Monday, December 21, 2009

'09 Christmas Wishes


For those of you who read my blog but did not get a Christmas letter
in your mailbox this year, here's the electronic version.
LOVE TO ALL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Ho, Ho, Ho, and Deck the Halls, the holidays are here.
It went so fast, and looking back, ‘09 was quite a year!
The economy staggered, then fell flat; and it’s been a bumpy ride.
PEAK’s hangin’on, at least for now, awaiting a shift in tide!

Our family now has three adults, since Brennan turned eighteen.
He’s leaving soon, which is awful and great, and everything in between!
For now he’s loving his senior year, and time is flying by.
He’s an Eagle Scout, and a starting guard for good old Carson High!

Kristi’s enduring her junior year, mostly with a smile.
Tho’ proficiency exams and AP classes can sometimes cramp her style.
She played tennis again this year, and keeps our piano in song;
Right now she’s training with a friend to run a half-marathon!

Austin is growing and changing fast – that comes with being thirteen!
He’s smart and fun, and a new Life Scout, which is pretty keen.
Austin played soccer in the fall and made the all-stars, too.
But, like his big bro’, he’d rather play guard on the team at his middle schoo’.

Dallin is ten now, believe it or not, leaving childhood quickly behind.
Sometimes we wish we could freeze him in time, or even push rewind!
He is playing bball too, with his trusty Coach Dad calling plays.
Helpful and funny; pretty smart too, we hope this is how he will stay!

Keith needs a break; a nice long vacation, to unwind and renew his vigor.
Instead he says yes to all who ask, and his plate just keeps getting bigger!

He spends time with the 14 and 15-year-old scouts - camping, biking, and more;
He works snack bars, sings at church functions, and serves on professional boards.

Karen has joined the ranks of moms who work outside the home,
But only part-time, at a local school, so there’s no cause to moan.

She enjoys her job, but better than that, she’s home when the kids are home.
And that makes her happy, and feeling okay, for she has no desire to roam.

All is well at the Shaffer’s house, and we hope you can say the same.
We hope the New Year will bring your desires, be they health, fortune, or fame!

We wish you all a joyful season, full of family and friends and love
And pray that you will feel the peace that comes from God above.


3 comments:

Mirien said...

I am always amazed at your rhymes each year! I was lucky to get off a few boring sentences but the letter is still not in the mail yet! Merry Christmas--wish we were closer so we could hang out over the holidays.

KLC said...

Karen, and yet again you prove yourself not only adequate but amazing with words! Cleverly done. Merry Christmas! ( :

Marliese said...

Beautiful picture and poem! You are one of my favorite families. Glad you had a happy holiday season.

And Karen, I love the way you describe life. It's so fun to read about your sweet kids and the phases they are cruising through. It will be exciting to see what Brennan decides to do next year.