To Our Family & Friends,
It is this time of year that I reflect and refocus on the important things of life. Usually my thoughts turn to my family and friends and this year is no different...with the exception that my family and friends are now so far away. My gratitude for our family (who can never be rid of us) and our friends (who are likewise unfortunately stuck with us) has been heightened with this separation.
This year has certainly been full of changes; the biggest, of course, being a move to London, Ontario. Last spring, Bob and I made the decision to move East and he left at the beginning of April to find work and place for us to live. He returned to Calgary to help me finish packing and to fly with the kids back to London.
This is the season of magic and miracles—I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the many blessings we’
ve received. First, thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and good karma you’
ve sent on our behalf; I can assure you it has helped. Our thanks go out to Aunt Ann and Uncle Bob, who opened their quiet home to our chaotic family for several months. We were able to find a nice little place to rent and we got the kids settled into great schools with fantastic teachers. We have had constant support from family and friends helping us through the challenges of this move. I know that we are loved because of the selfless acts of kindness given to us by our loved-ones. Thank you so much. This transition has also been softened by family and friends we’
ve met since our arrival. They have welcomed us and taken very good care of us.
We’
ve also been blessed to have Christa and Zoe come for a visit followed closely by my Mom and Dad. It was so wonderful to be able to spend some quality time with them and show them some of the sights Ontario has to offer. This included going to lounge on the beach in October! We’
ve also been able to visit with Aunt Joan and Christine, Roger, Fiona and Liam. We are looking forward to spending some of the Christmas holidays with more family we haven’t been able to visit with yet.
Kailyn is excelling in French Immersion despite the fact that she missed a whole year of French education. She has also started taking piano lessons and ballet.
Kailyn is a very outgoing little girl who loves to be the center of attention. She is also thoughtful and artistic and she enjoys drawing and coloring pictures.
Kailyn has started to make new friends at school and at church. While she is not shy, she is very tender-hearted and loyal to her friends and peers. She loves to get letters and phone calls from family and friends. She is happy to talk to anyone that has time to listen.
Kailyn can often be found with the phone, in front of the piano, playing all the new songs she’s learned to anyone who calls.
Lukas is learning to write all his letters and numbers. His new favorite thing to do is write letters to family and friends. I spend a lot of time spelling out words for him while he writes them down. Bob is teaching him to read as well. He is starting to sound out and recognize small words. Lukas loves to play the computer and, thankfully, there are so many free, educational games on the
internet. Lukas is a thoughtful little boy who is extremely perceptive to things going on around him. Sometimes when I’m irritated with the kids, Lukas will ask me, “Who are you
frusterated with—
Kailyn or me?” He also thinks I am the “best Mom EVER!” (when I make cookies). He is wonderful!
Benson has also come to live with us until his parents move out here in the end of January. He started high school and is making huge efforts to do well in school. Ben is taking seminary (a study course of the Old Testament) at 6:30 in the morning. He’s not too thrilled with the time slot but is an active participant in class. This has certainly been a crash course in raising a teenager. We love him and find him very helpful with
Kailyn and Lukas.
Bob and I are also adjusting to new circumstances and surroundings. Bob has also applied to teacher’s college where he hopes to be able to teach at a high school level. Bob is serving in the youth program as the Young Men’s President. He is very busy coordinating activities and meetings but he loves it!
I am not working right now. The kids are still adjusting from the move and we feel it would be very difficult for them if I went into the work world right now. I am working with the youth, specifically with the 16-18 year-old girls. I teach on Sundays and try to attend weekly activities. My big highlight, since we’
ve been here, is my birthday book. It was filled with letters and notes from family and friends that were lovingly
scrapbooked together for me. Thank you so much for all your kind words. They will be a treasure to me always.
We love to hear from family and friends even though we are horrible at keeping in touch. We’
ve tried to maintain a blog even though my camera is giving me some difficulty. If you have a chance, take a look at what we’re doing.
http://www.cbcondron.blogspot.com/Thank you again for all your emails, phone calls and packages. They are all appreciated.
All our love and thoughts are with you this Christmas Season!
Cheryl, Bob, Ben,
Kailyn and Lukas
Here's Bob's swollen, broken foot.
This is Bob's leg with some nice scraps and scratches...
Here's a close-up of the ankle...
Lukas the Puppy, Ben the Terrible Pirate, Bob as the Phantom of the Opera and Kailyn as Christine Daas (also from Phantom) 
Our little family: me as the Paperbag Princess, Lukas, Bob and Kailyn
Most people didn't know who Kailyn was supposed to be--even when she told them, "I'm Christine Daas". They thought she was just saying her own name.
My effort--at least Bob can't say that I didn't try...
Ben worked on his costume for 30 minutes right before they left to out. He did pretty good though and he got TONS of candy!
This is the costume Kailyn wore during school. My Dad made this for her and she loves it! She also wore a poncho and her little moccasins.
Lukas kind of looks like a two-headed puppy! 
Bob's two-headed creation...
