Christmas News Letter, 1985

Creative Christmas Letter, 1985, from friends

The Christmas "newsletter" has had its critics; however, it is a means of getting the family news out to those we don't routinely connect with and sending warm holiday greetings at the same time.




Feeling ambitious, I emptied our front-entryway buffet so that I could refinish it before the holidays.  I discovered Christmas newsletters written in 1985.  Re-reading them 25+ years later, I was reminded how unpredictable life is and how, without God's grace, we would be hopeless.  

Let me share--

We'll call this-

 From the Past

Letter 1

Holiday greetings from our home to yours!  As I watch the month race by, I realize this is the only way I reach most of you. . .  There's a special twinkle in our Christmas lights this year as we anticipate the arrival of our "new team member," hopefully no later than December 31.  (We would like a tax deduction.)  . . . Shannon is ten, in the fifth grade, and caught up in friends, the telephone, and enjoys singing in the choir at church.  Casey, seven, is in second grade and still manages to delight the rest of us with her indelible wisdom of life. . . "

Epilogue:  Signed The Wilsons, Shannon is in her middle thirties, Casey is in her early thirties.  Their "tax deduction" for that year, a new brother is in his mid twenties.  The writer of the letter, their mother, is a grandmother and alone.  Shannon's, Casey's, and little brother's dad died of cancer.

Letter 2 

 Dear Family and Friends, Merry Christmas!

We think of you always but especially this time of year we wish we were closer so we could share a little bit of Christmas love with you. . . It's been a lonely year without John at home.  The Navy has stationed him in the Mediterranean. . . I stay busy with nursing school, studying and the children.  I'll graduate in June and then we will celebrate. . . 

Epilogue:  Signed, Love the Harrises, Jan and John divorced, and Jan eventually married another.  Her new love drowned in the Mississippi River while fishing.  Jan worked as a nurse, re-married, and now struggles with MS in her retirement years.

Letter 3

Seasons greetings to all.  1985 has been a fun and exciting year.  The highlight of the year was our trip this past summer to Alaska. . .  It was an experience, camping and traveling so intensely, with a five year old and a two year old. . . JB started kindergarten this fall and has loved it.  Jeff, our two year old, is constantly moving, wanting to play "hike," and only looking like an angel when asleep.

Epilogue:  Signed The Hansons, Ann and Brad eventually built their own home in Alaska and live there six months of the year.  Their two year old is a forever toddler in heaven.  They had another son.  The Hansons are grandparents of an adorable little girl and expecting another.  

 Letter 4

It's hard to believe that Christmas is close on our heels and that 1985 is coming to an end.  Our life has been pleasantly uneventful . . . Shauney, our twelve year old dog, is still active.  We've lost two guinea pigs, two dwarf frogs, and three fish to the great animal heaven in the sky . . .

Epilogue:  Ginny was my college roommate.  We were forever friends.  However, I have no idea where she is and how she has been.  I loved her sense of humor and her candidness in every situation. 

Letter 5

At Christmas as always, we pray that God will guide you, guard you, bless you.  This year we are definitely not dreaming of a white Christmas.  Winter set in early, and we have had white ground covering since November 8th.  The adverse weather presented a lot of harvesting problems. . .  No doubt you have heard of the National Farm Crisis Rally held in Ames last February.  Nearly 20,000 attended, and it gave farm and agricultural people a feeling of a common bond.  We were fortunate to be a part of it. . .

Epilogue:  Signed "Mom and Dad," and "Come see us when you can,". . . Mom died of a rare cancer several years ago.  Dad is content in an assistive living facility and will always be a farmer at heart.

Letter 6

. . . and the short notes, "From our house to yours" with a precious picture of a little boy holding his new baby brother.

Brad with new brother, Chris

Epilogue:  Little boys that are now grown men (and with another brother added to the family).  Grown men with wives and children of their own.

Our family Christmas card, 1985

A lot has happened.

Much has changed.

 ... moving to the country, the teen-age years, a total of 16+ years of college, finding jobs, planning weddings, adjusting to in-laws and being one, grandchildren, welcoming retirement . ...

Someone said, "The only thing we can be sure of is change."

However, the ONE thing we can be sure of is God and His grace.

During this season remember that we come from God and we return to God.  Counting each day as a blessing and remembering that we are the hands and feet of God can bring us joy.

Life unpredictable?

Perhaps so.

The Old Testament, however, became predictable when the prophets fore-told the birth of Jesus.

Therefore the Lord himself

will give you a sign:

the virgin will be with child

and will give birth to a son

and will call him

Immanuel.

Because of this promise, 
we can sing, 
"Joy to the World."