“2021 was even better! Hell of a time! I’m on a roll!” – signed, Satan
Was 2021 a dumpster fire? Read on to find out…
But
first, a shameless update on the kids:
Joseph (10) – Grade 5. Loves outdoor adventures such as hunting, hunting antlers, shooting at things, and hunting. He also likes watching hunting on TV, and hunting.
John Paul
(7)
– Grade 2. Loves reading, creating, playing sports, and beating up his
siblings.
Emilie (5) – Kindergarten. Loves tea
parties, learning to read, and stomping her feet when told to clean up.
Jude (2) – Loves playing every sport and
game imaginable, making people laugh, eating food, and making people laugh
while they are eating food.
2021 Year
in Review
Jan – Mar Being locked down and unable to visit anyone *wink wink* we took on loads of snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, building winter shelters (the boys), hockey, and having massive bonfires (destruction is therapeutic).
April 10 The parents went out for supper, alone, to
celebrate 11 years of marriage. The first time in… about 11 years.
May 21 Bring
on the long weekend! Drinks! Shorts! Half a foot of snow…
May 31
The homeschool year ends for
Becca and the kids.
June 30 The public-school
year ends for Dan. He wonders if he should take up teaching homeschooling
instead. Becca assures him that it doesn’t pay well.
July 2 - 10
Landscaping and summer
projects.
July 11 – 21 The entire family escapes to the
Rocky Mountains. See our crazy adventures here: The
Millette Family: Millette Family Vacation 2021 - Two Videos, or read
about them Here and Here.
August 10-11 The
boys build a small backyard log shrine for Our Lady. She then appears to Dan in
a dream and says they did a pretty good job, for a first try anyway.
Sept 4 John Paul
has his first Confession. He comes out and says, “It was easy! I only said one
sin!”
He gets his holiness from his dad.
Fall The
usual… a two week completely useless COVID-quarantine, smashing a demon pinata
for Michaelmas, carving pumpkins, smashing pumpkins, hauling in the garden,
shoveling snow…
Dec 25
Hopefully we are celebrating Christmas with others. If our Lords and
Masters allow us, of course.
Coming - Spring 2022: Dan is
writing a novel (for ages 10-14). It concerns a day when the internet dies, and
people need to learn to live again. Stay tuned! I’m sure I can count on all of
you to buy a dozen copies each. Buy 99 and get the 100th for free.
While supplies last. No CODs. Operators are standing by. Be the first on your
block.
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Jude crying late at night while we drive home…Emilie – “Jude! Be quiet! You’re going to wake me up!” |
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On
our way to Mass… Mom – “Jude, are you going
to be good and quiet at Mass? Jude – “Not today.” |
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Jude – “Oh my Dod!” [God] Mom – “?!?!?!”
Jude – “O my Dod, I heartily
sorry…”
*Praying
Act of Contrition*
|
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John Paul – “Jude, you’re bad.”
Jude – “I not bad. I Jude!”
|
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Jude – “Mommy!”
|
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Jude – “My gun!” *Walks
out with a big wooden gun*
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The Finale: Our apologies that most of you will receive this letter via email this year. It had to be. But we hope 2022 will see a return to our usual mailout.
The highpoint of the year was undoubtedly our trip to the
mountains. A real peak. It elevated our spirits. The height of perfection. It
brought a new range of experiences. We felt on top of the world.
We climbed mountains, and hiked near valleys and gorges. Us
and our four kids. Surrounded by beauty, crisp air, fresh streams, and dogs.
Lots of dogs. I mean, everyone had a dog. There were dogs pushed in strollers.
Dogs out at restaurants. Dogs in baby carriers. Having four children made us
feel out of place - though it was tempting to buy a leash to control some of
our kids.
One night at the campground Jude started crying. Before we
could whisk him away to the silence of the van, a nearby dog woke up barking.
Within 30 seconds the entire campground (over 700 sites) was a howling mess of
barks, woofs, and growls. Way to go, Jude. Seriously, I was proud of him.
Why bring this up? Because it’s a world that continues to lose
its mind. Yet one child, like a nighttime explosion at a campground, can set
off the entire world. One child can bring suffering and joy, change and hope.
I’m not referring to Jude anymore. May this Christmas we allow The One Child
to bring peace, joy, and, if needed, a good whooping for all of us who need
our heads and hearts readjusted.
God bless us, everyone. (Even Trudeau, I guess). Merry Christmas, from the Millettes.