by Jon Lewallen
Season�s tidings!
You know, every year I sit down to write these letters, and every year I am reminded of what it means to be a family. Is it the sharing of DNA? Is it the feeling of togetherness and community brotherhood that the Bible speaks of so eloquently? In reality, it�s probably somewhere in between those two extremes. All that is just my long-winded way (wake up, Jerry!) of saying that we had an addition to our family this year. Joyce�s uncle Samuel slipped and fell in his basement in May, and because we were the closest relations geographically we decided to take him in. He�s been living in the twins� room while they�re off at college, and we couldn�t be happier to have him. And he�s teaching little Ryan (oops � it�s just plain Ryan now) how to throw a slider. Should Ryan ever decide to stop playing basketball and take up baseball, I know he�ll enjoy the pointers.
Now it may sound as if we�re the luckiest family in the world, and in some ways we are (although we haven�t won a million dollars or anything, despite Joyce�s near-constant gambling. Though we are up $87 dollars on the year, so way to go, Joyce!). But it hasn�t been all mildly successful gambling for the Lewallen family. I know that college is not for everyone, but part of me wishes that Julie had tried just a little bit harder. Joyce had warned me that being in San Jose might be a distraction, but I guess I�m just an old softie (and getting older every day, ;() ) (that last one was an actual parenthese, not part of the �emotion-con�) (is parenthese a word? Because it should be.) Still, she seems to be settling in to her classes at Bilgewater Community College (it�s not as bad as it sounds�the name comes from being built on an old sewage treatment facility), and all I want for Christmas is for my family to be happy (and maybe a new car�Cousin Greg, how about a deal? I�d like a red one. Just kidding! Any color will do. Just kidding again! Red is the best).
We hope every one of you had a good 2006, we wish you a joyous 2007, and in this season of family and thanksgiving we ask that your thoughts and prayers be with our soldiers overseas.
All the best,
The Lewallens
Fighting Spirit...p. 3
Neighborhood Watch...p. 4
Message from the President...FRONT
Pine Oaks Book Club...p. 3
Welcome Wagon...FRONT
This Month in Pine Oaks...FRONT
Young Person's Perspective...p. 5