The Ray of Sunshine

“The Ray of Sunshine”

Ray Family Christmas Letter 2005

This is the first time we have done a Christmas Letter, but with all that has happened this year, it seems fitting to start this tradition now. Last year, we had learned that we were going to be blessed with a little bundle of joy and so it began. I (Johnny) finished up school at UTA, doing horribly I might add.

Now, why would you tell them that? Christmas letters are supposed to be about sharing good news!

Jenny, you’ve got to share the real stuff, not just the warm and fuzzies. Speaking of warm and fuzzies, Mackenzie Scott Ray was born on May, 10th, 2005 at 5:32 PM, and really has been an angel of a child thus far. He doesn’t cry much and is very smart. To be honest, he is just so very much fun, I think we are being spoiled way more than he has been.

Which really is saying a lot, since he’s the first grandchild on both sides! He definitely won’t be hurting for gifts this Christmas!

Before the end of May, Mack was already a Texas Junior Ranger. The free stuff is just plain awesome. When he goes to a Ranger game, the Rangers are 4-0. Maybe they should give him free season tickets? I have been to 18 games this year, the most since 1993, and Jenny, despite giving birth to our first child, managed to make it to 12 games.

In the start of the New Year, I enrolled into the University of Phoenix. My GPA thus far is a 3.66, which I am very proud of, because it reminds me of the grades I got back when I was in High School (which weren’t as high, but still good in my mind).

Johnny’s now working on his teaching degree. He wants to be a high school algebra teacher. Not many people can do that…in fact, the usual response when people hear what he wants to teach is “Really? I suck at math!” or “I hate math!” Hey, somebody’s gotta teach it! Not only does Johnny love math, he’s good at it, too.

Blppp! Bbwaaa, bbwaa…

That’s right, Mackenzie, Johnny’s been tutoring his sister in her college algebra class. She’s struggled with this class so much but now she has a 99! That is impressive!

Financial Aid for school was a let down and money problems have been an issue. I have been laid off twice this year, with the second opening a door to become a stay at home dad and full time student. Jenny and I both felt that a family member raising the child would be much better than a stranger at a daycare, so it just seemed right at the time.

Ahee, hee, hee, mawoo, oo

Oh, yes, Mack just loves his daddy! They have lots of fun together during the day.

For the first time since the first week of our marriage, we have two cars. I aged a good 20 years just by looking at a mini-van, but we got it anyway. It’s a great car. We got rid of the Daewoo, and I am very grateful for that. We now have a 2003 Taurus (which we call the Toys “R” Us) and a 2005 Freestar (which we call the Free Bird), both Ford’s. Go figure.

My parents gave me the bestest birthday present ever, tickets to see U2. So in a matter of a little more than a month, Jenny and I managed to see Coldplay and U2. The Coldplay tickets were part of the presents I gave to Jenny for her birthday.

It’s weird…most new parents hardly ever get out of the house the first year, but not us. We’re almost as busy as we were before Mack came along (budget permitting). A big part of that is how eager the grandparents are to babysit. We are so blessed to have family living so close.

Speaking of which, family has moved down from Illinois, Jenny’s grandparents have now joined us in the Metroplex. Uncle Dan followed shortly. Jenny’s mother has had some health issues but has shown signs of improvement that has really encouraged us greatly. Jenny’s brother has a promising relationship with a single mom of two. Johnny’s brother is now engaged and will be married on March 11th, 2006. Johnny’s cousin was married on November 11th and some dear friends were married earlier in October. Johnny’s grandmother has had some health issues, which has been a constant concern, especially with her living in Oklahoma.

Also, Jenny’s father has had some health issues and has been going through a divorce, which has weighed on our family’s heart. Johnny’s sister has a niece who was in the hospital for a period of time and to see an infant in distress, well is just makes your heart heavy with sadness. But when God closes a door, he opens a window. But coming in through a window makes you look somewhat funny, but you got to do what you got to do. The little girl is just fine now, thankfully.

Should we be talking about all these other family member’s lives? Do you think we might be stepping on their Christmas letters?

Uhhh, no.

Look how long this letter is! And we haven’t talked about our trip to Jamaica, yet!

Well, you can do that.

OK, I’ll make it quick. I won the trip from a radio station (92.5 KZPS for you locals) the week before Mack was born. The great coincidence was that the song they played you had to call in on for the contest was the first song Johnny & I danced to, “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd. It was an all-inclusive trip for 5 days in Montego Bay with a tour of Dunn’s River Falls. It was fabulous! We had to take it before August 12, so we waited till the last minute and went from August 8 to 12. We did take Mack with us, because he was free.

And now he can’t say we never took him anywhere!

Waaaa!

Just kidding!

All in all, it was a great year for the Ray family. As always, you have your ups and downs, but the mark of character is determined by how you respond to the challenges and I don’t think we would want it any other way. We love you and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With Love,
Jenny, Johnny and Mack Ray