Our 2002 Christmas Letter
Acrobat PDF version including photo
Greetings friends! Here are highlights from the past year at Ronda and Art King’s house.
Jan We travel to Walla Walla and celebrate the 100th birthday of Ronda’s Grandmother. Grandma Rigby enjoys a big party with all her children, all 11 grandchildren, and most of her 23 great-grand children.
Feb Children’s basketball games fill many an evening. Hannah gets braces, the fourth of our daughters wired up. Our orthodontist sends us pictures of the new yacht we’ve funded.
March We rent an Oregon coast house for a Spring Break getaway with the whole family. 2-year old Willa is potty trained, leaving Ronda and Art at a loss after diapering children since Ronald Reagan’s first term.
AprilRonda plays her flute, Bethani her oboe, and Art sings in the choir for the Bethany Bible Church Easter services - inspiring. Art and Sierra enjoy Mt. Ellis Academy alumni weekend and 100th anniversary hoopla.
May Ronda’s Parents and 100-year old Grandma visit us. We celebrate a 4-generation Mother’s Day.
June Three graduates to beam over: Bethani and Brenden from 8th grade at TVJA, and Elissa from 12th grade at Milo Academy.
July Bethani leaves for a 5 week immersion Spanish language class in Mexico. She returns home hablando muy bien. Excitement arrives with our new next-door neighbors, the Balasingam family. They have six young boys, great playmates all.
August We spend 10 days at a secluded cabin in Montana. Art’s parents and two brothers join us for part of the time. We explore the Lewis and Clark Caverns, float the Missouri River, and put many miles on Uncle Larry’s ATV.
Sep Elissa starts a new phase of life at Walla Walla College. Brenden and Sierra start in 9th and 6th grade at TVJA. Ronda is home-schooling Bethani, Hannah, Taylor and Caleb. Willa and Theron remain blissfully free.
Oct Caleb learns to ride a unicycle. Ronda and Art take part in a very valuable 4-week class called “CHIP” (Cardiac Health Improvement Program).
Nov After destroying many regular bikes, Taylor gets a rugged trick bike. Watch out park benches.
Dec Craft expert Hannah knits or sews presents for everyone in the family. Christmas music fills the piano room. Christmas cooking fills the kitchen.
Wrap-up If you’ve got this far, drop us a card or email with the stories of your life this year. We will enjoy hearing from you!
Merry Christmas!
Favorite Books of 2002
Read-aloud with the children: Watership Down by Adams, Paris Underground by Shiber
Art: Annals of a Former World by McPhee
Ronda: A Name of her Own by Kirkpatrick
Elissa: The Big Fisherman by Douglas
Brenden: Aztec by Jennings
Bethani: The Robe by Douglas, Sheep in a Jeep by Shaw
Sierra: Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry and Let the Circle be Unbroken by Taylor
Hannah: Silver Chief by O’brien
Taylor: A Home for Sandy by McAdams