Merry Christmas!‏

Kaylene wrote:

I was just remembering today about the days, pre-Internet that is, when I used to send more than 120 Christmas cards. Today I sent six to people who don't do email! The rest of you will hear via email. First, I really hope this finds all of you doing well and excited for the holidays. We have been hit with a blast of cold air here in Southern Mississippi that means we have deep-freezer temps in the morning. Today's high was probably 46. Brrrr. It is going to warm up tomorrow though because we have a storm coming through. Part of me secretly wishes for just a dusting of snow, and then the side that hates to shovel and be cold kicks in and I return to sanity!

Life at the Armstrong home goes on as usual. I am done for the semester and have actually finished all the classes and exams that I have to take.! Yeah! Now I have the dreaded dissertation to write – think of it as a 500-page research paper! Yikes! I have finally settled on a topic: the history of student newspapers. Though many histories have been written of individual newspapers, like the Harvard Crimson, no one has done an overall history, so I will be the first. The best part is that no one can compare me to previous historians!

Bob is still driving bus but now drives one of the city buses around town. They extended the hours and added Saturday routes for the holidays, so he is getting a lot of overtime, which is always good for poor college students! And let me just say he is thrilled to be done with screaming kids!

I am still the Relief Society president in our ward (I guess I don't have enough to do). I keep telling the bishop he needs to parole me, but apparently I haven’t served enough of my sentence!  It is a challenging calling because I have more than 100 inactive sisters to keep track of. Bob continues as ward finance clerk.

We were surprised last night to be the recipients of the first of the 12 Days of Christmas. It is a sweet surprise! You know, when I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to grow up so I could have everything that I wanted for Christmas. (Silly kids think just being a grownup means you automatically have money to spend on frivolous wants!) What is amazing to me is that the older I get, the less I need or want anything for Christmas except pictures of my grandchildren and more time with my family. I think I will be getting the pictures. Just wish Santa could wrap up “time” for me! Over New Year's, we will be going to Alabama to spend some time with Bob’s youngest son and his wife. We have a hard time getting his sons to connect with us, so this will be a great experience.

Just before Thanksgiving, my ninth grandbaby was born to my daughter Amanda in Kentucky. I got to run up there (a nine-hour drive) and be in the delivery room. Beautiful baby with lots of black hair.  My other eight grandchildren and four daughters and their husbands live in Utah, mostly in the Salt Lake Valley. I miss them terribly, and hope I will be able to move back out West when I get done with my schooling.

One of my nephews was deployed to Iraq about a month ago with the Idaho National Guard. He was sent for training about 20 minutes from my house at Camp Shelby. I never got to see him until right before they went to Iraq and got four days of leave. They weren’t allowed to go more than 400 miles away so he couldn’t go home to Idaho to see his wife and two kids. Instead, he hung out with me and we tootled around a bit. And Dad, we did go to a bar in New Orleans and drink as promised. We ate lunch at the Ugly Dogg Saloon, no alcohol involved, though we did drink water. Our prayers continue with Ike and his family, and I hope you will add yours to seek the protection of all our soldiers serving in the Middle East. I understand another nephew and a nephew-in-law are heading there soon, as well.

Well, here's wishing you another year filled with interesting adventures to write about. I'm on facebook, so friend me if you haven't already! Would love to hear back about how you and yours are doing!

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-k-

Kaylene Armstrong