Mo's Merry Meanderings

 Joyous greetings of the season!                                                                  

We hope this finds everyone healthy, happy, and prepared to welcome the birth of our Savior. It’s so reassuring to pause and remember the reason for the season when frenzy and stress try to take over our lives. We love you, Jesus, and we welcome you with open hearts and homes!

 

We’ve had a relatively quiet, uneventful year. We’re still enjoying our Boo, who turned 2 in August, taking her for several walks every day. She’s become a great condo dog but needs plenty of exercise, which is good for Tony and me as it keeps us moving out in the fresh air. Tony serves on the finance committee for our condo association, while I keep busy with Precept Bible study and serve as secretary to our condo board of directors. And, of course, 10 minutes away are our 6 young treasures, 4 of whom now tower over their grandmother.

Zoey, 16 on Dec. 28^th, is a sophomore who continues to play and love volleyball. She is on her church youth group music team where she plays violin. Zoey is an excellent driver and will take her license test on her birthday. Leo, 14, is having a great basketball season. He and Josh are rebuilding Josh’s grandfather’s ancient farm Jeep in their garage. It’s a great way for dad and son to bond while Leo learns how to maintain an automobile. Ruby, 13¾, is in her second year of drill team at school and has achieved the rank of sergeant (or as Maggie calls her, sultan J), which is quite an achievement as she is only in 8^th grade. She does a graceful split and has a high kick that would rival the Rockettes. Etta, 12 on Jan. 7^th, is tall and willowy, and she loves clothes and anything sparkly. She is a sweet, loving young lady with an astonishingly voluminous vocabulary. Etta and Maggie are best buds, being only 10 days apart in age, and they both have the prettiest soprano voices. Maggie, 12 on Jan. 17^th, has developed a love for and proficiency of the ukulele. She diligently teaches herself new chords and songs, and she’s developed quite a repertoire. And then there’s Sam, 10, also known as “the one with the hair” J. Sam has a headful of the thickest, fastest-growing hair known to mankind, which leaves him vulnerable to lots of affectionate head rubs. He is very athletic and loves all sports, especially football. He just finished his second season of flag football and has impressive skills. Sam and Maggie will once again play Upward basketball in the new year. All 6 kids are thriving at Founders Classical Academy of Corinth, an excellent charter school very close to their homes, and they’re all very close friends. The 5 oldest kids are very active in their church youth group, and they all have tons of great friends.

Dave, Jenni, Josh, and Erika are doing great in their various endeavors. Dave is still teaching physics, engineering, and robotics at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas. Jenni enjoys her role as mom/chauffeur while growing her doTERRA essential oils business. Josh is in his second year as graphic design manager for GMC Financial and is flourishing there. Erika was promoted to lead teacher at her Christian preschool, where she uses her creativity and love of children daily to impact young lives.

 Tony and I continue to love retirement and living at Water’s Edge. We have a great group of friends here, and the scenery is so lovely, relaxing, and enjoyable. Right now I’m watching a red-headed woodpecker in a tree outside our living room window which will soon be chased away by frolicking squirrels. We also see numerous coyotes, bobcats, armadillos, raccoons, bird varieties, wild turkeys, and snakes (Ugh!) on the property, as our home is on Lewisville Lake, surrounded by Army Corps of Engineers forest.

 May the Lord bless all of you in 2023 and beyond. Even if we don’t get to see each other in person, know that you are in our hearts and prayers. We love hearing from you, and our door is always open for a visit. Merry Christmas!