Greetings to you Family and Friends...
If it's all the same to you, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank God that this year is over.
As most of you know, Benjamin is back home from Iraq, and to pre-empt most of the follow-up questions; he doesn't have to go back. He's very excited to be back home in order to accomplish all of the projects he's had in mind since he left at the end of LAST year.
The greatest "stay-at-home-mom-in-the-world" Rachel has decorated our new home here in Santee California so that Jonathan and Hannah and all their little friends have a place to play no matter WHERE they are in the house. She has continued to ensure that Jonathan is on his A-game academically, incorporating a charter school curriculum into his home-school experience. All the while, helping Hannah learn to talk, sing, walk and clean up a toy room like a champ.
The world's biggest goof-ball Jonathan experienced his first team sport this year. Playing for the Santee Grasshoppers T-ball Team, he was one of the star runners and fielders. He is currently working his way toward his Bobcat Badge in Cub Scouts, as he and Benjamin plan and design the look and feel of his Pinewood Derby car in order to have it ready for the big race in January.
And boy is Hannah's blonde hair getting long. Honoring Benjamin's request to let her grow it as long as she possibly can, while at the same time, having fun with pig-tails, Rachel has helped her blonde locks to stay tangle-free, and as curly as possible. She's learning to talk one word at a time, and is quickly teaching Benjamin her words so that he'll understand her when she wants something.
Just this past week, we had Benjamin's Mom, Dixie, and Step-Dad, Mike out to our humble home for a visit - taking them up to San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge as well as Mike's sister and her family. Dixie got a lot of great pictures that you can see on Facebook, and Jonathan learned a bit about slight-of-hand from Mike's nephew.
In 2010, we are looking forward to a family cruise to the Mexican Riviera, taking Rachel's Mom, Sally with us to thank her for all she's done to help us over the years. We are truly blessed to have her in our lives. Rachel is hoping to have an announcement for you all in the next couple of months, so stay tuned for that possibility - we'll keep you posted. And as we find out what Benjamin is going to do next with his life so that he doesn't have to go away again, we'll let you in on the secret as well.
To those of you who were here for Rachel, Jonathan and Hannah - Benjamin wants to let you know how much he sincerely appreciates every phone call, and stop-by. Perhaps Rachel was able to convey to you how much it meant to her, but Benjamin won't - mere words cannot accurately express the thanks.
To our church family and Pastor John in particular - thank you for walking along side our family, literally and virtually (online). This time apart could have been unbearable without the fellowship of the Body of Christ that you all provided when it was most needed.
As is written in the Christmas greeting image above...
We pray that you know the saving grace of the
Savior, Jesus Christ, this and every year...
May God richly bless you...
-The Kittlesons; Benjamin, Rachel, Jonathan & Hannah
p.s. - For a full-sized copy of the image at the top of this message, go to the following address:
