Christmas update 2007!

More of Christ Letter from the Stefanidis family – Brady Bunch style!

(written by contributing editor-Dana)

We want to thank all of our friends and family for remembering us this holy season. We have received so many letters and cards from you all. This time of year we give thanks for our many blessings.

Our first blessing, Alex, is Mom's “right hand man”. Alex is a great help with her younger brothers and sisters. She can change diapers and bathe her younger sister and brother. (FYI for those of you looking for a future babysitter.) Her Mother and I couldn't be more pleased with how she is growing up. Alex is going to be 12 years old this next year. She has been taking dance and loving it. Her fellow students are a great group of young girls. She is also taking piano (and not loving it as much). But she excels at both. This next year will be an exciting adventure.

Blessing number two, Evan, is our math mind. I don't know where he developed the mind for it because neither his Mother nor I did well in this subject. I can't wait until he can do my taxes. Just goes to show how they come pre-wired. He has been involved in cub scouts and in baseball this past summer. He told us that he would like to try out for soccer this next year (then karate after that). Evan always has a plan.

Dallin, blessing number three, is Mr. Personality. This last Thanksgiving our family was entreated to a poem by him about the holiday. And for Christmas Eve, he organized a short lesson on "The reason for celebrating Christmas", followed by singing carols. So, although it has often seemed to me that he's been distracted from the important things in life, he has proved that he is quite aware.

He also amazes Kori once in a while by getting very serious and thoughtful. (side note: one of the recent scriptures our children have memorized is Doctrine and Covenants 10:5, "Pray always that ye may come off conquerer...") Recently, Dallin looked very worried and confided that feeling to Kori. She asked what was wrong. He replied that he had promised in his prayers that he would pray always when he got to college and he just didn't know if he could do that! Hopefully, she helped him understand that it would be okay if he took things one year at a time.

The Energizer Bunny resides at our house disguised as our fourth blessing, Michaela. She goes and goes and goes and goes and goes.... Did I mention she has a lot of energy? All I want for Christmas is a fenced in yard. It's actually for Michaela but it would be more for me. It's nice to know that she has three older ones to look after her as well.

Since she seems to need so much attention, the older children are each required to have 30 minutes of “Michaela time” each school day. Every once in a while, Michaela will be sitting alone and say, “Mom! No one is having Michaela time!”

The child who makes you think your the best parent in the world is our fifth blessing, Stephan. He is the one full of hugs and kisses for everyone. And I mean everyone. There's not a person he doesn't share some love with. And with the Energizer Bunny living in our house we need to have a peacemaker!

And the blessings don't end there! Aliyah Marie (not positive on the name, but certain enough that you are reading about it here!) is on her way the end of February or beginning of March. I say beginning of March but her Mother would love for her to come a little sooner.

Speaking of Mom.... She is busy preparing these young people for what life has to offer. Kori has been busy homeschooling the children. She says she thinks she often learns more than the children do from their lessons. I can honestly say that I've learned much from what she has told me. I wish I had a teacher like her growing up! But better late than never. And if you haven't noticed, Kori is the author and designer of this blog. She allows me to post once a year, free of charge... or not.

I have to share one story with you. My son, Evan, has been wanting to buy a certain toy this last month. And we, his parents, have been urging him to wait and see what Santa would have for him. What I'm really thinking is that he could save his money, and then buy himself something else. But this is where I learn the lesson: He said it was okay with him if he bought one and also got one from Santa--because he would just give one to his brother. How selfish am I? I'm just thinking of myself and how I could get more for me. But these children are so aware of each other. They are great blessings to us and to each other.

May the Christmas season be memorable for all of you. And may the New Year bring you continued blessings.

Stefanidis Family

(Editor's (Kori's) note: I didn't see where Dana wrote about himself, so I will take it upon myself to do so! :-)
Dana has been busy trying to support a growing family--growing children, growing (with child :-)) wife, growing demands on his time, etc.
He hasn't been able to log in as many hours cycling as he would have liked this year, but has still managed to keep in shape and even lose weight. I am sure he'll be back on the road as soon as the weather permits and try to make up for some of those lost hours.
He is a great husband and father--the logic and sanity of the household! I am SO happy to be married to such a great guy!)

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!