Dear Santa,
We find ourselves at the close of another year and I'm trying to get my ducks in a row before Christmas Eve. Have you ever had one of those years? Because we have. I think there was a lot of good this year in our lives sprinkled in among the hard times. I'll try to elaborate on it as best as I can.
First of all, how are you? How is Mrs. Claus? Have you secured the foundation of the North Pole in case global warming melts it away this year? I can recommend some good oil platform manufacturers here on the Gulf Coast in case you're interested. Hopefully the naughty list this year is slightly smaller than it was last year. We did the best we could to stay on the good list, but I think we're mostly on the "I Tried" list.
Our family has been relatively good this year. Let's start off with the youngest, Malcolm:
A day out with my Mal Pal
Malcolm continues to surprise me with how relatable he is to me. Sometimes it feels like I'm talking to a version of myself from decades before.
Pig sitting
Malcolm finds joy in life in just about anything you could imagine. He will tell you about all the cool things he sees driving, especially Christmas lights. He will also tell you all the time that his favorite colors are pink, purple, and blue.
An untamed mane
This child has learned, however, that he has more independence than when he was younger. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. For one, he is learning to do a lot more activities on his own, but that also means that he thinks he can do EVERYTHING on his own.
Brotherly bond
Malcolm looks up to his older siblings with lots of affection (and physical violence in some cases). He never wants to be alone, and thankfully that is the case due to our continued homeschooling.
A photo summation of Malcolm's personality
I'm not going to lie, he's the best caboose we could ask for on this crazy train of family that we have. I'm grateful every night when I get to put him to bed. Partly because he's finally asleep and I can relax, but mostly because I get to gaze on my sweet baby boy one more time before he gets too grown up.
Preparing for some Wonder
Next we have Lucy. And where do we begin with her? Lucy is at an interesting place of being the bridge between the older two kids and the youngest. I often find her wanting to do more mature activities, but happily willing to engage in play with her little brother.
Cutting off the locks
This year she decided she was tired of being hot and got her hair cut short. She looks darling in her new hairdo and gets all sorts of compliments for it. I do think it's cute, and I like her hair both short and long.
Exploring another world
Lucy continues to be creative in many aspects, improving her drawing and musical skills, as well as learning lots of science facts. She is a lover of cooking videos (especially Ann Reardon of YouTube fame), and is a great helper in the kitchen.
Round one of rabies shots
However, this year Lucy was put through the ringer. One day when she was out checking the mail, a stray cat randomly attacked her unprovoked. As a result she wound up having to go through a round of rabies shots as a precaution. We eventually caught the cat, but not after we caught the neighbor's cat, a possum, a racoon, and another, highly diseased and mangey cat. Apparently we have quite the active wildlife in our neighborhood. Anyway, it was quite the ordeal that we don't want to repeat.
An unfortunate run in with fungus
Not too long after that, she had an unfortunate run-in with some mold-covered furniture at our church, which caused an infection to develop in her eye. It took quite a few tries for the real diagnosis to be revealed, but thankfully no lasting damage was done.
Figuratively how she approaches life on occasion
In spite of all these setbacks, she continues to try to fill the world with joy and happiness. I've never seen a little girl who wants to be more friendly with all our adult neighbors.
Champion
She's a tough little cookie and continues to pursue taekwondo along with myself and her oldest sister. This year she even competed in a local tournament and took third place in two of the events she competed in.
Granny Goose
I still call her my "Lucy Goose" and I hope she'll let me call her that for the rest of my life. She's such a unique little woman that I have the privilege to call my daughter.
A gamer through and through
Third in line is my oldest boy Sean. He has continued his trajectory in attempting to be the world's top Nintendo enthusiast and fan-boy. This year our family inherited a Wii-U and he is determined be the best at Mario Kart among all his siblings.
Learning the fine art of roasting cylindrical aeriated sugar meringue over an open flame
That being said, he's still a developing a love of being outdoors and spending time with others. He and I spent some good time together in the cold at a state park, just camping in isolation and enjoying the quiet nature around us.
Reminding him who is in charge
He's also become quite adept at all things camping-related included tent setup and fire building. Not too shabby for a ten year old.
Always helping (especially at The Play the Goes Wrong)
Sean is always one of the first people that wants to help (even if the help is unwanted in some cases). After church events I am trying to round up the kids to go home and Sean is always the one I can't find. When I do find him, he's usually helping put away chairs or tables. Then my heart melts.
His wooden robot, Chestnut (made from walnut)
This year Sean learned a bit about woodworking. This year I helped him make a wooden toy robot that he named "Chestnut". He entered it into the state Beta Club convention and won second place! Not too bad, if I do say so myself. If you're looking for a good woodworking intern up at the North Pole, please give him a consideration.
Move over Dizzy Gillespie!
Sean's musical talents continue to grow. This year he decided he wanted to learn trumpet and started performing in his local music co-op. He worked really hard at practicing and is pretty great for someone only playing for a few months. He also started learning the guitar. I expect him to start rocking out any day now. He also likes to try and sing harmony on any song he sings. Sometimes he gets it wrong, but most of all it just clicks in his brain. It sometimes scares me at how brilliant he is and I often hope that I can keep up with all the things he continues to learn.
My (not-so-little) Leah Lou
Rounding out the kids is my oldest, Leah Lourena. This year marked some significant changes in Leah's life. She started off the year moving into the young women's group at our church. Typically these are girls turning 12 that year, but since her birthday isn't until December, she spent most of the year as an 11-year-old with older girls.
First time doing baptisms in the Temple
One of the things she got to do for the first time was to attend the temple and perform baptisms in behalf of the deceased. It was a very sacred experience for her.
Such an old soul
She continues to impress me with all of her maturity and patience. Granted, her patience is that of a 12-year-old girl, but she has a lot more of it than most people her age. Additionally, she has a lot of compassion for those around her. She's always good for a hug or a snuggle.
Learning one of many instruments
Her musical talents continue to improve as well. So far she's mastered the basics of piano, guitar, and violin. She says she wants to learn all the instruments in the world, but we'll see what her wallet says about that.
Already wanting to be a mom
One of the things that touches me the most about Leah is how her motherly instincts naturally have kicked in. She coos over any baby she sees, and she is such a good overseer to Malcolm. In fact, this year is the first year we've been able to claim an in-house babysitter! However, I remind the younger kids that when Leah is watching them, really her only job is to snitch on them when they aren't being good and to call us if the house is on fire or they are bleeding profusely.
A visual representation of what her life is like most days
On to my love, Sarah. I don't know how this lady keeps up with it all. Between homeschooling the kids, volunteering in multiple homeschool organizations, and serving in our church, I don't think she gets a single moment to herself. This lady has taken on a lot, and it's felt very heavy this year.
Always up for a good baby snuggle
We may be done having kids of our own, but Sarah's always up to hold anyone's baby. Thankfully we've got a number of friends that will lend us theirs, and they always love being held by her. Most of the time, they fall right asleep in her arms because she's so comfy and lovely to be around.
Most of the time this is how she "relaxes"
I wish I could give her more time to herself. This past year we haven't had much spare time to engage in our hobbies and I know it's taken a mental and emotional toll on her. Maybe, if you have something in your sack that can fill that void this year, you could leave it under the tree for her?
My shining sun on a cold day
All in all, I don't know how I wound up with such a lovely woman who actually chooses to be around me. Sure I make her laugh a lot (sometimes with how stupid I behave), but sometimes I just wonder why she chooses to keep me around. Maybe it's because of my brisket... Sure, let's just call it at that.
Taking someone on a tour of the Neutral Buoyancy Lab
I am continuing my work to better the mission of the United States into space by essentially making pretty pictures for NASA. I have to say that it beats some of the alternative jobs I could have ended up with. I'm still at Johnson Space Center working on a small team that develops engineering visualization products. It pays the bills most days, but sometimes I get to work on some really cool stuff.
Hanging out at the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility
One of the highlights of this past year was when the company I work for was awarded the newly consolidated research, science, and engineering contract at NASA LaRC out in Virginia. I was heavily involved in creating graphics for those proposal documents and spent many hours, sometimes late into the night, trying to create the best looking graphics for the job. It was very rewarding to be a part of something that has helped step the company forward into the future.
I've adopted Texas
I continue to enjoy Texas to the fullest. I have to say that, even if Texas doesn't adopt me, I'll adopt it. I've really come to love the culture and diversity of the area I live in. Rodeo is one of my favorite things every year, and I love getting out into the hill country. Every time we drive through there, Sarah and I comment on how we could easily see ourselves buying a home out there in retirement.
Continuing to learn the fine art of smoking meats
Meat prices continue to go up, so I haven't smoked as much as I have in years past. I occasionally try a new recipe, but most times I simply wind up doing the tried and true favorites. I've figured out the secret to brisket and love to make it whenever I can. I think I decided that the "love languages" theorem is missing the category of "food". If you've been fed by me, it means you've been loved by me.
Sean ducks and covers during the tornado with the absolute essentials
That's sort of the overview of what's been going on in each of our family's lives, but here's a few highlights of what happened during the year. First of all, our area had a tornado rip through the area. I was at work and the kids were at home with Sarah. They all took shelter as the tornado passed through and I watched from my office window.
The aftermath of the tornado
Thankfully nothing happened to our home, except for a few downed tree branches and lots of rain that resulted in a flooded street. We said a prayer of thanks that everything turned out okay.
Grandma and Grandpa Reynolds come to visit
In the spring we were fortunate to have my parents come and visit us. Because the kids are still homeschooling, they were fortunate enough to spend lots of time with them and show them all sorts of skills they had been learning.
Giving them the full Houston Rodeo experience, including hearing loss
We also got the privilege of taking them to the rodeo, which we have been talking about for years. Because my father grew up bailing hay and milking cows, I have a strong appreciation for those that do it as a living. I also really enjoy the celebration that rodeo is of that legacy, and how it has built up so many lives today.
Being neighborly to our squirrels, just like my brother Greg
Although we haven't rescued animals like my brother and his wife, we continue to enjoy seeing what sights we can from our backyard. We have had the chance to make friends with a few of the squirrels in the area, but I think they must have moved on for the winter. Can you make sure that they get some walnuts in their nests this Christmas Eve?
Meeting Buccee in person. Who knew beavers could make such great tasting food?
As soon as the school year was done, my wife and kids packed up their lives and made the annual trek out to Idaho for their summer visit to family. This time was going to be a little different.
Visiting Grandpa Richardson in the rehab center
For one, Sarah's father had a bad accident with his mobility scooter and wound up breaking his shoulder. He had to stay in a rehab center and go through multiple surgeries and procedures to try and get it right. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to get well enough to go home yet. We're praying for better news in 2024.
Enjoying a Sunday with Grandma Richardson
Because of all the complications and limitations of the care center, Sarah's mom has spent a large amount of time caring for her husband while he was there. Thankfully, Sarah was able to come and spend some time getting the house in order for her while she was there.
The beginning of an unforgettable trip
At the beginning of June, Sarah dropped the kids off at her brother's house in Idaho so we could join the rest of my brothers, their wives, and my parents for an unforgettable week enjoying Greece and Turkey.
The acropolis of Athens
My parents had been wanting to do another adults-only trip with us for several years and we decided this was the year to do it. Thankfully everything aligned and we were able to get everyone there all together at the same time.
Taking a breather at the top
This was an especially valuable trip for me because I had spent so much of my college career learning about art history. It was really incredible to see some of the art pieces with my own eyes that I had previously only read about in books.
Hagia Sofia in Istanbul
Additionally, I came to really enjoy and love the people we got to meet. We had a few private tours arranged, and I really enjoyed just learning about the local people and cultures of the places we went. It made me appreciate just how similar we all are as human beings and how much good is created by the people of the world.
Thankfully the entire family could come
One of the things I was most grateful for was that I could experience that with some of the people I love the most. My parents, brothers, and their wives are some of my favorite people on the planet, and I wish I could spend much more time with them than I get to on an annual basis.
We walked our feet off in Istanbul
The bond that my family shares is something I will always treasure. I have never thought that we look that much alike as brothers, but I see it as I get older. Additionally, it brings joy to my heart to see how much my wife and my sisters-in-law all bond together. They all bring such unique and valuable contributions to the family as a whole.
A quiet activity in Mykonos making mosaics
One of the moments I treasure the most from this trip was when I got to spend a quiet day on the island of Mykonos learning how to make mosaics from the most famous mosaic artist on the island. I would have never thought to have an opportunity like this if it wasn't for my sister-in-law looking off the beaten path for good activities. It was such a nice, quiet break from the rest of the trip and I got to take home more than just a mosaic I made myself.
Exploring the Castle of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes
Exploring the back countries of other places always helps me appreciate how much I have here in the United States. We have such a relatively short history compared to other countries in the world, and there's a lot we take for granted. Like trees. I was surprised by how few trees there are in Greece. I guess that's what you get when you live in an area with frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
The view of the caldera of Santorini for lunch
The last stop of our trip was the island of Santorini. I think I learned that people go there to take pictures of themselves there to demonstrate that they've been there to take pictures of themselves there. Honestly, it was pretty, but I was getting easily lost there on all the ups and downs of the cliff roads. Overall it was such a great trip full of memories that I will treasure the rest of my life.
A visit from my nephew and his cute family
When that trip was over, Sarah and the kids stayed out in Idaho to help out grandparents. Someone had to fund their activities, so I went back for my isolation in Texas. Thankfully, I got a reprieve from that when my nephew visited for a few days while they were making a cross-country trek. I hadn't spent much time with them before, so I was glad to get to know the kids a bit better.
Leah's first time at Girl's Camp
When Sarah and the kids got back, almost immediately Sarah and Leah went and spent a week with the rest of the girls in our church congregation at their summer girl's camp. I am sure summers in Texas aren't the most comfortable places for outdoor activities, but thankfully they got to eat and sleep air conditioned buildings. I think Leah had a great time getting to make memories with the other girls in our church and I definitely can see the bonds they have formed.
Hot enough to move the house away from the ground
Speaking of summers in Texas, this summer was one of the hottest on record. Hot enough that the ground dried up around our house and pulled our gas meter away from the house. We came home after a morning activity to find it gushing gas out, having sheared the screw post completely off. That was an exciting call to 911. At least the kids got free hats from the fire department. So if you have any cooler weather for next summer in your bag, I am sure millions of us would appreciate an arctic vortex in July.
A lovely view from our balcony
Because I was having yearnings to see family again, I arranged to take a fall trip out to the Florida panhandle to spend a few days with my brother and his family at a beach house right on the coast. It was another wonderful trip that we got to enjoy this year.
Kids playing with their cousins
My brother's daughter is the closest to the rest of my kids' age, so they got along well. However, his older kids spent a great deal of time doting on their younger cousins. Malcolm especially bonded with his teenage cousin and still calls him his best friend.
Enjoying the white sand beaches
I have a special place in my heart for the beaches of northern Florida. They are always so pretty and it's just far enough away to be just within reach of our home in Texas.
More of Malcolm and Mom's cup of tea
I'm hoping that one day we can do that trip again before all the kids get too big and too far away. They certainly love spending time with all their cousins, and they haven't had much time to spend with their cousins on the Reynolds side of the family.
Enjoying the outdoors with my three oldest kiddos
I continue to try and take my kids camping when the weather gets cooler. We've found a spot north of Houston that is our little hideaway. The kids thankfully enjoy the outdoors and appreciate unplugging from electronics for a few days.
The heaviest day of the year
By now, Santa, I'm sure your elves have told you that we unfortunately lost my mother this year. For years she had health symptoms that resembled leukemia, but no cancer cells could be found in her body. When we were leaving Greece, she got sick with food poisoning, but never seemed to get better. After a few months, she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, which is essentially the cancer before leukemia. In August she started chemotherapy and we tried to have hope for an extension to her life. By the end of September, however, she wasn't reacting well at all to the medication and began to get fluid buildup in her lungs. We prayed for better news, but on the morning of Saturday, October 21st, she passed away at her home. It was a very hard day for all the family. Not only was she our mom, but she was a shining light to so many around her.
Unforgettable memories for the kids
One more time this year we gathered all the family together, this time for the solemn occasion of saying our earthly goodbyes to our wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Amazingly, I think she knew that this wasn't going to be a long-lasting battle with cancer. As soon as she got diagnosed, she spent the next month cleaning out all but the essentials in her house. She didn't want anyone to have a lot of stuff to go through when she passed. The week before she passed away, when she couldn't sleep, she had written out her own obituary and funeral, probably because she didn't want to be a burden on anyone else, even in that moment. We were able to have a beautiful funeral and burial with all the brothers there once again to pay tribute to their wonderful matriarch.
One last grand adventure
So, Santa, this year I'm afraid to say that my light is a little dimmer than it was in years past. My mom was my partner in creating gingerbread houses, one of the annual traditions she tried to uphold. I designed an elaborate gingerbread house for her that she had started on, but wasn't able to finish once she got sick. It is supposed to get finished by my nieces out in Utah, so I hope they can do it justice. I thought about creating one of my own this year, but I honestly got overwhelmed by everything going on. Maybe next year.
A Christmas mess
In addition to all that was going on, this fall we decided to tear apart the house and redecorate, which is taking a lot longer and is more expensive than I originally thought. You see the above photo? You notice how there's a tiny Christmas tree at the left of the photo? I think this is a visual representation of how my life feels right now. It's very disorganized with lots of work to be done, and what Christmas spirit I have right now is very, very tiny. With everything that has gone on this fall, it's been really hard to get in the mood for Christmas.
Pardon the Christmas dust
So when you get here on Christmas Eve, Santa, I hope we have enough room for presents and stockings amid the construction clutter. This week will tell us for sure. One positive thing I am looking forward to this year is that my dad chose to be with my little Texas family for Christmas. According to him, Christmas is for little kids and we're the last ones with little kids in the Reynolds clan. With all he's had to endure over the past two months, I hope to give him a soft place to land on what is probably going to be a really hard day for all of us, in spite of the joy of Christmas. If you have something- anything- that can bring him a little peace and joy in that big sack of yours, I would hope that you'll put it in his stocking when you get here.
Visiting your Wonderland in College Station, TX
In spite of the lingering gloom, we've tried to do a few things to get in the Christmas spirit. One thing we did this past weekend was going up to your Winter Wonderland at the West Pole in College Station, TX. I have to say, I didn't know what to expect, but the kids think you delivered right on the money. They loved the bull rides, the snow tubing, and the lights of the hayride. All in all, it was a fantastic trip that I think lightened up our hearts a bit.
Kids participating in a wonderful Christmas performance
Our children have also been using their musical talents to sing some Christmas praises over the past few weeks. One of the highlights for me was seeing them sing in our church's choir performance, which is one of the best Christmas musical performances I have ever seen. All the time I was sitting and watching my kids perform, I was thinking that I'm sure my mom was there beyond my earthly vision, enjoying seeing her grandchildren sing praises to their Lord and King.
So, Santa, I don't know what else I have to say. That's been our lives this year. A lot of good memories, and some of the hardest one's we've had to endure. Most children write letters telling them what they'd like for Christmas. Honestly, I could get whatever I wanted throughout the year, so I don't really have anything I need under the tree. Maybe you could enlist some of those elves that helped that one cobbler make shoes and have them finish up my house? Maybe they only do shoes, I don't know. I will be working on it as best as I can over my vacation time over Christmas. Honestly, it's been a bit therapeutic to get off the computer and get my hands dirty. I just hope I don't screw anything else up.
All that being said, I just want some peace and joy in my life. It's been dark as of late, and I'm still healing from the loss of my mom. I didn't expect it to affect me as much as it has, but I am taking it in without denial. Some days are easy, some are hard, and others I just feel numb (and sometimes guilty that I don't feel anything). I know this should be expected and I have accepted that I'm going to be here for a while. Things will get easier to endure, but I'm not on that part of the path yet. So in the meantime, just bring a little cheer to someone else's life in memory of my mom. Maybe you can find some small shack out in West Africa where a mother is struggling to bring the bare essentials to her children and give her a little extra joy. I think my mother would appreciate that. I don't really need much of anything, except maybe some more sleep. But there's nothing you can do about that.
See you Christmas Eve, Santa. There will be leftover brisket in the fridge if you get hungry on your stop over. May your sleigh be swift, your coat be warm, and your heart be full of love for Him whose birth we celebrate this time of year.
Sincerely,
-Brad Reynolds
P.S. But seriously, if you have any of those small, pointy-eared, indentured servants of yours that know how to do flooring work and could spare them, I'll take it!
