Merry Christmas 2021!!

 Dear Family and Friends,

    Christmas Greetings to you and yours!  While 2021 has been a recovery year from Covid 2020, life still moved on. We went on vacation to the beach twice, the girls and I went to TN to the LDSHE homeschool and youth conference, Ed, Jon and I went to our first NASCAR race,we visited the circus, the Renaissance Fair, arcade, Silver Dollar City and of course we played at the lake.  

Here are some individual highlights from our year: 

    Ed continues to be a hard worker, skilled in many things that make our life easy.  He just has a knack for fixing things, from the hot tub to his truck, to electrical.  We finished a bedroom for Jon at the beginning of the room.  Ed desperately tried to put up our above-ground pool, but his life was not so easy at the time, and he ended up with heart bypass surgery in June.  This was the biggest thing that happened to us this year, but his heart is stronger than ever now.  He very much enjoys working with the anesthesia group here in Clinton, MO. 

    I have had several projects started, but get distracted raising the 6 kids we had living with us this year.  I was called as Relief Society President in our ward a year ago at Christmas time, and have worked towards a new normal, post-Covid.  I have been pretty scattered this year driving kids places, but continue gardening, reading, exercising, cleaning, and doing puzzles.  My garden was the biggest I've ever had and produced lots of squash, tomatoes, and cucumbers.  Ed built me several raised beds, and I love them. I'm currently getting ready to order and start my seeds next month. 

    Rebecca got married in January to Daniel Rodrigues.  She has enjoyed being a happy homemaker, going to her university classes, and caring for her kitten. We are so grateful they live close so that we can visit them often.  She is starting her senior year at Missouri State. 

    Jonathan continues to be a comedian.  He graduated from high school early and finished his Eagle Project.  We were not emotionally prepared for him to be done early, but he turned 18 in July and wanted to get ready to serve a mission. He has been working at Burger King saving money for his mission.  He was called to labor in the Ogden, UT mission and reports on Feb. 14, 2022.  He has been a big help to me, especially driving kids places, and has upped his cooking game.  He also played Jafar in "Aladdin" and was the Wizard in "Once Upon a Mattress" at our fine arts studio, In The Light.  We will enjoy his presence for a bit longer and miss him tremendously when he leaves, but at least we can Facetime weekly.  

    Savannah got her permit to drive, and she has immersed herself in musical theater and dance.  This year she has performed in Aladdin, Once Upon a Mattress, Holiday Inn, the Princess and the Pauper ballet, and Puffs (Hufflepuffs).  Savannah lettered, in our homeschool, from swim team, musical theater, and dance.  She goes to high school part-time and homeschools part-time.  She is working on increasing her artistic abilities and is looking forward to her Portfolio class this winter.  

    Bella has also immersed herself in musical theater, dance and cheer.  She was the genie in "Aladdin", the white rabbit in "Alice in Wonderland", and the stage manager in "White Christmas".  She also performed in "Matilda", the play Puffs, a Narnia ballet, and Princess and the Pauper ballet.  She continues to homeschool.  A new LDS, virtual co-op started, thanks to Covid, and she has made several friends there as well. 

    We fostered 3 siblings this year.  One moved back to his grandparents, but we plan on adopting Franklin, 13, and Jeannie, 5, in early 2022.  Franklin loves archery, connecting with friends on social media, makes good grades, and he recently discovered dystopian novels, which he loves.  He also performed in "Matilda" and "Puffs" and joined Boy Scouts.  Jeannie is an active 5-year-old.  She does well in pre-school, and we work on academics a little bit at home.  She performed in the Childrens' Theater in "Bugz" and "40 Winks", as well as dance class.  She is a go-go girl and loves to go anywhere anyone will take her.  We love our bonus kids.  

    My dad taught me that the only thing constant in life is change.  Change can be hard.  Change can be good.  This year we have been nostalgic missing friends we no longer live next to.  We are also so grateful for the new friends we have made.  Friends and family make the world go round and we are so grateful to have you in our lives.  God bless you this holiday season!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Love, The Hortons

 

.