not a Christmas card (the 2008 edition)

(Those wacky kids -- on the monorail at Walt Disney World, October 2008)

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this finds you healthy, happy and enjoying a peaceful Christmas season. Just last week, I read that sending Christmas cards via email is considered tacky. If you are offended, look away quickly. While I miss the days of covering my kitchen with glitter and embossing powder as I made cards, I have accepted that I won’t be going back to that as long as we are homeschooling. This works, too, don’t you think? :)

Caroline and Nolan have refused to follow my lead by not getting older (Ha!). Caroline is now in tenth grade. She loves high school and is having a great time on the speech and debate team and teaching the younger kids at church. She is also learning to drive, so you might want to call your insurance agent and double check that coverage.

Nolan is in fifth grade and we are in our second year of homeschooling. I am not sure which one of us is learning more, but it continues to be a success. He attends co-op classes one day each week, loves Cub Scouting and is learning to operate all the high tech sound boards and lights while serving on a ministry team at church.

John and I are doing well – though we spend a lot of time driving the kids around the globe. John succeeded in getting me to go camping this year (sort of – it was a climate-controlled situation) and I enjoyed it in spite of myself. We will soon celebrate our 20th anniversary by leaving the kids here with their grandparents while we get out of town to a place that does not have chicken nuggets on the menu. You just know we are counting the days. :)

I wish you all a wonderful 2009, with blessings in abundance. Please keep in touch.

(Pretend this is on the elaborate, hand-stamped card you just opened. Brush that glitter off your fingers…)

“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” Ephesians 3:19 - 21 (The Message)

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Chris (for John, Caroline and Nolan)

You can keep up with us at www.chrisworthy.com and www.johnworthy.com. Pictures are online (and sporadically updated) at http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisworthy/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnworthy/.