Kingsley Christmas Letter 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

We just wanted to save a stamp and a tree by sending our letter this year via our blog. You hope all is well with you and your family. Following the letter are some recent pictures of the girls. You can find more pictures of me and Jeff in the blog... we pretty much look the same!

Jeff has gotten a little more settled with his job. He's in his second year of working as a Materials Engineer for the government. This job has been such a blessing to our family in so many ways. Jeff is currently working on his Master's in Materials Engineering through the University of Dayton. The University has classes during his lunch hour and it is also located right on the Air Force Base.

His job has given him many challenges and wonderful experiences. Jeff has traveled all over the country attending conferences and meetings and he recently made a trip abroad toIsrael. It was a wonderful once in a lifetime experience for him.

Jeff is also very busy with family and church. He is a doting father to Maya and Reili and is a wonderful husband to me. Jeff is now the Boy Scout leader at our church. He works with the young men, teaching them skills that he hopes will help them become great leaders someday.

I worked with two companies this year doing health screenings at corporate work sites. I was promoted to a "team lead" but stopped working in that position after six months. My priorities in life are not work right now, but rather my family. I'm now working with one wonderful company, Health Fitness Corporation. I continue doing health screenings but have also started doing seminars to help people achieve better health. It is quite fulfilling to talk and teach about how to take better care of our bodies so that we can have better lives. I have been able to travel all over the country lecturing and doing health screenings. Some highlights of my travels has been Seattle, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. I love to travel, especially when I can get paid doing it at the same time!

I am working with the women's organization, Relief Society, at our church. I help plan fitness/health events and I'm also doing a monthly playgroup for the mothers and young children. Most importantly I keep busy by being a mom! I only work part-time which gives me time to spend with our beautiful daughters.

Maya has had a wonderful year as a 3 yr old. She is brighter than I could have ever dreamed. She enjoys drawing, painting, reading books with mommy, singing, and playing outside whenever she can. I can't sum up in this letter how amazing she is. You will just have to read previous blog entries to get the gist of what I mean. She is such a wonderful big sister. She tries to teach Reili everything she knows.

Reili is now 16 months old. She is walking, talking (in some unknown language), and is just and an adorable angel. She tries to follow Maya wherever she can, but she definitely has her own unique personality. She has a great sense of humor and loves to laugh. She's definitely a daddy's girl and doesn't try to hide it! As soon as Jeff comes home, she yells, "Heeey Dada!!!" She is such a wonderful addition to our family.

We've enjoyed our second year in Ohio. We miss Alabama immensely, but we are moving forward here and hope our future will be a bright one.

We hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season. May the Lord bless you and keep you. We know that our Savior lives and that he loves us.

With love,

Jeff, Melody, Maya and Reili