Our Family Christmas Letter For 1999!

Our grandchildren, A.J. & Kayla Strzelecki!

2000 Greetings from the Aldrich Family in Texas!!! 

Here’s how Benjamin, age 3, puts it: “We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Ear….”

Often Jesus told His disciples, “He who has an ear to hear, listen….”In this new millennium, may we listen to the Holy Spirit with a New Ear!

 

Here’s the latest update with us…in February 1999, Jon again experienced involuntary severance from BP- Amoco.  He calls it a ‘blessing in disguise’ and has decided to pursue his video business full time while doing some contract engineering periodically.  So far, he enjoys the greatly reduced stress level, as do the rest of us… He is “Mr. Mom” at home, has fun with the boys, and is more involved with their daily routine than before. He has even been trying his hand in the kitchen, too.  Send him your best recipes!!

Sharon continues to teach kindergarten at Northside in Texas City.  Now, she is enjoying some of her own “grand-kindergartners,” i.e. the parents are her former kindergarten students…It’s great fun to hear about the college adventures of former students as well.  She loves e-mailing, so if you have access, contact her at sharon@keepsake-video.com.   We had a special Internet reunion with former high school classmate Steve Huisman.  He now lives near Dallas, and we got to go see him in November when we went there for Russell and Belinda’s wedding reception.  (Russell used to work video with us.) We are hoping Sharon’s mom Irene can come down from Iowa this month.

Rachel and Adam have two adorable children, Kayla, who will be three in Feb. and A.J., who will be 2 in June.  Adam works as a pipefitter apprentice at a corn processing plant and Rachel is a busy mommy.  We had a wonderful vacation this summer in Chicago with them and with Jon’s siblings.  Sister Connie put together great adventures in the Windy City with favorite sites being the “Cows on Parade” all over the city, an architectural boat tour, visits to several area museums and the Shedd Aquarium.  We also enjoyed our annual trip home to Iowa…

Aaron, 18, goes to high school and works at Chuckie Cheese Pizza Restaurant.  We are thankful he was not injured in a car accident at midnight on a foggy night coming home from work.  Now we are looking to replace a vehicle, as his was “totaled” when it was hung up on an iron guardrail…

Philip is 10 and was baptized on New Year’s Eve at Grace Community Church, a precious way to close out 1999 and commemorate his Grandpa Alvin’s birthday.   Jon Craig and Philip spent Spring break in the Dallas-Fort Worth area visiting relatives and friends.   This year, Philip got glasses and had his tonsils and adenoids removed over Thanksgiving.  He is in fourth grade and enjoys basketball and baseball. He was the catcher like his Grandpa Al and Auntie Anne and Cousin Jake… 

Timmy is almost 6, enjoys afternoon kindergarten class and played T-ball this year for the first time.  There we became friends with another family that also has one daughter and four sons!  (John was on Tim’s team and the older twin brothers were on Philip’s team)  Timothy lost his first tooth, learned to tie his shoes, and is beginning to read, so lots of milestones for Tim.

Benjamin is 3 and delightful.  He loves to hear “Little Craig Stories” that daddy tells from long ago.  He plays with his friends on our street, even driving neighbor Darrell’s electric 4-wheeler, and does everything he can to keep up with his brothers.  (Happy day, we finally have a diaper-free home again, after many years.)  Ben was the ring bearer for Drew and Melody Kraus in July.  (Drew works for Keepsake Video.)   He did a great job and looked so cute in his tuxedo…

We are looking forward to celebrating our Silver Anniversary in June and hope to join Jon Craig’s siblings this summer for a tour of Scandinavia.  Meanwhile, the coffee’s ready, so come see us anytime…

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.”  Hebrews 12:28,29

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