Break forth , O beauteous heavenly light, and usher in the morning.
You shepherds, shrink not with affright but hear the angels warning.
This child, now weak in infancy, our confidence and joy shall be,
The power of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making! – CW 44

We pray your life is filled with heavenly light this Christmas as we welcome our Savior, Jesus Christ, and marvel at God’s perfect plan for our salvation, found in the humble manger.

We love this time of year when we hear from friends near and far, and we love sharing a bit about our lives with you as well. Our 2011 highlights include …

• Boys – Stanley can drive!! He’s loving his Junior year and excitedly making plans for college. Luke is an 8th grader this year. He’s taken a special interest in building wood models and is running out of space in his room for them all. Ben is in 6th grade and doubles as our stand up comedian.
• Church – Many memorable events at church this year included a Prayer Pal party, “United Under God’s Promise” Unity Sunday where we took fun rainbow themed photos of members, and an Advent by Candlelight womens’ event this month. Another special highlight was our “Robot Connection” summer Bible camp. Happy, happy! Joy, joy!!
• School – In May Kevin made it on the local TV news and in the newspapers when he spent the night on the school roof to reward the students for meeting their reading goal. I think he kind of liked it up there!
• Celebrations – We enjoyed creating a surprise scrapbook of memories for Kevin’s Mom, Judy, in honor of her 70th birthday. We were also honored to be part of the wedding celebration of our co-worker, Stephanie (Zastrow) Arndt, as Kevin got to officiate hers and Dave’s marriage ceremony at the beautiful Chapel of the Christ at Martin Luther College.
• Travel – We were on the road quite a bit this year … Sallie to Mississippi, Mississippi (Sallie’s Mom, Nina, and sister, Janet) to Sleepy Eye, Kevin and Sallie to Milwaukee for the LWMS Convention, and the family to Michigan for camping near Mackinac Island and a day in Flint with family.
• Technology – This was the year of the tablet computer for our family. Sallie got an iPad in May and hasn’t been seen in public (or private) without it ever since. Kevin and Stanley added Droid tablets recently, and we are all amazed at the many things we can do with the devices – including the “Instagram”-ed photos on on our Christmas card. This was also the year of Java (programming, not coffee) as Kevin and Stanley collaborated on a few cool projects including our gift to you – an online family photo program. Check it out, and make your very own unique Draper family Christmas photo at

txnetstars.com/christmas11

May God bless you and yours, this Christmas and in 2012!!

Of course, they know they have to practice violin before any game play begins.  That’s why I was awakened at 7 a.m. this morning with the strands of Perpetual Motion and with a clicking metronome set at 104 beats per minute!

When I finally made it downstairs and found the two younger boys enjoying their game, Luke greeted me with this poem he wrote about his Saturday morning experience.

Hi mom. Hi dad.
I hope you don’t mind
that I came down the stairs
and didn’t didn’t inquire

as to your opinion of
the matter which I face.
Should I come down the stairs
as if in a race

to try for the PC
without even giving
my brother a chance,
or would you be naying

an action so bold …
instead of staying in bed
where it’s warm and not cold
to not hurt my eyes in the midst of my head?

The bait was too much.
I came down the stairs,
but I practiced my violin
so I need not have cares.