Christmas Letter
King Family News 2004
2004 Christmas News
Greetings friends! Here are a few highlights from the past year at Ronda and Art King’s house.
Jan A real ice storm keeps us housebound for three days while Ronda concentrates on NOT going into labor. Jan 11: The ice storm is over and Rylee Suzanne King is born! Bethani, Sierra, Hannah, Taylor and Caleb join us in the delivery room. We welcome Rylee home and she steals all our hearts.
Mar 21 Our firstborn Elissa marries David Green. All the children except Rylee have a part in the wedding. Brenden, Bethani, Sierra and Hannah are groomsmen and bridesmaids. Taylor & Caleb light candles, Theron & Willa deliver Bible and flower pedals. A fine and wonderful celebration.
Apr Bethani goes under the knife and loses her tonsils. We mourn the passing of 102-year old great-grandma Kathryn Rigby.
May Bethani passes the milestone of “Level-10” piano with honors. She fills the house with music every day. Homeschoolers Hannah and Sierra fly to Washington DC with Art for a week of cousin fun.
June Theron is known as the “bug boy” He sneaks a vacuum hose from the garage to Ronda’s flowerbed; sucks up dirt and searches for bugs.
July Caleb, Theron and Willa take swimming lessons from big brother Brenden. Taylor enjoys Camp Mivoden for a week with cousin Dustin.
Aug We take a family camping trip in northern California. David Green guides us to an awesome spot for jumping into a cold river from high rocks.
Sep Homeschool starts for Hannah, Taylor, Caleb, Theron and Willa. Bethani departs for 11th grade at UCA. Brenden starts 11th grade at Heritage Christian School, Sierra begins in 8th grade at TVJA.
Oct Ronda, Art and nursing baby Rylee go honeymooning to a resort in Colorado Springs.
Nov Hannah takes a 3 week trip to Russia and Eastern Europe with her Uncle Steve Rose and cousin Sara. Rylee starts walking.
Dec Art & Ronda celebrate their 25th anniversary in wedded bliss. Lauretta King (Art’s Mom) falls and breaks her hip while delivering Meals on Wheels in Bozeman, Montana. We pray for a speedy recovery. We anticipate Christmas joys and making memories.
Wrap-up: Christmas is a time for counting blessings. It’s been a wonderful year for us. Each of our 10 children swell our tide of joy. We welcome new son-in-law David to the family. Our blessings overflow. We wish you a very..
Merry Christmas!
With Love from all of us: Art & Ronda, David & Elissa, Brenden (17), Bethani (17), Sierra (14), Hannah (12), Taylor (10), Caleb (8), Theron (7), Willa (5), Rylee (11 months)
Favorite Books of 2004
- Children’s Read-aloud: The Father who Had 10 Children by Guettier, The Spy Wore Red by Aline
- Art: John Adams by McCullough, Isaac Newton by Gleick
- Ronda: When Dreams Come True by Ludy
- Brenden: Of Mice and Men by Stienback
- Bethani: The Idiot by Dostoyevsky, City of Joy by Lapierre
- Sierra: The Neverending Story by Ende
- Hannah: Words by Heart by Sebestyen
- Taylor: Stranger in the Shadows by Mills
