Christmas time AGAIN!!

Dear friends and family,

We have opted for the e-newsletter this year.
1. Because it is cheaper
2. Because you might actually get it
3. Because I can kill two birds with one stone, and update my blog
4. Because it is cheaper!


I have always wanted to do some creative type of newsletter, but it seems that I don't have very much creativity in me... I keep hoping. But, instead you will have to settle for a less than creative review of our year.

I can't say that I remember much of it though. I do remember saying after Christmas last year, that I had a whole year before it came around again... I must have been wrong, because I am sure that wasn't a whole year since we did this last. It could have been the fact that we homeschool our 5 kids, or it could be that our small business, Constructive Thinking LLC, takes a bit of time to manage, or maybe it was that we have a couple of demanding callings at church, (Thom 2nd councilor in the Bishopric, and I the Relief Society President) hummmm... maybe, but I guess I can't quite put my finger on it.

Let's see...
Jessica turned 16 in February, so I guess we did hit that month. Which means January happened at some point as well. I went "gung ho" on a vegetable garden this year and started seeds inside in March which continued into April. By May the garden was in full swing.
Month 3, check.
Month 4, check.
Month 5, check.
I vaguely remember a couple of warm months that must have been summer. OH YES, the birthdays of the two boys, Teague, 10 & Braeden, 6 in June. I remember now. Um... I was one of the camp cooks for young women's camp in July. In August we went camping with my mom's side of the family, that was fun. Thom got his diploma in the mail from EMU, finally! (His counselor decided he did have enough work/life experience to qualify for his required "coop".) That was sometime early in the fall. September is when I started watching a 1 year old boy 5 days a week. Morgan turned an official teenager in October. Abi turned 8 and was baptized in November. That brings us back to...

Goodness me, we did have a whole year. I tell you my mind must be slipping. I hope that your year has gone slower than mine. That you have had more time to sit and remember.

I think before we hit January 1, 2010, I will sit down myself and review my year again. It really was a good one despite it's rapid coming and then going. We had many challenges, that's for sure, but we also had many good and happy times. We have made some great new friends this year, and have been terrible about keeping in touch with old ones. Overall though, we are learning and growing together, and are enjoying life.

We pray that your coming year will be full of amazing and beautiful memories and experiences that bring you closer to God and your family.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Thom, Jackie, Jessica, Morgan, Teague, Abigail, & Braeden