Season's Greetings Family and Friends!

Season's Greetings Family and Friends!      

                                                                

            Well, for the second time in Hoskins' family history, we are breaking with tradition and sending out a Thanksgiving card instead of our usual Christmas greeting.  This decision is largely driven by the fact that much of our December will be spent in traveling, and the remaining portion will be occupied by packing and preparing to move.  It is also partly due to the fact that we have changed addresses so many times that many of you no longer know where to find us at Christmastime. (Heck, we hardly know where to find ourselves!) So, to save everyone the trouble, and to uncomplicate our December, we decided to get these out early this year. 

           
 Our year has been largely occupied with the usual Hoskins' activities.  Nick is still working as an Anesthesiologist; however, he did recently accept a job with Sanford, the competing hospital in town.  They offered him an incentive package--with loan repayment and production bonuses--that was far too good to pass up.  So far the move has been a positive one.  As for me,  I am still working as a stay-at-home, homeschooling mother, though I now have three full-time students instead of last year's one.  This came about just after Christmas last year when Madison asked to leave public school and come back home.  We hesitated at first, and then, after much thought and prayer, allowed her to withdraw. We have been home schooling her and Spencer ever since.  Then Emma came on as a new kindergartener this year.  It's been busy, but with the help of a college student I hired, we somehow manage to make it through the days.  I even have time to teach Mason's preschool every six weeks and chauffeur all of the kids to their many activities.   This year the list has grown to include gymnastics, dance, activity day girls, piano, golf, soccer, basketball, swimming, itty bitty sports, and art and Spanish lessons.  Madison will start the violin next month too!   I'm not sure what we'll do after my helper leaves on her mission in December, but as always, I'm confident that with a little divine help, we'll find a way. 

           
 Additionally, I'm sure it will help that Nick and I's part time job as "general contractor" on our new home will be coming to an end very shortly.  Who knew what a task it was going to be to build a custom home?!  We certainly had no way to anticipate the time commitment it would entail, and will be relieved when we move in after the first of the year.  In the meantime, we are managing our stress by leaving town as often as possible.  In fact, the day after we mail these letters we will be heading to Disneyland for Mason's fourth birthday celebration.  Then, after our other December travels,  we will close out the year with our third, and now annual Disney Cruise adventure.  As my sister-in-law recently noted--we are officially addicted to Disney!  With as much stress as we put up with; however, we need to get to the "happiest place on earth" as often as possible.  There, and to the temple, which gratefully--now that Nick and I are both temple workers--we get to visit almost every week.  In truth, although our lives are as crazy and busy as ever, we are incredibly blessed.  We are happy, healthy, and humbly secure in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  We wish you all the same health and happiness and encourage you to take a minute to count your many blessings during this holiday season.

Happy Holidays and All Our Love,

The Hoskins Family

Nicholas, Jamie, Madison (8), Spencer (7), EmmaLee (5), and Mason (4)