Dear Family & Friends,
Well, it’s that time of year again where we look back onto the year almost gone by. We relive each joy while remembering each tear. We’ve had some awesome highs and some very heartbreaking lows this year. Exciting firsts and fun in the familiar! Failed plans that didn’t quite work out, but hopes for bigger and better next time around! Like everyone else we’ve experienced pretty much a roller coaster of emotions and adventures this year! Things that grow us as individuals and also as a family! We pray this year has been good to all of you...We pray that even with the lows, you’ve experienced treasured highs!
This is only our second Family Christmas Letter and I’m still no expert at how this is done...Haha! So bear with me as I take you on our family’s 2017 journey…
Victoria - Our adult child is 19 years old and her year off has come to an end! She is now a Freshman in college! She is majoring in Theater and minoring in Social Work...a couple months ago that was switched around the other way...Haha! Her year off though was a very full one! She found a different job working with children and is fantastic at it! She completed a year of Religious Studies! She also performed in the musical Beauty and the Beast as one of those “silly girls” who have a crush on Gaston! In addition to attending college and working, she’s also added dance classes to her schedule...She likes being busy! Victoria also has a young man in her life...His name is Jacob and they’ve been an item for a little over a year now. He’s alright...I guess! Haha...No, he’s a good kid and we’re happy for them! They actually met while they were both in high school in band class. I guess he thought she was pretty cute then but was just too shy to let her know...Awwwwwe...Sooo cute, right? Anyway when she went to work at our local theater, he also worked there as a supervisor. He’s a year older than she is. So Jacob got his second chance and they quickly became friends and then fell in love...Gross, I know...but sweet at the same time! I’m a bit more ok with this whole thing than dad is though...Haha!
On a more serious note, our precious girl has contracted Lyme disease. This will now always be a part of her. At the moment it’s in a sort of dormant state and hopefully will remain that way! People often go their whole lives living with Lyme and it never ever flares up as long as they manage their health correctly. Through friends we found a great specialist and are thankful! Please pray for her continued good health!
Jordan - Just turned 17 years old this month! He also got his driver’s license this month too! Gasp...Ahhh...Not ready for that just yet! He’s a Junior now in high school and is involved in all things band! If band was an olympic sport, he’d get all the medals!!! He auditioned for and made it into the highest level of the high school bands which is called Wind Ensemble. Of course he was very involved with Marching Band again this year and they were awesome as always! This year he is participating with both jazz and pep bands as well. He is also involved in an after school student led instrumental music group which holds different events in and around our community. Basically his view is, “Band is life!” He does have some other interests outside of band...but just a smidge...Haha! He’s taking a marketing class and is still learning business stuff so that he can take over the world one day! He also seems to have the gift of bartering...which has been interesting! We’ll see where that leads...Haha! He’s also started taking Spanish online recently just because he enjoys it.
This is only our second Family Christmas Letter and I’m still no expert at how this is done...Haha! So bear with me as I take you on our family’s 2017 journey…
Victoria - Our adult child is 19 years old and her year off has come to an end! She is now a Freshman in college! She is majoring in Theater and minoring in Social Work...a couple months ago that was switched around the other way...Haha! Her year off though was a very full one! She found a different job working with children and is fantastic at it! She completed a year of Religious Studies! She also performed in the musical Beauty and the Beast as one of those “silly girls” who have a crush on Gaston! In addition to attending college and working, she’s also added dance classes to her schedule...She likes being busy! Victoria also has a young man in her life...His name is Jacob and they’ve been an item for a little over a year now. He’s alright...I guess! Haha...No, he’s a good kid and we’re happy for them! They actually met while they were both in high school in band class. I guess he thought she was pretty cute then but was just too shy to let her know...Awwwwwe...Sooo cute, right? Anyway when she went to work at our local theater, he also worked there as a supervisor. He’s a year older than she is. So Jacob got his second chance and they quickly became friends and then fell in love...Gross, I know...but sweet at the same time! I’m a bit more ok with this whole thing than dad is though...Haha!
On a more serious note, our precious girl has contracted Lyme disease. This will now always be a part of her. At the moment it’s in a sort of dormant state and hopefully will remain that way! People often go their whole lives living with Lyme and it never ever flares up as long as they manage their health correctly. Through friends we found a great specialist and are thankful! Please pray for her continued good health!
Jordan - Just turned 17 years old this month! He also got his driver’s license this month too! Gasp...Ahhh...Not ready for that just yet! He’s a Junior now in high school and is involved in all things band! If band was an olympic sport, he’d get all the medals!!! He auditioned for and made it into the highest level of the high school bands which is called Wind Ensemble. Of course he was very involved with Marching Band again this year and they were awesome as always! This year he is participating with both jazz and pep bands as well. He is also involved in an after school student led instrumental music group which holds different events in and around our community. Basically his view is, “Band is life!” He does have some other interests outside of band...but just a smidge...Haha! He’s taking a marketing class and is still learning business stuff so that he can take over the world one day! He also seems to have the gift of bartering...which has been interesting! We’ll see where that leads...Haha! He’s also started taking Spanish online recently just because he enjoys it.
Kaylie - Will be 15 in a few months and is now a Freshman in high school! It’s crazy to think this girl is already in high school! Continuing with her love of art, she is still very involved and taking art classes this year. She is quite creative and very talented! She’s even taking an advanced art class! This past year she was involved with the high school’s winter drumline. She was a part of their actor/movement line and played one of their spooky shadows! The drumline had one of their best years and not only scored first place at State Finals but made it to World Finals and placed 5th! This is a pretty huge deal! We were all very excited for her and them!
Grace - Is about to be 13 years old here in just a minute! Ahhh...Not another teenager!!! She’s in the 7th grade and is in a different middle school this year, than last. She’s having a wonderful new school year so far! She says the best yet! She’s involved in Choir which has a lot to do with her positivity and happiness!!! She’s made some new friends and is looking forward to new adventures! She loves homemade everything...from cookies to glittery slime...Haha! She’s thinking about auditioning for the school’s talent show this Spring, for which she’s been practicing a couple different songs. I’m sure she’ll make, she has a great voice! She’d also really love to learn how to play the ukulele!
Isabella - Is 11 years old and in the 5th grade. She still totally wants to be a professional drummer and skateboarder one day! Which you can tell by her love for Converse and backwards baseball caps...Haha! She’s still very involved with softball and her scouting troop with the American Heritage Girls. Her softball team came in second place this year after working very hard during the Playoffs and Championship games! And, she even earned her softball pin for which she worked towards for two years for the American Heritage Girls! She also had quite the exciting year in her walk with the Lord. She was finally baptized after a few years of asking to be and has faithfully joined me in sidewalk counseling. There are days where she gets me up and says, “Come on, let’s go! Let’s go save babies and help Moms!” Her servant heart is very special!
Joshua - Is 9 years old and in the 3rd grade. He is all about anything and everything Star Wars or Minecraft! From video games to Lego sets and even drawing free hand different scenes with amazing details! This boy is seriously talented! He’s finally grown out of Thomas the Train, but sometimes will pretend to hold on just a bit longer for mom and dad’s sake...haha! He participated in baseball over the summer again and did super awesome, but then participated during the fall season and really wasn’t that excited...Haha! I’m thinking maybe it could have been because there was older boys playing too and that threw him off. He may or may not continue this upcoming season...we’ll see! Joshua also had a big year...He was baptized as well! He was very excited and giggled the whole time! It really was so precious!
Bryanna - Our youngest little lady is 6 and ¾...Haha! Technically a bit older, but I’m not going to argue with her! She’s in the 1st grade and full of very loud energy...very very loud! She’s like dynamite...small but explosive...Haha! She’s got this girly girl side served with a nice sized helping of out of control! Like her two front teeth...She knocked them both out at different times, so by like 4 she had no top front teeth! I figured that by the time her adult teeth started growing in, she’d be a more calmer and gentler girl...Ha! Nope! This Summer as soon as one of those teeth started coming in...And I’m talking just a tiny little nub was poking through her gums, she busted her mouth against the monkey bars and chipped her tooth! Her adult tooth...actually just a tiny little nub...Sigh! Anyway our dentist fixed it and it looks ok, but holy moly! She’s our stunt girl...no fear! She’s also continuing with dance and softball and is involved with the American Heritage Girls as well. Our little stinker was also baptized and is very excited to learn and grow more and more in the Lord!
John - Our tiniest handsome is a whole 16 months old! Whew...That went by sooo fast...Too fast! This year he hit many milestones and experienced all sorts of firsts! His first foods, first words, first crawls, first tooth, first stands, first walks, first runs and jumps...and even climbs! Sigh...My heart is treasuring and savoring it all!!! He’s seeming more and more like a big boy than our little baby boy as each month passes. But, I’m pretty sure he’s going to be stuck with being the “baby” forever...Haha! He’s pretty babied by everyone and has lots of us to meet his every demand! Which he isn’t very shy about voicing! He’s quite the character! He loves music and dancing! He could be totally asleep, but if he can hear some jams, he’ll start dancing in his sleep! He loves cars, trucks and of course Thomas! Our little guy was baptized this year as well...What a gift from God!
Gary - He has had lots of adventures with his business...A good friend also became his partner, new employees, new clients and just this month he got an office! He does still work from home, but most of his work day is now at the office not too far away. It’s an exciting part of the growth God is doing! He’s also started a new fitness routine...We want to make sure he sticks around for a very looong time! We kinda like him!
Heartbreakingly this Summer, in July Gary’s dad Fred took his own life. This has been very hard on him and his family, as you could imagine. Gary goes through waves of emotions...Please be in prayer for him, his siblings and their families.
Me (Christina) - I’m still homeschooling the youngest kiddos and love it! Yes, there are days I’d like to quit my job, change my name and run away to some tropical island somewhere, but most days I wouldn’t change a thing! My heart health is good and I have graduated to going in to the heart dr’s office only twice a year now instead of 3 or 4! My favorite things in the world are anything and everything that has to do with my grande sized family! They keep me busy busy busy and I wouldn’t trade that for anything!
Our family wishes nothing but happiness for you and yours this new year! May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
Lots of Love,
- The Morris Crew
Gary, Christina (Tina), Victoria, Jordan, Kaylie, Grace, Isabella, Joshua, Bryanna & John
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