Welcome 2011; Goodbye 2010

"Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go because it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go."

~ Brooks Atkinson

2010 Family Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

We hope this Christmas letter finds each of you well! Here are our recent updates for 2010:

Joseph enjoys gardening, wood-working (his current project is building a bunk-bed for the girls), and shooting guns with Annalee and Josh. Joseph was released after serving 3 years as the ward Elder’s Quorum President and now enjoys serving in the scouting program and 11-year old Sunday School. He is still employed as the Regional Purchasing/Inventory Controller with Ferguson Enterprises.

Annalee continues teaching 35 private violin students (5:30- 7:30 a.m. and 1– 3:00 p.m.); she also became a Pampered Chef consultant which she enjoys; she also loves reading, baking and camping with our family. Her biggest regret of 2010: When Emma lost her second tooth and faithfully placed it under her pillow, Annalee forgot until it was time to wake up Emma for school…so she ransacked Emma’s piggy bank for a buck. Nope, she didn’t win the Mother of the Year Award this year, but she realizes a huge part of parenting is improvisingJ

Josh (age 10) received his Arrow of Light (the highest cub scout award), enjoys Advanced Placement math, and started playing the cello this year. His Dad also taught him how to ski, and he played baseball with the KC Royals this year! This year for the first time, he bore his testimony in fast and testimony meeting at church. Our favorite quote by Josh in 2010: “Mom and Dad, I feel the Holy Ghost telling me I shouldn’t go see that movie.” {referring to his Father/Son date to go see Harry Potter7.} We love that he calls home voluntarily from his friends house, “just to check in.” Now if he would just refrain from mummifying his sister’s Barbies by wrapping them in toilet paper and duct tape…

Emma (age 8) chose to be baptized this year and continues to love spelling, violin and soccer. She has a very creative imagination, and has an imaginary friend whom she affectionately refers to as ‘Sir Laurentzen.’ Our favorite quotes by Emma in 2010: “Mom, do you think I am bursting with talent?” and {Note handwritten by Emma, which we found coming home from a date; taped to the front door, it read:} “Sarah (aunt/babysitter) and I have been transported to another world, but don’t worry—the other kids are safe.”

Caleb (age 5) started kindergarten this fall and is enjoying it immensely. (Mostly the privilege of riding the bus.) He loves legos and superheroes, and really, really loves to pray. (As evidenced by the fact that at any given dinner, we have an average of 3 prayers.) Our favorite quotes by Caleb in 2010: “Satan doesn’t have a very good future, does he? But we sure do, don’t we, Dad?” and “Since Jesus was killed on the cross, I’m really looking forward to dying some other way.”

Elizabeth (age 3) is such a joy. She is playing the violin (begging daily to practice) and has started learning “I’m a Happy Monkey”/ “Mississippi Hot Dog”. She is in a children’s singing class and thoroughly enjoys it. She is perfectly happy if she can play ‘babies’ and change her clothes hourly. Favorite quote by Lizzie in 2010: {During Tithing Settlement}: “Bishop, don’t litter and don’t say bad words.”

God bless all of our dear friends and loved ones this holiday season.

Love,

The Kelly Family

(www.josephandannalee.blogspot.com and jnakelly97@gmail.com )

Meridian Magazine - A Christmas Story about the Provo Tabernacle

Meridian Magazine - A Christmas Story about the Provo Tabernacle

Trust me... this is worth reading, AND it's much more miraculous than a silhouette of Jesus in a tortilla chip selling on E-Bay for thousands of dollars...

Our Christmas Joy

Tonight (Friday, Dec. 17) my almost 11-year old was over at a friend's having fun. He came home after the other little ones were in bed, and when he found out that he missed family prayer, he was upset. He got after me for not calling him home so he could kneel down with us...

This is the same boy who waited months for HP7 to come out, and then quietly pulled us aside an hour before he and the Mister were going to see it to say, "Mom and Dad, I feel the Holy Ghost telling me I shouldn't go see that movie."

This is the same kid who saved 3 weeks worth of allowance only to turn around and donate every penny and dollar of it to his elementary school's Coins for Christmas charity last week...

This special boy fasted longer than I did last Sunday... and he bore his testimony publically that same day (for his very first time). Without any bribes... on his own accord.

And when we were getting ready to go see a matinee recently, I wanted to save a few bucks by sticking a candycane in his pocket for a treat... he shook his head at me and said, "No, mom. That's not honest. The sign says 'no outside food or drink allowed.'"

He was born on Christmas night after a harrowing and difficult 22-hour labor. His name in Hebrew means "JESUS." (We chose the name Joshua long before we were even pregnant.) He is our firstborn son. His mortal father's name is Joseph. And I think someday God has a special mission for him. He is excited to be a full-time missionary someday. He tells us this. I love what he is teaching me. And I am extremely inadequate to be his mother. He is raising me.

Meridian Magazine - Depression and the Holidays

Meridian Magazine - Depression and the Holidays

Christmas quote

"Though He had worn a kingly crown in the eternal courts on high, He chose to breathe as His first mortal breath, the stench of a stable."

~Bruce R. McConkie

Love & Logic Lesson for the Mister

I drive a 1999 Dodge Caravan. Oh yeah, baby. It'ssss righteoussss...

As you can surmise, it needs a little t.l.c. from time to time. A few weeks ago, the heat stopped working and I have dreaded every errand and car pooling activity because of it. As I'm driving, I tell myself constantly, "Think of the Martin Hand Cart Company..." and it makes me grateful for my vehicle, with or without heat.

However, I have asked the Mister several times to get it fixed. "Honey, I havebeen driving your 4 babies around in the frigid negative temperatures for weeks now! Pleeeeease get it fixed!", I plead.

What's a girl to do?

I did what any faithful, desperate, *chilly*, non-mechanical Latter-day Saint sister with a well-meaning, but distracted husband would do...

I called the Home Teacher Hotline.

The faithful home teachers came on Sunday evening and as they finished their message, the senior companion said, "Well, Kelly family, is there anything we can do for you?"

As the Mister starts to dutifully shake his head, I raise an index finger and say,
"Yes, actually." I try to sound matter-of-fact. And I proceed to explain the heating issue in the van. And he promised to bring reinforcements and return the following day. (The Mister's jaw drops, but he remains silent.)

But guess what?

The Mister took Monday afternoon off work to begin repairing the van.

Now we're getting some where! No need to nag anymore...