Merry Christmas!
A few times this year we have chuckled to ourselves when we think about how excited we were that 2019 was over (see last year’s blog post) and 2020 was going to be a fresh, new start. Oh boy, 2020 has been one for the record books, hasn’t it?
This year we converted our garage into a bonus room, added a dog to the family (Sadie), stayed home more (if that’s even possible as a homeschooling family), and experienced a record number of ER visits as you will see below.
After a freak accident with the piano bench falling over, two of Liza's toes were badly injured. She was so brave during her trip to the ER. "Fluffy Puff" never left her side.
At times this year, it has felt like life came to a halt or that so much of the year was canceled, but come to find out life moves on...even in a pandemic! Here are brief updates about each member of the Fox clan:
Micah
Micah hit 11 years at North Star Marketing! In the midst of navigating business in a pandemic, the company decided to reposition itself and focus exclusively on marketing for educational institutions (K-12 private schools, higher ed, etc.). He is balancing his time between full-time husband, dad, employee, and elder at Antioch church. In-between house projects on the weekend (Yes, dear! ;-), Micah has enjoyed taking Kari on dates (different in 2020), playing football with the boys in the backyard, and reading books to Liza and Ian while they can still sit on his lap and enjoy the daddy snuggle time :)
Kari
Kari is still figuring how to thrive as a full-time homeschool mom and every once in a while she actually gets out of bed ;-). She still enjoys the creative outlet of doing graphic design and marketing a few hours per week for Alamance Fine Arts Academy. We are so thankful to report that her health has continued to improve over this year. Homeschooling takes a huge percentage of her time and energy, but she is learning to let go of perfectionism and enjoy this time while the kids are young and at home.
Blake
We have been so grateful to the Lord for the spiritual growth we’ve seen in Blake this year. He seems to be 11 going on 21 at times. He is now less than a year from the long-sought-after milestone of getting to attend our church’s annual Men’s Retreat (12-yrs old and above). He and Seth are taking acting classes this fall and thoroughly enjoying making us laugh with their dramatics. Blake got to play Peter in Cry Wolf this fall and plays the young George Bailey in the It’s a Wonderful Life play in a few weeks. If you’re in the area and looking for something to do, you can reserve tickets here. :)
Seth
Seth continues to improve in his piano skills and enjoys sitting down to play just for the fun of it. It helps that we have both the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars music books to play from. ;) You can hear some of his piano playing here and here. He is our quiet thinker and is quick with witty and hilarious replies. He is also our resident dog-trainer and baby whisperer with Ian. You’ll often find him spending his spare time outside playing with Sadie, or Ian, or both!
Owen
It turns out 2020 was not the best year to begin a new sport. Even though the season was canceled, Owen did manage to play a little bit of soccer for the first time in a fall soccer camp put on by the city. This year we have seen that he has a knack for academics and is also our most affectionate child. Though he often leads the way among the Fox children in, hmmm...creating opportunities for “discipleship”, he has a tender heart as evidenced by the many love notes from him hanging on our bedroom walls.
Liza
Liza is still quite dramatic, but we are happy (and extremely relieved) to report that she has had more smiles that tantrum outbursts this year than last. She takes the prize for the best nostril-flaring belly laugh and is both a big sister and little-mama to Ian. It’s both cute and entertaining
to listen to Liza and Ian chatter from their beds early in the morning and at night before they fall asleep. Liza is thrilled with recently gaining the new skill of learning to read the much anticipated Bob Books.
Ian
Ian turned two in October and the very next day took on the serious task of beginning the expected duties of an average two-year-old. He has the cutest little “humpf!” he does with his arms crossed. He can talk up a storm and is currently infatuated with Superman, bad guys, and “rawr rawrs” (which is anything scary). His favorite time of the day is the brief period between taking off his clothes and putting pj’s on when he can make a few laps around the house as “Nakey Boy”. What is it with little boys and being naked?? Everyone in the family loves him so much and is always willing to help do things for him. You know, the last child...usually a little spoiled.
Well, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here’s to looking forward to 2021 and looking toward Jesus- the author and finisher of our faith.
