1999 News from Ronda and Art King
Merry Christmas from our little family to your family! Newsworthy events from our year are found here.
New Years 99 We enjoy a visit from Gary and Kathy Thayer and family. Gary teaches us tie-dye and t-shirt colors bloom. Bethani gets a good teacher and starts having fun with her oboe.
Feb Art travels to Puerto Rico on business and enjoys a couple days on the island of Culebra. Art and Ronda take a romantic evening of skiing together. We mourn the passing of Uncle Art King, the wonderful man who’s name Art has always been proud to carry.
March We join church friends snow camping at Big Lake on Santiam pass. There is 15 feet of snow and much fun. Elissa treks to Mexico with the church youth group for a very memorable mission trip.
April A New Baby is on the way and Ronda gets sick. We rejoice about a new baby, and we are glad because a new drug (Zofran) helps Ronda get through without IV therapy. Grandma Lauretta visits us, giving Ronda encouragement. "My boot bit me." wails Caleb. We find a wasp in his boot.
May We purchase a 10-year old car for Elissa to do school taxi chores. Elissa learns to drive a stick shift and her Dad moans of whiplash. Sierra flies to Washington DC with Grandma Betty and Grandpa Grover to spend 10 days with her cousins. Ronda gets well on May 21 and we rejoice! We spend a fine Sabbath at Chamooeg Park with our friends the Logans. We build a new playhouse in the woods behind our house where the children slumber many a warm summer night. While we rush to get ready for church, Theron opens a large, nearly full can of Crisco and smears it everywhere, yes everywhere. Elissa tours California with the school bell choir.
June Taylor turns 5 and learns to ride a bike. Bethani learns to ride a unicycle. Ronda drives to Seattle for an inspiring women’s conference. We celebrate Danielle and Kellsie’s wedding with the extended King and Kriegelstiein families.
July We spend a week vacationing at Bandon, in a rented house on the beach – a perfect getaway.
August Bethani and Brenden enjoy a week at Big Lake camp, Brenden returns from camp to face the hospital. He begins a leg-lengthening process that will last most of a year. Visiting her brother soon after surgery, Sierra says; "I wanted to see Brenden, but looking at his leg makes my stomach go funny." Taylor asks, with lip quivering; "Is that leg thing going to make Brenden to die?" Hannah declares; "No, I won't kiss him on the lips, even if he is feeling sick" Ronda feels the baby kick. Steve and Suzann Rose and children visit bringing fine times together, like the Wheatland ferry and Mission Park on the Willamette River.
Sep Elissa and Bethani start 10th and 6th grade at TVJA, Brenden, Sierra and Hannah are homeschooling. We visit family in Walla Walla where Theron falls off a slide. We are off to the emergency room for stitches.
Oct Ronda and Art take their traditional, romantic "Naming War Weekend" to a small cabin on the Metolious River. Boy and Girl names are selected. After three active little boys, Ronda wants a Girl. Art smugly tells everyone it is going to be a boy.
Nov Ken and Lana Rose and children are visiting us when the Big Moment arrives: Willa Lauretta King is Born! (Nov
14th) Four sisters and a brother are present at the birth. Sierra cuts the cord, the whole family rejoices!
Wrap-Up
What could make our Christmas happier than a cooing, beautiful new baby girl in our arms. We thank God for all his good gifts to us this year, and wish the best to all our dear friends.
Merry Christmas from Art, Ronda, Elissa (16), Brenden (12), Bethani (12), Sierra (9), Hannah (7), Taylor (5), Caleb (3), Theron (2) and Willa (1 month)
Merry Christmas!
Favorite Books of 1999
Read-aloud with the children: The Hittite Warrior by Wiliamson, Prairie School by Lenski, The Big Fisherman by Douglas
Art: A Sweetness to the Soul by Kirkpatrick, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Bauby, Guns, Germs, and Steel by Diamond
Ronda: Joan of Arc by Twain, Angle of Repose by Stegner, Jane Eyre by Bronte