Christmas Letter 2006

Proverbs 25:25 “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”

Hello friends and dear ones near and far! We read an advice column recently blasting those boring newsletters that arrive each Christmastime. You have our permission to discard this note, but you are likely to get another one next year. On the other hand, we welcome any and all notes or e mails catching us up on the latest of you and yours. We like that kind of stuff.

The best thing about this year is the lack of anything to report. Charlie had a 2nd heart transplant over a year ago and the best thing about this year was just slowing down and enjoying our own company as a family. A couple months ago we finally put away the TV rabbit ears antennae and got satellite TV and high speed computer connection. (Note the new e mail address for the family below.)

We didn’t travel much- just a summer trip to Utah to see friends and relatives and over to Colorado to see Linda’s aunt in Cimarron and then back down through the Four-Corners area. Also a quick “pleasure” trip to CA for a reunion and photo ops with transplant kids in Loma Linda.

Jerry changed barbershop quartets from “Love at Home” to one called “Tapestry.” He’s still having fun in the same barbershop chorus. He taught at the prison for year 9 and at the community college for year 3. We bought Linda’s Mom’s old Cadillac. Smooth ride. Low maintenance and insurance and payments outweigh higher gas costs. This car doesn’t lean to the left when I sit in it like my Metro did.

Linda has been taking classes at Scottsdale Artist’s School and has painted portraits of family and friends. See her web site at foxartonline.com. No more part-time NAU Computer Lab work for us – after 7 years. They wanted us to work more hours so we compromised and chose “none.” Linda also does some occasional Photoshop work for Becky’s business and volunteering in the Art Masterpiece program at the kids’ school.

Becky and her husband, Kenny, and 18 month-old Sammy, (The Crocketts) are flourishing. They are a joy to have in the neighborhood (5 miles away). Becky does computer graphic art especially for podcasts and various websites. See her web site at podcastdesigns.com. Kenny has a podcast called “Apple News Now” and enjoys making a little money from his sponsors.

Bradley finished high school on-line in June and is now taking online community college courses. He is enjoying the freedom to take the classes that he is interested in, mostly computers.

PJ is finishing high school on-line this year and will be starting in-class college courses soon. He also does occasional artwork for Becky and has a comic website, but we forgot the address.

Charlie went from 10 year old cub scouts to 11 year old boy scouts, including the camping trips and pioneer treks that accompany it. His health has been great except for a couple of recent hospital stays for dehydration. No heart problems!

Rosie turned 8 and was baptized in February. She studied hip-hop and Broadway dance over the summer and continues to enjoy singing and sports – and video games. She and Charlie are both in the running club at school.

We will update Charlie’s website for now with some family pictures and narrative, but we are likely to pull the plug on it before too long. You are welcome to visit it now – but don’t be surprised if it is gone soon.

Well, there you are. This is the “least-newsy” letter we’ve written in a while. Sometimes “less is more” and we don’t mind having less to report.

We count our blessings every day. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we wish you the merriest of holidays and a blessed, healthy and prosperous New Year!

From the Fox Family – Jerry, Linda and all
PS Do you recognize the mom and baby in the picture?