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Amazing Grace
By Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai, Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon
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 No Christmas letter this year. It's a travesty, I know. How will all my card recipients survive! For some reason, I just felt rebellious about writing a letter this year (maybe because this year feels so much like last year... or maybe I'm just grumpier this year, who knows?). Dave tried to work his powers, but I obstinately refused to cave.
In a meager attempt at appeasement, I wrote this poem:
Twas the second week of advent, and all through the Berry home,Many creatures were
scurrying and singing and arguing as they roamed. They hoped to hang
stockings someday and maybe get a tree, But b-ball practice,
church choir, and scouts kept them busy as bees. At least the manger’s
up and the lights outside, so we do the suburban blend, But Christmas cards
keep coming, so I suppose ours we must send. 
Dave’s still at H------ Blue Shield in charge of reserves,
But their company’s
merging and who knows what positions will be preserved.
He’s not worrying
much; there’s too much else to do—
Leading tiger cubs,
teaching 1st graders Sunday school, baseball and b-ball coaching
too.
Rachel still prays with Moms In Touch and did a Bible study,
But her favorite
parts of this year were catching up with friends and family.
We went to Canada
this summer, to Dave’s parents’ cottage, for some relaxing living
And spent time with
Rachel’s extended family in Nagshead over Thanksgiving.
 Abby’s so big—it’s hard to believe it's ten years ago she was
born.
She still does Girl
Scouts, piano, and switched from viola to French horn.
She’s in her second
year of basketball and played on a great softball team.
She’s still the boys’
favorite sister, and keeps her room as clean as any mother’s dream.
Jamie, or James as he’s now known, is catching up to Abby and wears
bigger shoes.
He’s eight now, loves
to heely, play sports and can’t stand to lose.
He played baseball,
basketball, (flag) football, and still does scouting,
But he has moments to
read, play Legos, or keep up with his Webkinz’ cat, Yao-Ming.
 Jack’s in school all day (first grade) now that he’s turned six.
He loves Tiger cubs,
having his dad coach baseball, and learning soccer kicks.
He spends hours
drawing and enjoys games and, in play, taking the lead.
Still, he’ll snuggle
up to say “good morning” or to sit and read.
Our littlest one, Andy, is now almost four, and like all Berrys,
tall.
He takes gymnastics
at the Y and started preschool this fall.
He is often attired
as Buzz Lightyear or Superman or in just random dress-up clothes
And he and Mommy do
puzzles, read, and play Playmobil and dominoes.
The newest addition
is covered in fur, from her head to her paw.
We called her Shanti, a Shih-Tzu, who often raises a
guffaw.
She speaks barely a
word, but has created lots of work.
Still, we’re hopeful
for the future as we work out the quirks.
And you know we’d
exclaim, should we see you tonight,
“Merry Christmas to you all as you celebrate the True Light.”
But in the end, I lacked courage to send it or the wherewithal to perfect it, so our readers had to be content with a picture. And these were our picture choices. Notice that we have our own resident Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes) who made the whole picture selection rather difficult. 
We actually didn't choose any of these pictures, but one very close.
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