Reminding us of winter last.
Snow and sleet and freezing rain,
Temperature that numb the brain
Remind us its that time of year
When thoughts should turn to Seasons Cheer.
Another year has now gone by
And so its time for us to try
To share with you some of the stuff
That made our lives both smooth and rough.
The year was filled with "mostly" good
We probably wouldn't change it if we could.
Jennifer Ann, born just last year,
Will have her birthday, and it's clear
That Christmas will be a little more bright
'Cause she'll be with us on that special night
When we celebrate the birth of the
Son Of He who gives Blessings to everyone.
"Jennie," has made the greatest change
Experienced in our home and range.
She's as spoiled, as spoiled, as spoiled, can be.
She likes being Queen of all she can see.
She has six servants of assorted size.
Mom and Dad and four other guys.
She'll have no need to learn how to talk,
Tho she has recently learned how to walk.
She need only point at what she desires
And she's attended at once by one of her "Squires."
She loves to eat all kinds of food
For eating she's always in the "mood."
We know she's a girl cause her plumbing is strange,
But we're all still waiting for her to change.
With crying, grunts, and that kind of noise,
She still behaves like "one of the boys."
Shopping's been different for Christmas this fall
Cause one of the gifts will be a cute doll.
Matthew, now six, is enjoying this season.
Anticipation and gifts are part of the reason.
To Jennie, Natt is her favorite brother.
Tho fickle, she'll happily go to another.
He's always been our baby "so small"
But he's started to grow. He's really quite tall.
In school he does all the things that he should.
His work and his papers arc always marked "GOOD."
In behavior he's still the best in the clan.
He's a serious, sensitive, proud little man.
He tries his best to please Mother and Dad,
For this they are always really quite glad.
Scott Lee, at nine, is quite different from Matt.
He has his own way and that simply is that.
Rules, regulations to him don't apply.
His basic reaction begins with a "why?"
One of the cleverest kids in the school
Still he suffers cause they want him to live by the rule.
Scott's active in Scouts Right now he's in Cubs.
He likes to be boss so he starts lots of clubs.
Organizations, and Rosters, Pass Words and Flags,
Papers and pencils and titles and tags.
He's really quite helpful in work and in play
As long as everyone does it his way.
Brad, the behemoth, just turned fourteen now.
Joy to him is to sit down and eat a whole cow.
At 185, he's five feet ten.
He works so at eating that he's hungry again.
A scholar at school he isn't guise yet,
But personality makes him a Big Teacher's Pet.
Eating, sleeping and sports keep him alive,
But he hasn't cleaned his room since '75.
He moved to the basement to escape the debris,
But he quickly called out "it is following me!"
In football he achieved some moderate fames
His yardage was over 100 per game.
Greg remains master of all that he does.
A stereo freak he gets joy from a buzz
or a squeak or tone or something like that.
To us it all sounds like the squawk of a cat.
At 15 his grades are still perfect in school.
He's right at the age when all must be cool.
He still plays the piano, sings in choirs and plays ball.
It looks like he's going to be a bit tall.
He's right at 6 feet, the tall for our home.
He must force his food down cause he isn't quite grown.
Force feeding, weight lifting, pure protein and such,
So he'll make it thru football without use of a crutch.
Jackie's still busy with the same old chore.
But Jennifer has added distractions galore.
Each routine assignment looms suddenly great.
Cause Jennifer demands so much of each date,
With six people working, playing, and messing the house,
She has more than most would demand of their spouse.
With Jennifer she has now got her girl,
But she's still a baby and her hair doesn't curl.
But Jackie can sense those special joys
That really can't come from one of the boys.
A remodeled basement - a new little daughter,
Has really kept Jackie in a lot of "Hot Water."
J.C. hasn't much new to proclaim.
No trips round the world, the scenery's the same.
A switch in Church work he did recently make.
He's moved from the Branch to work in the Stake.
The work doesn't change much from day to day,
But to him his work is still more like play.
Our family remains quite happy and strong.
We hope that our letter finds nothing is wrong
With you and your family during the Christmas Season.
And we hope you will join us for the special reason
To give thanks for our Blessings and also the love
Which come to us all from our Father above.
Our message's intended to express you Good Cheer
And Joy and Success throughout all next year.
While we must remain these many miles apart
We want you to know that there's place in our heart
For friendship and love that we have shared with you.
Perhaps you will remember and feel that way too.
