Eric, Michelle,
Diana, Daisy, and Barley
All our best Love and
prayers,
Our Christmas letter begins backwards. Because, why the heck, not?!? It is 2020, after all! Everything else this year has been upside
down, inside out. We have pivoted,
adjusted, cancelled, and re-arranged! So
my letter reflects that.
And yet, if you look at our family photos from 2020 you will
see smiles, laughs, silliness, family, friendships, adventures, and fun… maybe
in 20 years these joy-in-the-midst-of-sorrow-and-dramatic- change can be the best we remember from this
upside down year. Merriest of Christmas
to you and yours! Bring on 2021, baby!
Michelle… and Rhonda,
the other Blonde-Chick-Who-Loves-Jesus, were able to provide two Life Fuel
Retreats before the world retreated into their homes. Michelle published several faith articles in
our county paper; collected more rejections (e.g. badges of courage); provided
spiritual direction to a growing number of directees; substitute taught girls
bible study; mentored a seminarian; joined an alumni team of spiritual
directors; and spent time, energy and prayers to nurture local pastors in her
position as Associate District Superintendent for Central District of Indiana
Conference (of the UMC). She tried new
recipes and planted 108 begonias along with 67 spring flower bulbs!
Barley & Daisy… grew
to successfully annoy one another this year.
They play, sleep, bark, romp, guard our back yard from murderers, and
eat well together. Our quarantine time
meant extra snuggles for us and plenty of walks for them. Neither of which they
made an objection. Eric wants to get
#3!!
Diana… was able
to squeeze in Solo & Ensemble contest (district and state) and one Robotics
Competition with her Team#3176 Purple Precision before the world shut down. We
marvel at her GPA (higher than her parents), her rigorous academic load, and
her keen knack to get things to fit nicely into the refrigerator. She works hard, enjoys her flute lesson via
video conference, hangs out with her youth group/Soul Sistas & cousins, and
has begun her driving practice. Also, our
sweet 16-year-old spear-headed the naming of our new trees: Betty, Bob,
Gunther, Clay, Willa, Wilbert, and Terra.
Eric… was the
only human family member unfazed by the quarantine since he has worked from
home for years. He just met more people
in the kitchen at lunch time! Working on
his classic ’77 Porsche 911, searching for toilet paper, long drives, ghost
hunting, finishing Michelle’s honey-do projects, deer hunting, and avoiding
social media brought Eric both random joy and fulfillment this year.
As you can see from our Christmas card the Knight family was
able to make two trips this year… we joined Auntie in Florida during January
and Michelle was able to be in her dear friend, Jamie’s wedding! In July we
physically distanced in a North Carolina cabin to enjoy the Great Smokey
Mountains National Park. Our doodles were wonderful travelers on that trip and
LOVED all the mountain smells!
Dearest Friends and
Family,
Christmas 2020