As 2008 comes to a close, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. I have stayed pretty busy this year for an old retired guy. January and February found me in Keystone Heights, Florida working at the Park of the Palms. In March I was at Vikki's in Alabama helping her Mexican friends work on their new house. Then I went home to Indiana for the summer where I stayed busy working on some remodeling and renovating on my house as well as a neighbors house. After the flood this summer there was a lot of clean-up to do outside of my own house and the neighbors up the hill, and I helped Kim with some electrical work after her house flooded. I also put in a new shower for Jennifer, traveled to Iowa to help Christopher with some remodeling work, and managed to fit in a trip to Michigan with Mary and her kids to visit my friends there. In October I was back in Alabama for some repair work on Vikki's house before returning once again to Keystone Heights, Florida for the winter, where I can work in the warmer weather. The Lord has blessed me with good health and the strength to continue helping my kids and doing the things I enjoy, and for that I am very grateful.
Love,
Randy Morian
Love,
Randy Morian
Merry Christmas from Alabama! 2008 has flown by so fast I am having to really think hard to
remember all that happened! David turned 4 in June and officially began preschool in August.
For the most part he teaches himself , learning to write and sound out letters, etc. He sits through
Bible class with Mikala and loves to recite Bible verses with her. He likes to finger paint and use
scissors. He puts on puppet shows like his sister, but in full boy-style (his dragon eats the princess
and then says "Mmm, tastes like chicken!"). He got to make his first snowman this year since we
actually had snow this January - of course all the snow melted as soon as it stopped coming down,
but the snowman lasted for a few days. His new favorite character is Wall-e, but he still loves Larry
Boy and Mickey Mouse. He is so much fun. Mikala is growing up so fast and becoming a lovely
young lady. She still retains her little girl and tomboy qualities that make her so wonderful, though.
She only lacks about 5 inches from being as tall as her mother. She began 4th grade this year with
a very special living history lesson. We took a family "field trip" to Virginia and explored
Jamestown, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Monticello, Montpelier, Mt. Vernon, Washington D.C., and
Lexington. She studied Dolly Madison before the trip and enjoyed seeing Montpelier - she so
admires our 4th first lady that she named her new kitten Dolly. (David enjoyed dressing up like
George Washington at Mt. Vernon and can spot an image of his favorite president anywhere.)
Mikala turned 9 in November. She is still taking ballet, and basketball season is just getting
underway. She is a big help in the kitchen and around the house. She and David both enjoy helping
me cook. (David even volunteers to set the table and likes to help me with laundry.) Mike accepted
a manager position at SunGard this year and so is working harder than ever. His Spanish is
improving as we continue to attend a Sunday night hispanic church service. He is in charge of the
music, organizes music practices, and plays the piano. Vikki sings and plays the guitar once in a
while, too. Our family played host to the hispanic pastor and his family for 4 months this
year while they finished construction on their new house. It was a culture lesson for all of us.
We made Easter baskets for their kids - their first ever. The pastor's wife learned how to use the
oven (instead of just the stove top) and practiced her English (the pastor and their 3 children are
already fluent in English) and we all got to practice our Spanish. Vikki learned to make chile relleno,
Mexican rice and beans, and some other secrets to Mexican cooking - our favorite kind of food!
We celebrated our 15th anniversary on Thanksgiving Day with a family trip to the Smoky Mountains.
We had our Thanksgiving dinner at the Dixie Stampede and drove up in the mountains where the
kids got to see a little snow. We are so thankful for the many blessings the Lord gives us each
year. We pray that you all will remember Him and His blessings to you as well during this
Christmas season. Jesus truly is the "reason for the season" for "Through him all things were
made; without him nothing was made that has been made." (John 1:2)
Love,
The Lucas Family - Mike, Vikki, Mikala, & David
Hello all, Well, here it is, 2008 is coming to an end. Seems like the older I get, the faster time flies by.
We are doing fairly well...despite getting older. : ) We 'inherited' Brad's parent's 1820s era house, with
all of the joys of having an older house, and clutter.....we are working to get it back to its former glory
anytime we have time and money to do so. Lots of work ahead still. But we are definitely enjoying the space.
We adopted three kittens this summer, and they are both a blessing and a frustration. It is lovely to sit on
the couch with one or all of them asleep in your lap, but the crashes in the middle of the night because
they've climbed onto something they oughtn't will make you crazy.
Brad and I are both still working at the library. It is great.....most of the time, no job is perfect, but I get
paid to read children's books, so I really can't complain too much. : )
Laura is 17, and ajunior in High School. Learning to drive, and planning for college......yes, my hair is
graying just writing about it. I'm so proud of her....even if she is taller than I am....just a bit.
Connor turned 9 on Friday December 19, and makes me tired. He has SO much energy. Thank God for the
bigger house! He is in 3rd grade, but doing 4th grade math....that he gets from Brad for sure.
We have been enjoying our 'new' church for over two years now. It is like a family, and great to be in a
small setting again.
I hope this letter finds you all well. We want to wish you and yours all a very Merry Christmas, and a Blessed,
Safe and Happy New Year!!!
If you are ever on the internet, please come by our family blog "Randy's Angels" at
www.hhourdday44.blogspot.com we post updates and tons of photos.
The Frye Family, Jennifer, Brad, Laura and Connor
Happy Holidays Everyone! I can hardly believe that 2008 has nearely come to a close. I am sure most
of you are wondering why we did not put out a newsletter last year. Well, that is partly my fault.
I have been organizing the Morian family newsletter for several years now, so it seems only fitting
that I take the blame. I had my first joint replacement sergury on October 17, 2007 on my right hand.
That took longer than i anticipated to recover. I had to do several months of therapy, and still
continue to work on doing home therapy. I think it will be an ongoing thing, everytime I slack on my
stretches, and exercises I can tell the differance. When late November rolled around and dad asked
about doing a newsletter, I had to say that I was unable to do it this year. That was hard, because
this is something I really enjoy doing. I had my second joint replacement sergury on May 7,2008 on
my left hand. I think this one was harder to recover from. I know the sergury was the same and all,
I just think my body took it harder. While we are still talking about me, I will tell you that I have been
having alot of issues with my female health. I had a D&C and a laperoscopy on October 17,2008. I
know sergury on the same day two years in a row! The doctor cleaned out alot of endometriosis as
well as other adhesions. I was hoping that it would stop the pain issues I was having, but so far it
has'nt. I know it has only been a couple of months, so I will wait and see. Ok, well that is really all
from me. Mark is still working for SCI services, and is doing good.
Tai is going to be turning 13 in April, but already thinks she is a teenager. She is so beautiful and
truely smart. She started middle school (7th. grade) and is loving it. She is my social butterfly and
loves to see her friends that she had previously gone to school with. She is still playing softball in
the summer, and thinking about trying out for the cheerleading squad next year. Ramsay is 11 and in
the 5th grade, he too is very smart. I sometimes wonder where they got their brains from. He is still
playing baseball in the summer and basketball in the winter. He is excelling in both sports. Both Tai
and Ramsay seem to have grown several inches over the past year, and keeping them in cloths that
fit seems impossible at times. lol Johnny is getting so mature. He is still small, around 28 lbs. He just
turned 3 on December 1st. He is very into Thomas the tank engine. He has been having some health
issues, thankfully they centered around his ears. Last Christmas was hard. He had ear infections
constantly from around Thanksgiving to the end of February. On February 29,2008 they put in his
first set of ear tubes. They helped tremendously! Before he was not sleeping through the night and
he was not potty trained. After the tubes both were taken care of, we were all finally sleeping
through the night and the potty thing came so easy to him. About two months ago he started with
the ear infections and that proceded to accidents and not sleeping all night again. After several visits
with the ear, nose and throat doctor we decided we needed to re-tube him as well as take out his
adnoids and tonsiles. So long story short we did, his sergury was on December 8,2008. He is still
recovering and getting better everyday, although he is still in a considerable amount of pain. We will
go back to see the doctor for his post op appointment after Christmas and we are praying for a clean
bill of health. Thank you all for your prayers for our familys! Please don't stop. We wish you all a very
happy holiday season, and pray you are all in good health. For those who have internet access,
Jennifer has added a web address. You can log on and see new pictures of the family as well as hear
any of the new family happenings.
Merry Christmas from the Sadlers, Mark, Mary, Tai, Ramsay, and John
So…the year 2008 is all but over- Another year come and gone. The kids getting older…doing what kids do…
keeping us busy. Tori is now 10 and in the fourth grade. She played softball again this summer, her first year
on the older girl’s team-with fast pitch. She did really well and is already looking forward to next year. Fourth
grade is proving to be a little challenging for her, but-as with everything-she is a trooper. Something else new
for Tori: she started getting Allergy shots this fall. Watching her get all those shots is not easy, but she handles
it really well…and in a couple of years, she shouldn’t have any allergy symptoms. Travis is now 6 and in the
first grade. He is doing great in school! He joined Cub Scouts, which Tony gets to enjoy along with him. They
are learning all sorts of things together! This past fall Travis played "flag" football for the first time. I think I can
handle it ok…do they still get to play that way in high school? I know…I know…I will have to learn to handle
my baby boy getting tackled sooner than I would like! He scared me enough racing his four-wheeler at the
Fair this year. He’s all boy!! Tony sill works on the street department for the Town of Spencer , and is still a
volunteer on the fire department. I am still with Boston Scientific. This year was a year of firsts for the whole
family. I would have thought it a joke, if any one would have said I would spend three months living in my
Dad’s RV. However, I am so thankful God gave me a wonderful family and great friends to rely on when we
need them the most. The flood of 2008 will be one for the record books! Our house had to be rebuilt. But
with it came a time to be close to my Dad and sister Mary again (since we lived in the camper on Dad’s
property and she lives right there too). It also showed us we have a lot to be Thankful for this year!!
Here’s wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!!!
God Bless,
The Floyds
This year for the Morian branch has been calm and yet exciting. Christopher is still working with Morton Buildings, and is still
with the 389th Eng. Co. Christopher got a promotion this year and with the military got to go to El Salvador this past spring. He
keeps very busy with work and also with the military, but as always find time to spend with the kids! Emma had her 3rd birthday
in Aug and started pre-school in September. She is learning her letters, numbers, shapes & colors in a good Christian
environment. She is getting smarter every day and she has a very good sense of humor for age 3!
Logan is getting ready to celebrate his 2nd birthday in January of 09'. He is almost as tall as his big sister and does already out
weigh her. Hes a rough tough kid, who is learning to use his baby blues to try and get his own way. Hes a sweet boy, but
stubborn too. Both kids are doing so great in very thing that they are doing, turning into their own little persons.
Myself, I am still working with Farm Bureau. Trying to climb that latter. Work is good, trying to spend as much time as I can
with the kids in my free time. Making the most of our weekends. I am still doing photography and loving every chance I get to
get some good shots of the kids.
We pray and hope everyone is going great!
Happy Holidays!
Christopher, Jana, Emma & Logan Morian
