Home

King’s 2003 Christmas Letter

Acrobat PDF version including photos

Another December, another warm greeting from our house to yours!  Here are some newsworthy events from Art & Ronda King and children this year.

Jan. There are certain questions that pediatricians ask young children, and parents hold their breath hoping their child gives the politically correct answer. If they fail, the parent may get a lecture or worse.  The doctor asks Theron: "..and when you ride your bike, what do you wear?" Theron promptly answers "A Helmet!" The doctor smiles, the mother smiles with relief. Then the doctor asks Willa the same question. Shaking her head emphatically, Willa replies; "I don't need a helmet. I never fall down! I never fall down!"

Feb Taylor cleans the garage and happens to be holding a roller skate in his hand when a rat scampers into view. Taylor hurls the skate at the rat and strikes him a death blow.  Telling Dad the story he glows with pride.  Art takes a weeklong business trip to Japan and enjoys the ice sculptures in Hokkaido.

Mar After a late night of spring skiing on Mt. Hood,  Dad carries Caleb up the stairs to bed.  He raises his sleepy head and whispers; "Daddy, can we go skiing again tomorrow?"

Apr We picnic at Cape Lookout with our friends the Balasingham family.  Our nine children and their six make a wonderful day at the beach.

May Brenden enters his 16^th year with a new drivers’ license, providing much needed windshield-time relief for Mom.

June In the most wonderful news of the year, Ronda gives her husband an early Father’s day gift: news that a new baby is on the way.  We rejoice.

July Bethani tours Europe with her music group.  Ronda takes the children camping at the beach in a yurt.  Sierra gets her braces off and is seen smiling around the house enjoying her "slippery" teeth. Theron dives off the backyard swing and breaks his arm.

Aug Art takes Brenden and David Green to a Promise Keepers weekend of worship at the Rose Garden Arena.  Taylor gets a mouthful of braces.  Ronda feels the first baby flutter kicks.

Sep Saith Art: “When you have nine children and a wife nearly six months pregnant, it’s a good time to take a 40 day camp trip, don’t you think?”  We take a 40 day camp trip.  Two vans and a pop-up tent trailer through Montana then south through Yellowstone Park and on to Baja Mexico.  We camp our way home through the California redwoods.  What family memories!

Oct We stand by proudly while Elissa and her boyfriend David Green are baptized in a creek near Walla Walla.  Home school gets rolling for all the children except Elissa who is in college.  Bethani starts learning the viola. 

Nov We enjoy Willa’s joyous 4^th birthday.  Brenden gets a part time grocery store job.  Just before Thanksgiving David Green drives from Walla Walla to meet with Ronda and Art.  He asks for the hand of Elissa in marriage.  With our blessing he rushes back to Walla Walla to ask the Big Question.  We enjoy Thanksgiving with the newly engaged couple who plan a March, 2004 wedding.

Dec Children’s basketball practices and games start revving up.  Basketball sure-shot Sierra is thrilled to be playing with her team.  Cherished family Christmas traditions begin to unfold.

Wrap-up Ronda blossoms with curves and counts down the weeks till January 11.  We happily prepare to welcome a new baby and a new son-in-law into the family.  Ronda seeks advice: Just how does one plan a daughters’ wedding while recovering from childbirth and caring for a newborn?  Please write or call with your suggestions.  Even if you have no suggestions, we would still love to hear from you.

With Love from all of us: 

Art, Ronda, Elissa (20), Brenden (16), Bethani (16), Sierra (13), Hannah (11), Taylor (9), Caleb (7), Theron (6), Willa (4) and ??

Merry Christmas!

Favorite Books of 2003