Merry Christmas from the Jackson's

A year in the life of the Jacksons 

- Soccer, Travelling, Changing, Growing…   

                

There is definitely a lot of soccer in our lives.   I guess there is even more changing and growing.  And between trips, vacations, and travel soccer, we have driven a lot too.  We had downsized the pet population around here by 4 but added a dog, Jethro, to the mix.  A 100 lb., 6 month old Great Pyrenees puppy.  OH and a Beta fish.  Josiah’s Chinese water dragon met an untimely death and we released our 3 red-eared slider turtles back into the wild.  That leaves 2 cats, a dog, James’ 2 geckos and Rebekah’s fish.

Some of the highlights of the year include, Matt coaching James in Middle school soccer, John and Josiah playing together on a travel soccer team, Matt and James visiting Rick and Nancy in Saudi Arabia, Myra completing her second marathon, and hosting a baby shower for her sister Anne (and the 4^th of July on the same day), a Trip to NJ for Matt’s Aunts wedding (and the Statue of Liberty) and yet another new church home for us.  Myra and I also celebrated our 15^th wedding anniversary this summer!

Matt – I am teaching 7^th grade geography at Warren County Middle School, coached the soccer team and loved having James on the team.  I am also now working part-time for another church in the community, Christ Community Church, working with the youth and families there.  We were not really looking for another church change but, when contacted   about the position, it felt like a change the Lord wanted us to make. It is a small non-denominational church with a wide range of ages, coffee and donuts every Sunday morning and some really great worship!   The family all agrees it was a good move for us and we are all enjoying making even more new friends.  I also had a great time visiting Riyadh this summer with James and getting to scuba dive in the Red Sea.  Myra asked the kids what they liked most about Dad and here’s what they had to say: Rachel’s most favorite thing about Dad is that she loves him and cares about him.  Rebekah  says “he always takes care of me”.  John says his favorite thing about Dad is “Dad’s new droid”.  Josiah says he appreciates all that Matt teaches him how to do, from soccer to yard work, yet he thinks he should get allowance for some of the work he does around here.  James really appreciates his Dad not giving him homework!

Myra – Keeps us all going.  While most of us are at school, she does more laundry than most would think possible.  She keeps the house looking great and makes sure everyone gets where they need to be, when they need to be there.  All while taking care of Ruth.  She also finds time to run, a lot!  Thankfully her mom can watch Ruth three mornings a week, while Myra logs 20-35 miles a week.  This past summer she completed her second marathon and is going to start training in December for her third. What do the kids have to say where Mom is concerned?  Rachel says “Mom sweeps a lot, is kind, and really likes her husband and her kids”.  Rebekah loves that Mom always wants to play board or card games with everyone.   Josiah says he really appreciates when Mom lets him help out in the kitchen, cooking and baking though, not so much with the dishes!  John’s favorite thing about Mom is “her new iPhone”.  James’ highlight with Mom this year was the many stops at Sonic after Cookeville soccer practice twice a week for a well-deserved treat! 

James- is 12 and in 7^th grade.  He grew a lot this past year and is one of the tallest in his grade.  He had a great season playing with a U14 travel soccer team from Cookeville (about an hour away).  He also just made the Olympic Development Program (ODP) team for Tennessee.  We don’t know what all that will mean, but as of right now, he is seeing and being seen by some top club and college coaches in the region.  He also had a great time in Saudi this summer on an amazing trip.  We are very proud of the young man God is shaping James to be,  we are thankful to be his parents and we appreciate how hard he works in school (straight A honor roll) and on the soccer field.  He is looking forward to selling his iPod to Josiah when Josiah gets enough money and saving to buy is own new IPod 5^th gen.  He is also really looking forward to his trip to North Carolina for the Olympic Development Soccer Team the first weekend in January.

Josiah – is just about 11 and in 5^th grade.  He is playing trombone at school, following in the paths of his dad, uncle, and granddad and doing very well at it.  He is a strong guy that loves to laugh.  He is playing goalkeeper for their travel soccer team and is learning to be the leader/ encourager from the back.  Josiah also has a creative streak that loves to come out in anything from inventions to artwork.  He loves to help in the kitchen and says he likes to bake cookies.  He is also looking forward to his birthday next week and Christmas so that he can then hopefully have enough money to buy is own (James’) iPod.

John – is 9 and in 4^th grade.  He works hard and is super competitive.  He is playing trumpet at school and wearing through pants and shoes at a very fast rate!  He can never sit still or go to sleep early; he might miss something and be just a tad behind if he did.  He plays all over the soccer field and can be counted on to do just about anything on the soccer field or at home.  He says his favorite thing to do is play soccer with his friends and build on the most recent fort outside with his brothers.

Rebekah-is 7 and in 2^nd grade.  She definitely fits the oldest girl profile; she’s neat, organized, motherly and very responsible.  She’s athletic yet very much a girl at the same time, reminds me of someone else I know! She loves soccer, school, animals and playing with friends.  Two of the things she says she loves to do is snuggling with her mom in bed and playing killer Uno with the family.

Rachel-is 6 and in 1^st grade.  She is slowly growing out of being the baby of the family but it has NOT been an easy position for her to resign.  She has grown and matured a lot in the last year, from a sweet little kindergartener to a 1^st grader that is reading and writing in cursive!  She does NOT like soccer she says and she has just started her first gymnastics class across the street at the Civic Center.  She says she loves the new church because they have DONUTS and her favorite thing to do is painting and science experiments.

Baby Ruth-is 23 months old now!  Talk about growing a lot in the last year, she has really taken off lately in talking and singing.  She can almost sing the whole Rock-a-Bye baby song all by herself!  She is becoming very independent while still very attached to her family and her Gigi (Myra’s mom, Vicki).  We are all a bit sweeter because we have her in our lives.  Everyone still fights over who can get her up in the morning, who can get her from the nursery at church, who can get her out of her car seat, who gets to carry her in somewhere, who get s to sit next to her at dinner and on and on and on….it’s really rather sweet.

We are all healthy, grateful and glad to be living our every days with one another and having people like you in our lives!