I wouldn't mind having myself! What happened to the Barbies and the coloring books?

Lulu, when did you get to be such a young lady? Sometimes looking at you takes my breath away. You've grown up so fast--we can see the woman you'll become in your face and your mannerisms, in the way you speak and the profound thoughts you have. You're a gorgeous girl, and we're excited to continue to watch you learn and grow as you reach your potential. Never lose sight of your infinite worth.

But just when I get really sentimental, you walk by with a stuffed animal in your arms, with your hair all up in weird barrettes from a styling session with your sister. Or I catch you playing with every Littlest Pet Shop piece we have as you and Rebekah create a city. Or I find you in a blanket fort, or up in the branches of a tree, or bringing in the latest creepy crawly from the yard. You're not completely out of your childhood yet. And I'm glad--I'm not ready for this stage to pass quite yet!

It's going to be quite a year with you! We love you!

(And just for the record, don't forget that this is the year we learned that if you put candles in the hot fudge cake right after it comes out of the oven, the hot fudge actually causes them to melt into the cake. And they shrink fast. And it doesn't taste good. Who would have thought? This mistake will not be repeated!)

Christmas Q & A

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper unless I'm in an absolute bind!

2. Coordinated tree or hodgepodge? Hodgepodge. I love that our tree has ornaments we've collected from various people and places over the last 20 years.

3. When do you put the tree up? As soon as we can after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? As soon as we can after New Year's Day

5. Do you like eggnog? Absolutely. Crave it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? (embarrassed to admit...) My ebony, upright, baby grand Yamaha piano. I was 15.

7.Do you have a nativity scene? Yep. About 1o of them ranging from a tiny one-piece to a massive multiple piece set.

8. Hardest person to buy for? David's mom and dad

9. Easiest person to buy for? My girls

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? ???? thinking on this one. Probably some clothing item that I would never wear.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail them. Most years. I've had a couple of off-years lately!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story. Gotta love that 24-hour run of it on TBS each year!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Some time in the summer...when I find a deal I stash it away.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Appetizers, breakfast casserole Christmas morning, carmel corn, basically anything tasty!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored. The more the merrier.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Joy to the World, by Kurt Bestor

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home that morning, but will travel to family and friends later in the day (though I'll take a fun vacation any time!)

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph. And Olive.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star now, though we used to have an angel I made. The poor thing fell apart.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. Sometimes I cave in for one gift for the kids on Christmas Eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The materialistic event it's become, and the fact that most people don't actually celebrate Christ's life. And stringing the lights on my tree. (Please, Santa, bring me a pre-lit one!)

23. What I love most about Christmas? Time with family, watching the tree glow in a dark room late at night, my husband being home for days on end, movie marathons, friends

24. Favorite Christmas tradition? Singing in the Ozark Mormon Chorale, the square lighting, caroling, the parade, our annual Black Family Christmas Eve narration and sing-a-long

Wanna play along?
Merry Christmas!