Friday, December 19, 2008

Our Christmas Letter


When I was growing up, Peanuts was my favorite comic strip. I loved Charlie Brown and the gang. In this short clip, Charlie Brown asks, "isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about"? Linus has the answer.

Gina wrote a Christmas letter to include in our Christmas cards. I thought I would share it with you.

Dear Family and Friends,

It’s that time of year when we bring you up to date on what’s been going on in our neck of the woods. This year has flown by so I’m sure that we have been busy, but the year has pretty much been uneventful.

In The Jungle
STEVE, BERTA AND I IN THE BELIZIAN JUNGLE

In March we returned to Belize with Berta and Steve. We had a wonderful time once we got there. A snow storm in Dallas delayed us one day, then thunderstorms in Belize delayed us another. If you are going to be stranded in an airport for 24 hours the newly remodeled Dallas Airport is a good one. We just made an adventure of it and had a good time. We had a great time snorkeling, fishing and visiting with church members in Belize. The day we left they had another storm in Dallas, so we had to fly home via Miami. Then the next day we flew from Miami to Atlanta to Dallas. There is nothing like taking the scenic route.

Gavin and Rachel
GAVIN AND RACHEL

Gavin graduated from Southwestern Adventist University in May with a degree in Radio, Television and Film. This year he is back at Southwestern working on getting a teaching certificate. He is dating a young lady named Rachel, who we love.

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
REBEKAH TURNS ONE

Autumn and Rebekah celebrated there birthdays in October. Autumn turned three and Rebekah had her first birthday. There is nothing in this world better than being Grandparents.

Happy Birthday
AUTUMN BLOWS OUT HER CANDLES

David is still teaching at a technical college in the Baton Rouge area and Cynda is working at a nursing home as a speech pathologist and rehab director. They really have there hands full with work and those two little girls.

Frosty Grant
THE GRANT FAMILY EXPERIENCES SNOW

Richie and I keep busy as usual with work and the church. I’m also volunteering at the hospital one day a week to keep me out of trouble. I really enjoy it.

Gina and I On The Trail
GINA AND I

This year we are skipping Christmas. Richie, Gavin and I along with Richie’s folks are going on a cruise for Christmas. Cynda, David and the girls will be spending Christmas with the Grant Family so……..we decided to skip it in Cozemel, Grand Cayman and Montego Bay, Jamaica.


We leave December 20th and return home the 28th. So while you are sitting under your Christmas tree think of us sitting under a palm tree. We’ll be thinking of you.

Beach on Ambergris Caye Belize

Much love,

Richie & Gina

15 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your Christmas letter and the 'Peanuts' clip. We all need to be reminded what Christmas is all about.
    It sounds as if you've had a busy, wonderful year. Enjoy your cruise.

    Merry Christmas.

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  2. You been blessed with a wonderful year for your family and it sounds like a great way to spend Christmas in the sunshine! Enjoy your cruise! I love Charlie Brown, too. Charles Schultz was a great guy.

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  3. Thank you for sharing. What a wonderful year you and yours have had. May this Holiday Season bring you much Love and Joy and May the New Year be filled with Health, Wealth, and Laughter. Enjoy your Holiday Cruise! We expect a full report upon your return!

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  4. Richie, Thanks for sharing your Christmas letter with us. You have a great-looking family. I write Christmas letters also (have since 1995) and love to go back and re-read them!!!

    Have a wonderful cruise... (I'm jealous!)
    Betsy

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  5. Hi Richie, some great memories for you over the past year no doubt. The world has certainly lost the whole meaning of Christmas & instead replaced it with a time of greed, drunkeness, gluttony, selfishness, materialism & general ungodliness. They celebrate by doing all the things the Bible warns us to avoid. Considering all the pagan influences in many of the Christmas traditions I personally choose not to celebrate this holiday. For me everyday is a celebration of the life we have through Christ Jesus. I used to have a blog a few years ago that I used to discuss Bible topics & my beliefs but it always seemed to attract mostly people that just wanted to argue about stuff & even get rather nasty if I posted something they didn't agree with & many of these claimed to be Christians. Would Jesus act in such a way? I think not. Therefore my religious beliefs are something I prefer not to get into on my blog now. Hope you have a great holiday, I have 3 weeks off work & will enjoy every moment.
    Cheers :-)
    Tony

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  6. Hi Richard.

    Hope you have (or had - depending on when you read this) a great Christmas!

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  7. I hope you and your family have a wonderful time!

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  8. I wish you the best time ever you had on that cruise, enjoy! ..and Merry Christmas to both of you!

    Sue's Daily Photography

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  9. Wow, I followed a link from a Camera Critter post and found your site.

    Have a wonderful cruise for Christmas! What great fun you will have.

    If you'd like, you can stop by my Camera Critter post to see my pet decked out for Christmas upon your return. :-)

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  10. I wish you a joyful hollyday,and also a Marry Christmas and a happy new year.Here we have got lots of snow,and everything is ready for Christmas.Have a great time.

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  11. I was thinking of you today and hoping you have a WONDERFUL time on your trip! Get lots of sun and lots of relaxation : ). Merry Christmas to you and your sweet wife! I loved your Christmas letter. It made me smile!

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  12. And P.S. Your family is BEAUTIFUL!

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  13. Hi,
    You have a wonderful & happy family.
    I wish you & you family a Merry Christmas & wonderful holiday.

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  14. Hello Richard,

    A very nice Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, your family and the ones you love.

    I enjoy very much reading your blog. It is fresh, it is amusing and sometimes your posts make me think. No need to give more reasons why I put you in "My Favorite Blogs".

    Best wishes

    Peter

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  15. Thank you for sharing your Christmas letter here. (Shame on me for I haven't even written mine yet.) How wonderful you are on a cruise right now. I was just thinking of that movie Christmas with the Kranks when I scrolled down a bit more and saw your previous post with the same thought. I hope you are having a wonderful time. Blessings to you.

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