Snoswell’s 2004 Christmas letter

Aaron

This year I was in grade 8 at St Mary’s College Maryborough. I enjoyed it a lot more than my previous school years as I got to know people a lot better. I just turned 14 on the 3^rd December. I’m enjoying doing Ishi Ryoku Jutsu Martial Arts with my Dad and Caspian we advanced to our yellow belts a month ago. I recently got into HTML and Javascript programming and am making my own website and one for my Mums business.

I played trombone this year in my two school bands - we got first place at the Qld Catholic Schools competition. I was a pastoral care representative for my class this year and got elected for next year again. I bought a bow off my school at the start of the year and sometimes go out and do archery in our backyard - when the cow hasn’t eaten the target. I enjoy reading, drawing and listening to music. I went to the Wesleyan High School Youth camp in July with my youth group and am looking forwards to it next year. We went to AGMF (Australian Gospel Music Festival) at Easter with some friends and got blasted (gotta love the music) - the girls all loved Guy. I help out with the lights at church and recently did the lights for the Grade 10 graduation dinner at school - lots of fun but I got to bed at 12:30. I’ve been to Dreamworld twice this year once with the school band and with my youth group - I almost won an x-box - instead got 2^nd prize of sunnies, hats, CD etc.

ELIJAH

I have just finished year 1 - I do heaps of maths and can read books now. And I can read books really fast. And I like writing in my Integrated Studies book and my maths book. I won the cross country and got first place for boys in year 1. I learnt to ride my bike and do burn outs on it. I’ve been flipped in the air from it. I broke one of Dad’s plants when I ran into it on my bike. I won the academic award for my school last month. I turned six this year in August.

Caspian

This year I have completed year five in school. All year I have been busy running, playing music, acting and working. In the first term of school I ran in cross country and came 1^st at school, 2^nd district cross country, 3^rd at Maryborough and went on to represent Maryborough at wide bay zone(I came 20^th there). Later in the second term we had our sports day and I came first in everything but shot put. Then it was district and I got 10 year age champion. I went in Opti Minds Challenge and my team came 2^nd. I started learning saxophone this year and won “Most Improved Band Member” for Year 5. My shelf is full of trophies from this year. I enjoy doing martial arts with Aaron and Dad each week. I had my first sleepover party this year with 5 boys staying the night - I was very tired the next day. I also bought a game cube with Uncle Simon and we share it.

Right- In the Anzac March with school

Left - My birthday cake

Jasper

Jasper was born on 15^th May this year. He’s been a challenging baby. He hasn’t done a lot of sleeping but we are hoping this will improve. He likes lots of attention and stimulation. We tried some medication for reflux for a month or two which may or may not have helped. He’s now settling down a little bit and we seem to have the occasional routine working. He does give us lots of fun when he’s happy. His favorite routine at the moment is nodding his head. In September I went with him up to Darwin for 2 weeks to visit Annie my sister and then to Townsville for 1 week with Jon’s Mum and Doug. It was lovely to ‘show him off’ a bit! We are very thankful to God for another beautiful son – obviously God thinks we’re better with boys! This is definitely the last one though!

Jon & Ruth

Jon has been kept busy with work for TIO this year. He now does 70 hours a fortnight for them over the net. He was made permanent this year which was a wonderful blessing for us. He has been to Darwin twice this year for work. In July/August he was up there for 3 very long weeks – we all missed him and were very glad for him to be home again.

Jon sometimes finds time to get out in the garden. He’d love to find more time but life seems to be a bit busy. A sure way to keep him happy is to send him out there to admire his orchard or dig in the veggie patch. The house seems to always have something that needs fixing so Jon has always got some project on the go.

Jon has done some piano playing at church every now and then since Jasper was born – to start with we rarely got through a service without having to go home as he was such a screamer. Thankfully now, we seem to usually make it to the end of church before leaving! Next year we are looking forward to getting involved in helping to run the Grace Kids Church with a team of people. It should be fun – and to do something together will be good.

I’ve been busy with Jasper most of the year. Before he was born I finished my part time work with CRS and have no plans to go back. I completed a Kindermusik teachers course this year and will start teaching Kindermusik classes in Maryborough next year. I’m hoping this will be a way to keep me challenged happily! If you want you can check out Aaron’s website he’s put together for me at www.snoswell.poweringon.com/kindermusik.

I really enjoyed a trip to Sydney for 4 days in October for my Gran’s 90th birthday. It was so good to see lots of family who I hadn’t seen for a while. We’ve loved having my Mum and Dad living with us on & off this year (when they are not overseas or in the NT). Their house is just about finished and this week they are in the process of moving in which is very exciting.

We hope you have a very blessed Christmas and holiday time and that 2005 is a year of following Jesus for you.

Love from the Snoswells.