Thompson Family Christmas Letter 2015

The Thompson Family
2015
Our Year in Numbers*

 

“We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count” 

-Neal A. Maxwell

632,456+ text messages sent by Alex (world record?)
109,288 words into Michelle’s 2 new novels (she’s shooting for a trilogy)
20,000+ laps by Max and Alex total on the swim team
4,000+ Legos that Eli owns
1000+ mention of cluster headaches, complex migraines and migraines in our home
365 consecutive nights of dishwashing by Enoch
163 loads of laundry done
154 Eagle project hours for Max to earn his Eagle
72+ times a day Eli provides comic relief
63 books read by Alex (he did not get his reading speed from his mother)
56 fixed computers by Enoch (and 15,000 used computer parts stored)
23 tomato plants started by Enoch for his garden
20 Knives made from scratch by Max
18 children in the Primary Sacrament Presentation
17 lbs. lost after Michelle’s surgery complications (and then gained back 3 months later)
16^th Rook Publishing book published
16 roller-blade wheels Alex has gone through
15 times a day Eli asked someone if they would play Minecraft with him
13 church songs Alex learned to play on the piano in one week (after not practicing for 6 years)
13 seconds shaved off of Max’s backstroke time
12 days averaged between every intravenous hemophilia infusion Max gives himself
10 school choir concerts for Max and Alex
9^th journal completed by Enoch
7 favorite colors that Eli has (depending on the day)
6 pairs of glasses broken between Max and Alex (don’t ask)
6 longboards/skateboards and penny boards, and 5 pairs of rollerblades owned
5 inches that Alex grew (and 3 shoe sizes)
4 visits to the ER (Michelle-2, Alex-1, Max-1)
3 different Halloween costumes for Eli
(only) 2 non-special education classes Michelle subbed for (almost always called for special ed!)
1 Senior (Max), 1 Freshman (Alex), 1 Kindergartener (Eli), and 1 new puppy! (Jericho)
½ day spent at Great Grandpa’s ranch (first time visit for Eli)
⅛ of a merit badge left before Alex can start his Eagle Scout project
0 minutes of rest for the weary

Published by Rook Publishing of Tempe, Arizona USA,
www.rookpublishing.com.
Story and Primary Text © 2015 Michelle Thompson
All rights reserved.

This letter is a work of fact and fiction. Any reference or resemblance to events, people, locales or organizations may be entirely coincidental
and/or is a product of the author’s imagination. The story herein should not be construed as completely real. The opinions and views of the
author do not necessarily reflect the views of Rook Publishing.

No part of this letter may be reproduced, whether by: graphic, visual, electronic, film, microfilm, tape recording, or any other means,
without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of fair-use as established under current law. All photography and
graphics used, are either in the public domain, provided by the author, or contracted for the purpose of this publication.

*Most numbers are factual, while others may be grossly over (or under) estimated

Acquisitions by Michelle Thompson

Cover image by Michelle Thompson

Letter Design by Michelle Thompson © 2015

The original text of this letter was set in Garamond.

This letter was published in the United States of America.

:) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!