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Monday, December 22, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Christmas Letter 2008
Dear Loved Ones,
Merry Christmas! Where has this year gone? It seems as if it wasn't too long ago and I was writing this letter for 2007. And, I'm sure for many of you, it feels as if you just read it. Time does have a way of moving along... And so here we are again; most of us with work to do, deadlines to meet, dinner to cook, babies to feed, presents to wrap (or in my case, presents to buy), practices to get to, Christmas cards to send, parties to attend, cookies to bake, etc. And if your family is anything like mine, you are also nursing sick kids (and husband) back to health while trying to keep the house at least remotely clean and the laundry under control....so much for heavenly peace!
Well, this year has proven to be a year of blessing for the Steele family. We have lots to thank God for. I'll just give you the highlights.
In February, we celebrated Raegan's 5th birthday. Raegan began Kindergarten this fall and really, really loves it. She is almost heartbroken on the days when school is cancelled. Ryan and I only hope that her zeal for education continues throughout her school career. :) She is extremely social and extremely active; but underneath all of the activity, she is also extremely sensitive and sweet. She takes a Jazz class and a Tap class at the dance academy through our church.
February also sent along a really big surprise. In January I had been talking to my mother-in-law and I told her that I really never wanted to be pregnant again, but if for some reason, I would get pregnant, I was finally to the point where it wouldn't drive me completely over the edge. Apparently God had just been waiting for me to say the word, because one month later I discovered that, indeed, I was pregnant! You may wonder why, after all of our kids and as easily as we seem to reproduce, we were so shocked...well, the previous May, Ryan underwent a certain procedure that is supposed stop these sorts of surprises...hmmmmm....nothing is impossible with God. So, if anyone asks if we're done now, we just tell them that it really is up to God. We have learned that for us, this is a part of our lives that must be surrendered to Him. And what a blessing our BOY has been. Preston Kale arrived October 6, 2008. He has fit right in to our family. We love him very much.
Merry Christmas! Where has this year gone? It seems as if it wasn't too long ago and I was writing this letter for 2007. And, I'm sure for many of you, it feels as if you just read it. Time does have a way of moving along... And so here we are again; most of us with work to do, deadlines to meet, dinner to cook, babies to feed, presents to wrap (or in my case, presents to buy), practices to get to, Christmas cards to send, parties to attend, cookies to bake, etc. And if your family is anything like mine, you are also nursing sick kids (and husband) back to health while trying to keep the house at least remotely clean and the laundry under control....so much for heavenly peace!
Well, this year has proven to be a year of blessing for the Steele family. We have lots to thank God for. I'll just give you the highlights.
In February, we celebrated Raegan's 5th birthday. Raegan began Kindergarten this fall and really, really loves it. She is almost heartbroken on the days when school is cancelled. Ryan and I only hope that her zeal for education continues throughout her school career. :) She is extremely social and extremely active; but underneath all of the activity, she is also extremely sensitive and sweet. She takes a Jazz class and a Tap class at the dance academy through our church.
February also sent along a really big surprise. In January I had been talking to my mother-in-law and I told her that I really never wanted to be pregnant again, but if for some reason, I would get pregnant, I was finally to the point where it wouldn't drive me completely over the edge. Apparently God had just been waiting for me to say the word, because one month later I discovered that, indeed, I was pregnant! You may wonder why, after all of our kids and as easily as we seem to reproduce, we were so shocked...well, the previous May, Ryan underwent a certain procedure that is supposed stop these sorts of surprises...hmmmmm....nothing is impossible with God. So, if anyone asks if we're done now, we just tell them that it really is up to God. We have learned that for us, this is a part of our lives that must be surrendered to Him. And what a blessing our BOY has been. Preston Kale arrived October 6, 2008. He has fit right in to our family. We love him very much.
In April, Ryan was given a great job offer at Tween Brands (Limited too and Justice for Girls). The greatest thing, in my opinion, about the job is that his office is literally 1 mile from our house. This is such a welcome change for our family, as we had become more and more accustomed to the hospital keeping Ryan at work for extremely long work hours. Now, even if he is running late, all it takes is 4 minutes and he is home. This also makes him more available for school activities, not to mention dinner at home with our family. What a blessing this has been for our family.
In June, Jenna and Savannah celebrated their 2nd birthday. This past year, they have been nothing but fun! They play well together, talk to each other, look out for each other...and excuse my bias, but they are so darn cute right now. Both of them are still a little bit on the small side (Jenna finally hit 20 pounds a few months ago, and Savannah is just a couple pounds bigger), but they overall are very healthy with no sign of problems with asthma or upper respiratory illness beyond the normal scope of childhood colds.
During the summer, Katelyn and Raegan went to church camp with my mom and dad and had a great time. We also journeyed to upstate New York to our annual Thousand Island vacation. And, then at the beginning of August, Ryan took Katelyn, Raegan and Marin to family camp where he used to go as a kid. I kept my big pregnant stomach at home with the twins during that little excursion.
In August we celebrated Marin's 4th birthday. Marin has been waiting her whole life to turn four! This year, because of her age, she got to join a dance class as well as join Cubbies (Awana club for preschoolers). Marin also goes to preschool 3 afternoons per week; she loves to go to school and is very outgoing and bright. Ryan and I are often amazed at what that kid knows and says. She is also, of all of our children, the most accident prone. Just recently (3 weeks ago), Marin was playing upstairs with her sisters and I heard a big thump and a loud, heart-wrenching scream: The Steele family's first broken bone. And boy was it a doozy...She broke both of the bones in her left arm, one of them almost protruding through the skin. Fortunately, they were able to set it without surgery (although it did require two doses of morphine and a sedative to get the job done.) She actually seemed quite ok with the world at the end the day, when all was said and done. :) Now we just have to monitor, with lots of xrays, whether or not the bones are moving too much. They have slightly, but apparently not enough to warrant surgery....thank goodness!
Katelyn celebrated her 7th birthday in September. She is in first grade and doing very well. She is a very well-rounded, well-adjusted kid. She pretty much likes everyone and likes to do everything, and usually with a happy heart! Along with her sister Raegan, she is also taking both Jazz and Tap classes. Recently Katelyn has really become quite the talker...I find myself telling her that I don't necessarily always need the running commentary about anything and everything she is doing at any given time. Oh boy...I can't wait until she's a teenager.....
In October, Ryan and I also celebrated our 8th anniversary. Although, thanks to Preston, we both were a little drowsy on our date, we are blessed to be able to celebrate a great marriage. We are very happy together.
Overall, Ryan is really doing very well, although his health has been a bit more up and down this year than I prefer. He likes his job "pretty well" (as he would say). I have been busy at home with the kids and the house. Overall, I like being a stay at home mom, although next year (if we don't have another baby) I will (if the Lord wills it) begin persuing something in piano and music again. I really kind of miss it. Together, we attend a small group Bible study and consider many of those people like family to us.
Well, that's about it...thanks for taking the time to allow us to catch up a bit with this letter during this busy season. I do pray that you would find time to truly take in the wonder of Christmas and try to grasp the enormity of the love of God. We really have been truly, truly blessed.
Love,
Ryan, Kayleen, Katelyn, Raegan, Marin, Jenna, Savannah and Preston.
p.s. - feel free to e-mail and/or catch up with us on Facebook. We'd love to hear from you!
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