MERRY CHRISTMAS,

   I love this chance to visit old friends and new. Let me encourage you to grab the
beverage of your choice, sit down, read, and simply enjoy this letter. I guarantee it is more exciting than a turtle race, less depressing than the stock exchange reports, just as funny as the Sunday comics, and easier than a Shakespeare play to understand.

   Now I always start with brief descriptions of family members. That has nothing to do with the type of undergarments they wear. Boxers or briefs…it’s a personal choice. But keep reading, as I hang out this years’ laundry list.
  
   Lora is a senior this year. She was really excited about that until I told her that senior discounts aren’t available for another 44 years for her and that Denny’s in Norman had gone out of business. Lora is a very good artist and just gets better and better. Right now drawing is her specialty. Occasionally she dabbles with paint. She recently painted her room. That’s probably how Michelangelo got his start.

   Sara is still singing her way through college. She rooms with another Sarah. Next year those girls might add a third Sarah to the mix. All three are singers, which, when they sing together adds a whole new meaning to the word ” Sara-nade”

   Eric spends most of the year as a missionary in Cancun Mexico. He is still one wild and crazy guy. Normally I can write about some goofy thing he has done. I have nothing to report. However, I’m wondering if I should be concerned. He has been watching old Evil Knievil clips, viewed “Jack Ass the Movie”, and mentioned something about helium balloons as a means of upper atmosphere travel.

   Ryan and Carissa had a baby. Aydon Edward was the name he chose. He really is a kid that enjoys life, so much so that he started 2 months early. Those of you that remember Ryan as a child, know that he feinted at the sight of ketchup because it looked like blood. You would be surprised to know that he has completed nursing school and is a nurse in the critical care unit.

   Rita is concerned about what to do with her time next year. She won’t have any children at home. Then I reminded her--I’m her biggest kid.

   As for myself…I’m suffering writers block. I just can’t think of anything to write about when it comes down to me personally. I guess I could use this year’s letter to announce the book I have published. But, I am reluctant to mention, “Twin Motives-deceptive hearts, dark secrets” since it won’t officially be released until January 20. I could easily become excited about the project and ramble. I mean it is so cool
that my co-author Phil Kemp is the head toxicologist for the state medical examiner.

   Now that I think about it… I do have advanced copies of this book. It would make a great Christmas present for somebody that enjoys a good murder mystery. In fact it can be purchased now from the Tate Publishing web site (www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore) or from me personally and be delivered in time
for Christmas.

   But, I don’t want to waste time talking about my book when there are more important things going on in the world. People are really concerned about the direction of our country. The candidates are making all sorts of promises. I wish somebody would come along with a list of promises that would really matter. Offer us things that would impact humanity for the better and last for a time. I mean tax breaks are nice, but they are never permanent. And one can always offer hope, but it needs to actually have substance. I’d like to see the following offered and available to all:

LOVE- compassion, caring, and devotion to yourself and others

JOY- a source of happiness and peace

PEACE- calmness and freedom from strife

PATIENCE- a staying power or tolerance when appropriate

KINDNESS-benevolence or gentleness

GOODNESS-decency and honesty

FAITHFULNESS-authenticity and trustworthiness

GENTLENESS-mildness, tenderness and calmness

SELF CONTROL- self discipline and restraint

All the above qualities are highly desirable for any individual. You can’t purchase them on-line. Presidential candidates can’t bring them about in your life. However, you can pick them up and experience them at no charge. They are freely given to those who believe in Jesus Christ and try to live by God’s Word. They are all fruit of the spirit. It’s a gift worth receiving. Remember men’s promises are temporary and limited… God’s promises are lasting and limitless. Have an awesome Christmas and a
very blessed new year.

Love,
 
   Mark, Rita, Eric, Sara, Lora & Ryan, Carissa & introducing Aydon

Email us at markarita@gmail.com,
or ask me about the book at 2writingguys@gmail.com

Order your own copy of Twin Motives from www.tatepublishing.com

Greetings,

   There are a couple of times when I am very reliable. The first is taking out the trash each week and the other is writing my Christmas letter. Okay…at least one out of two isn’t so bad.

   It is always with much joy that I write this letter and it is my hope that that joy will funnel down through these words, tickle your funny bone, and find a resting-place in your heart. Whether you are family, friend, or just a casual acquaintance,  we want you to know that you are very important to us.

   In the spirit of political correctness, I have gone to great lengths to be ecologically prudent and health conscious. To begin with, this letter was printed on paper produced from dead trees. The ink is completely free from a high concentration of fructose corn syrup. And even though the envelopes and stamps were made in China, I personally licked each one so you may rest assured that they are now lead free.

   Lora started driving on her own. She has no problem with direction. Normally she travels every which way to get to her destination. Lora has become an excellent photographer and artist. She is most artful when it comes to manipulating us to get whatever she wants.

   Sara moved out and is attending the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She is currently renting an apartment with three other females. Most of the girls are really cute and sweet, however one is a real dog and usually walks around the apartment bra less. Before, you get too excited and run up to Edmond to see if I’m truthful, remember,,, one is a real dog.

   Eric devotes much of his time to Mexico Missions inc. He has been involved with that ministry since he was 14 on a part time basis. It has evolved into full time work. He has become fluent in Spanish. I’m guessing he has done this to increase his chances of finding a wife. Now he can date in two languages.

   Ryan and Carissa are very busy. Ryan is finishing nursing school. Carissa is teaching. I think I might know how they spend their spare time, because I’m going to be a grandpa this summer.

   I promised not to portray Rita as a stressed out mother of four. I keep her plenty stressed  without the help of our children. In reality, Rita is just like one of my favorite cartoon characters…Underdog. She shares his characteristics of being humble and lovable. However, unlike this super hero, she can’t fly and she doesn’t have a wet nose.

   As for myself, I’ve recently decided to become self employed. I teach, mow lawns, and do minor handyman repairs. All this gives me time to do the write thing with my life. I’m finally devoting a portion of each week to writing.

   In fact, as a bonus to the readers of this year’s letter, I’ve decided to include a preview of my first novel. The following is a short excerpt from the beginning of chapter one:

   “Medic!”

    I hope you enjoyed that short piece.

    Speaking of peace…and we do speak of peace, especially during this Christmas season. It is one thing that we all pursue. It is a common desire among mankind. You hear talk of it constantly.

    When was the last time you said “Could I  just have a little peace and quiet?” Think about it.

    And then I’ll ask “ Was it granted to you? How long did that moment of peace last?”

   Usually the scenario goes something like this. Once the grand kids leave, or once the company is gone, it will be peaceful. But, then you have to clean up the mess they left. You finish just in time to sit down and watch the evening financial report which reminds you that your tax return is due the next day. What happened to the peace and the rest you needed?

    When a couple goes to the courthouse they are married by the justice of the peace. Unfortunately for some couples, that is the most peaceful moment in their marriage. They return to the courthouse years or hours later asking for a marriage reversal (politically correct name for divorce). All they want is a little peace in their lives.

    Then there are the common phrases we throw around:  Peace on earth goodwill toward men, Peace be with you, Go in peace , and Rest in peace.. I’m not really looking forward to that last one on the list.

   Even the  terrorists we battle today seek after peace. They just happen to believe that peace is achieved when all the infidels in this world have been eliminated. Of course an infidel is a person that doesn’t agree or accept their beliefs. Which, I figure to be around 98% of the world’s population. If the terrorists continue to eliminate us at the current rate …true peace will be achieved somewhere around the summer of 2915 give or take a thousand years.

    I’d like to close this letter by stating that I am familiar with the Prince of peace. It seems He offers his followers comfort and Peace especially at times when it just seems so unlikely. When maybe an individual has lost a job, or a best friend, or family member. Perhaps they have been seriously ill, been involved in an accident, or their house has burned to the ground. How can one find peace in all that?

    God offers to us a peace that passes all understanding. I can’t explain it. I don’t understand it. But I know it to be true. I’ve experienced most of the above  events. But I had comfort, rest, and peace by knowing that the God of all creation knows my circumstance and is there to take care of me!

    May you have a wonderful Christmas, a blessed new year, and the joy of peace. Please share this letter with family, friends and neighbors. We would love to hear from you.

 

We were unable to locate the Christmas letter for the year 2006.

I will post the letter whenever it is located.

Christmas greetings,  
           
   We love this time of year. It’s a season to celebrate, a season of family, a season of friends, a season of neighbors, a season of joy, and a season to share.

    This year’s letter should be one of our best and we would love to share some laughs with you. I’ve been off work for eight months…so I’ve had ample time to think about the content. Of course, those of you who are familiar with me know that I only report facts as I see them. The substance comes from family antics and the events of life.

   Lora, our baby, no longer eats strained vegetables. My wife tells me that Lora actually stopped that about twelve years ago. How time flies. Lora seems to be very talented in music and the arts. She can play most anything by ear, which differs from playing with the ear. Either style is extremely difficult and the later somewhat painful.

    Lora and I attended a writer’s workshop together. I was thrilled to see that she had an interest in writing. I told her, “Someday I’ll be old and senile and somebody else will have to carry on the tradition of this Christmas letter.”

    She replied, “Dad…you are already old and senile.”

   Sara is a senior. We finally have something in common. She’ll have her special senior moment sometime in May, while I may have a senior moment at anytime. Sara has a beautiful soprano voice. She is excited to be singing in the mixed ensemble as well as having the honor of a solo appearance at the Christmas concert. I’m excited that she’ll be able to save me money some day by singing at her own wedding.

   Eric has launched out on his own. He rented a house with some friends. They have everything they need to survive. An X-Box, cable television, daily delivery service from Pizza Hut, and room air fresheners.

   Ryan and Carissa still live in Harlingen Texas. If the human body represented the state of Texas, then Harlingen would be the hemorrhoid.  (It hangs way down on the bottom) He feels much like an illegal immigrant. He’s half a foot taller, a few skin shades lighter, and speaks English… which is a foreign language.

   Rita made the news this year. She hated for a hurricane to be named after her, because she didn’t want her name to be associated with massive destruction and chaos. I thought it was appropriate and pretty much described a typical week at our house. Interestingly, hurricane Rita was followed by a hurricane named after her sister… Tammy.  Which, in real life, when you find one, the other is not usually too far behind.

   As for myself, it has been a year of medical struggles. It has nothing to do with trying to get into medical school. I was injured and eventually had to have a neck surgery.

    I also had other body parts, which seemed to mal-function at different points through out the year. As a result, I’ve been thoroughly inspected from head to toe and have been certified by the American Medical Association as a true “freak of nature”. During the six-month process I had four x-rays, three MRI’s, two hospital visits, and a partridge in our pear tree. (It was actually a wild turkey, but I’m trying to maintain the Christmas spirit.)

   Having a surgery on your neck is sort of…in a word…terrifying. It doesn’t help when the surgeon lists the possible outcomes. He started by listing the minor problems or complications. He said, “You may experience a runny nose, a mild sore throat, headache, or constipation.” I could live with most of those, but then he continued. “You could however experience loss of feeling, more neck pain, partial or total paralysis. Then of course there are also more serious problems such as death.” At that point I’m thinking if I’m dead the only one with the problem will be the surgeon, cause if I’m dead then I ain’t paying.

   Actually, I did worry about many things and some he never mentioned. I had a fusion done. The surgeon used a bone fragment that I assumed he purchased at “BONES R US”. I failed to ask specific questions about that procedure and therefore had no idea how it would affect me. I think that addition to my spinal column made me about an inch taller. I have reason to believe that the bone came from an English man, because I have started talking with a slight British accent and I often have urges to pause for afternoon tea. I have much to be thankful for, because the bone could have been donated from a French woman. No telling what I might have experienced under those circumstances. I’d probably hate America and want to occasionally wear a dress.

   I was confident in my surgeon’s abilities. I researched and asked many questions before I made the decision to use him. I knew I had made an excellent choice, because when I met him he was wearing his “I’m a good surgeon” T-shirt. I was further encouraged when I saw his huge library of medical reference books, which included the best seller “Spinal Surgery for Dummies.”

   I would highly recommend my surgeon. I seem to be making excellent progress.

    He was very satisfied with the procedure. I’d say it was a success. The surgeon was able to buy a big screen television on his way home. I was able to regain movement and most of the numbness I had experienced in my left arm and hand subsided.

   On a more serious note, the time away from work has been very difficult. It is stressful and I do not yet know what the future holds. At times we agonized over how to pay our bills. On the other hand, it has also been a special time. Rita had for years prayed that I would have more family time at home. Now she prays that our family can endure my time at home.

   When a person under goes a period of severe sickness or injury it tends to soften their heart. I have experienced that tenderness. I think perhaps we all have that soft spot, but, as we get caught up in our day to day struggles, we become hardened.

    I’m more aware of the needs of others. I’m more in touch with family and friends. I’ve been able to refocus on the important things of life. I’ve wasted so much of my life on the insignificant.

    How high you can stack your possessions or how far you can stretch your money does not measure a person’s success in life. It doesn’t matter how many friends you’ve made or how many job promotions you’ve had.  What matters at the end of your life is how short the distance is between you and Christ. How do you measure your life?

    May you have a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

 

                   Love,

                        Mark & Rita, Ryan & Carissa, Eric, Sara, Lora

 

If you have enjoyed this letter please feel free to share it with a neighbor, family, or friends.

Merry Christmas,                                                                                              

    WARNING! The following letter may contain offensive words such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There could possibly be an occasional reference to God (the one spelled with a big G), the Bible (the book that most people have and seldom read), and Jesus (the person… not the swear word).

   Furthermore, the reader of this letter could suffer from mild chuckles or possible sporadic outbursts of full fledge laughter. Neither of these has ever been known to cause cancer in laboratory rats, but that might be because rats don’t laugh. I don’t even know if they can smile, though I’m sure there has been a government study that can answer that question.

   Having now satisfied the current Christmas letter warning standards set forth by the ACLU… I would like to begin this years Christmas letter. The Robinson Christmas letter has grown in popularity and has a wide circulation. It is now read in several different times zones. These include Eastern, Central Standard, Rocky Mountain, Pacific, and of course Lunch time.

  Greetings to all…. Whether you are friend, family, or just a casual acquaintance, we look forward to sharing with you at this special time of year.

   As a parent, I try my best to keep the FUN in my dysFUNctional family. Amazingly it’s not difficult to achieve or maintain these standards around our house.

   This past year Lora, 13, our youngest came home from her grandmothers with a large intricate tattoo on her ankle. It wouldn’t have surprised me if her grandmother had walked in with the tattoo, but I was rather shocked to see it on my daughter’s leg. I was about to ground her for a couple of years, when she said “Dad, I drew that myself with an ink pen.”

   I was impressed with that information. “That’s pretty good work… if I buy you some ink pens could you do an eagle on my bald spot?”

   Sara is beginning to research the different colleges in the area. She is mainly interested in those schools with a high ratio of single non-smoking rich males taller than 5’6” with high moral character and a strong work ethic. There are so many kids these days that start college with no direction …I was proud to see her being so selective.

            Eric shocked us all when he brought home this chick to live with. He had the nerve to bring her into our house and expected us to accept her without reservation. When he saw the expression of discontent on our faces, he quickly explained that this was not as it appeared.

    “Dad this isn’t a chick…it’s a duck. I brought the duck home so that our dogs would have a pet.”

    “Or perhaps dinner depending on how the introduction goes” I replied. As the duck grew I noticed she seemed to have an identity problem. In the morning she would be perched on the barn roof like a rooster. Sometimes she would run up and down the fence line like the dogs. Often she would stand on one leg in the middle of the birdbath like a flamingo. After consulting an animal psychologist I came to the conclusion that the duck may have had issues with the fact that her swimming hole, which she sat in everyday, was a roasting pan.  

   Ryan graduated and married in hopes that he would no longer be mentioned in this letter. But, it just gave me one more person to write about. The newlyweds moved to Harlingen Texas. For those of you that don’t know…Harlingen is about as far south as you can go and still maintain U.S. citizenship

   Carissa is our new daughter-in- law. She’s a teacher. I think she’s a pretty good one. She has taught Ryan how to clean his room, do the laundry, and take out the trash. All those things we could never teach him.

   Rita won’t let me tell her age, I think maybe it’s because she is so old she forgets. She has joined a group called “small talk”. (Small is an acronym for Stressed Moms At  Long Lunch) Those lunches can go on for days …depending on the TASLOG (Total Accumulated Stress Level Of Group)

   If 50 is the peak of life… then I’m just inches away from the summit. This is my 24th Christmas at UPS. I figure by now I’ve delivered over 1 million packages. You would think reaching such a milestone the company would give me a golden back brace or hernia belt.

   During this season, people tend to think back, evaluate their lives, and seek to make improvements in the coming year.  I remember this year started with the release of, a Mel Gibson film called “The Passion.” I remember this because I’ve been told that I have a lot in common with Mel Gibson.

   Some people say we look a lot alike. Actually it was only my great aunt that made the statement …and she is legally blind…so maybe that one doesn’t count. But these things I know for a fact. Both of our first names start with the letter M. (most of you reading this letter can’t make that claim) Mel felt compelled to make the film. I’m compelled to write these words. After seeing his movie, people confessed to all sorts of crimes, including murder. After reading my letter, somebody confessed, “ if you ever write about me… I’ll kill you”

    Mel put up, 25 million dollars, a large portion of his life savings in order to produce the film. I put up, 25 dollars, a large portion of my life savings to produce this letter.

    I believe we both were motivated to action for the same reason. Our country is in a decline…a moral and spiritual free fall. There is an effort to remove the word God from society. An attempt to separate the Creator from his Creation will simply crumble the foundational building blocks of this nation.  With out a foundation on which to base our beliefs…. man is prone to wickedness. When something goes wrong in your life, the proper way to fix it is to return to the owner’s manual, the Bible, for suggestions. Nobody can force that on you… but it’s available when you need it. Christ was sent so that we could live and live more abundantly. We are to be imitators and not eliminators of Christ. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Aren’t these characteristics some of our greatest desires and exactly what our world needs?

    Have a marvelous and fruity New Year! Feel free to share this letter with a friend!

                                                         

                                           The Robinson’s

                                                     Mark, Rita, Ryan, Carissa, Eric, Sara, & Lora

Congratulations,

   You’ve been selected as a cherished recipient of the Robinson Christmas letter for 2003. It may not be a big deal to you. But to have you as family, a friend, or just a casual acquaintance is a big deal to us. This years edition comes entirely in closed caption for the hearing impaired.

    It’s hard to believe, Lora age 12, will soon become a teen. After doing some research and having experienced three other teens in our household, I discovered that the word “teenager” is derived from the ancient Greek phrase “teens age you.”

    I must warn you that Sara age 15, will be driving soon. I recommend keeping your small children and pets away from the street. The backyard would be good. Deep inside the house would be safer… though still somewhat at risk.

    I asked Eric age 19, what he would like to do in life. He said “nothing! And I’d like to make lots of money as I’m working towards that goal.” He may have a future in politics.

    Ryan age 23, is in his last year of college and has decided that if Eric is successful at his endeavor, then he will follow in his brother’s footsteps.

    I promised not to write much about Rita. She has just turned thirty for the fourteenth time in a row.

   As for myself, many people have asked when am I’m going to retire. I know that day is approaching rapidly. Things just wear out over time. I’ve known people to fight it and put it off for as long as possible. I must confess, I’m one of those people. But I realize a man has to do what a man has to do. So… next year I’ve decided to buy several new tires. Though I can only afford to retire one car at a time, I’m actually looking forward to that moment.

    Seriously… I’ve been delivering packages 23 years. I’ve calculated the cost of sending four children through college and paying off my house. I concluded that I’d be able to retire when I am 97 years old. Or 93 if I invest wisely.

    I must devote a portion of this letter to dispelling some ugly rumors. As many of you are aware, Ryan was involved in a serious accident the weekend before school started. He had a head on collision, running full speed into a utility pole. But, that information became distorted as it passed from one person to the next. So I will try to clarify the truth in the following paragraphs.

    A few people believed he was a structural engineer for the electric company assigned to doing stress tests on utility poles. He does not work for the electric company. However, he can testify that particular pole was very solid and can endure high impact.

    After they saw the damage to Ryan’s face, many people were concerned that his car most certainly had been totaled.  However, Ryan was not in his car at the time of the accident. When I stated running full speed, I meant exactly that. He ran, on foot, at top speed, head first, into the pole. His car is fine.

   The majority of people then wondered why Ryan would even consider running full speed into something that hard. They suggested a college senior should be a little wiser and should have picked an object a little more forgiving such as a chain link fence, or a padded object like a sumo wrestler. The reason Ryan ran into the pole was because he was trying to catch a Frisbee. (Personally, I have no problem distinguishing the difference between a sixty-foot pole and a twelve-inch plastic disc). He must have been caught up in the excitement of the moment.

    Some heard Ryan had been smacked by a pole, and therefore believed that a Polish girl had planted one big kiss on him. It didn’t happen, but Ryan would like you to know he would gladly welcome a big kiss from just about any female regardless of her nationality.

    Ryan underwent surgery and had a metal plate installed in his cheek along with a few titanium screws for added strength. I’ve heard his roommates now have fun putting refrigerator magnets on his face as he sleeps. They also use him as a television antenna when reception is poor. I don’t know if that is true, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he were never able to get passed airport security.

    Before I say good bye, I’d like to clarify the truth one more time in an area that touches us all. It is true… we live in very troubled times. We live in a confusing era. The difference between right and wrong, good and evil seem to have narrowed and maybe even switched places. So how have we managed to wind up in such turmoil? How have we allowed ourselves to forget those things which are good, pure, and true?

    I believe it all hinges around one of the central debates of this decade. It is true that there is a movement to remove any reference to God from our society. There is a problem with such an action, which is seldom discussed. When you change a name or remove a title something is lost. For example… if you take the word “president” away from “President Bush” then you are just left with a man, or some people might say you’re left with a small shrubbery.

    My point is …God is much more than just one word. God symbolizes love, salvation, a creator, and a creation. God is a Supreme Being. Which means that no man or nation may ever rise above Him. It is from the Bible that our laws, government, moral conduct, and judicial system originated. Eliminating the word “God” means losing all that is associated with it. I find it interesting, if we removed the word God, from the phrase “one nation under God”. We are left with the phrase  “one nation under” which I believe describes what would happen to our country. It would fall from power, fall from grace, and be trodden under by other nations or perhaps even our own people because there would be no foundational support. Remove the cornerstone and the structure is weakened…  eventually crumbling to ruin.  

    A nation is built one home at a time. So consider letting God be the cornerstone in your life and the building block for future generations. May you have the best Christmas ever and a blessed New Year! 

    

                                     Mark, Rita, Ryan, Eric, Sara, & Lora

 

2 Chronicles 7:14

And my people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Greetings,

    I really look forward to writing our Christmas letter and the opportunity to spread a little Christmas cheer amongst family, friends, the many good folks we’ve met over the years, and even some people we don’t know. This year I’ve decided to offer a money back guarantee, if this letter doesn’t give you a little chuckle or put a smile on your face, send us a self addressed stamped envelope and we’ll refund the entire amount.

   LORA built a pine needle igloo in our front yard.  I’m thinking it may be the only one in the state.  For sure, it’s the only one in our neighborhood.  I’ve made her promise not to start any campfires inside or I’d break her leg.  She is in the 6th grade and recovering from a broken leg (unrelated to previously mentioned threat).  

   SARA asked me not to write anything embarrassing, so I promised not to mention her braces. Sara is 14 and in the 9th grade.  She is really into the “Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien. She read the trilogy, watched the movie repeatedly, and can play the movie theme song by memory. She enjoys it so much, I think she wants to become an elf when she grows up.

   ERIC set a new standard for high school graduations.  He wired the tassel on his cap to rotate like a helicopter blade.  He ran a wire from his cap to the remote control in his hand.  Eric stood on stage as a state senator read his personal profile. The audience roared with laughter and will remember that moment for a long time, while his mother wishes she could forget it. Eric is struggling in his first semester of college at OSU-OKC. I meant to say the college is struggling with their first semester of Eric.

   RYAN may have been attending John Brown University too long.  The Arkansas hillbilly culture is impacting him as he walks around campus barefoot most of the time. He is considering obtaining a master’s in counseling. The only obstacle he currently faces is obtaining his bachelor’s degree.

    I have a reputation for being a little tight with money.  This seems like the perfect opportunity to publicly dispel such rumors by sharing my tentative plans for celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary.  Our anniversary trip will start when I take Rita out to eat at the most expensive restaurant in town.  I’ll go back and pick her up about one hour later. 

    I’ve spent many hours planning this major event in our lives. While researching, I happened upon a really great value on a canal cruise.  After Rita finishes dinner we’ll rush off to Bricktown, in downtown Oklahoma City, to catch the boat.  Some may think that I’m just being a cheap skate, but I compared prices and if you break it down into cost per foot traveled, this trip is actually more expensive than a Caribbean cruise.  There are several advantages to this short canal excursion when compared to ocean cruises.  Motion sickness is usually not a problem since the trip takes less than thirty minutes. Land is always in sight. Lastly, if the boat were to sink, all you have to do is stand up to keep from drowning.

   Now I would like to conclude this letter with the topic of standing.  It seems with all the horrible events in recent years that the difference between good and evil is widening.  About the time we think nothing worse can happen…. it does.  It is more important now than ever to take a stand for righteousness, because when good people do nothing then evil flourishes.  I want to encourage each and every person that reads this letter to strive for righteousness this coming year.  Perhaps these words from the Bible will be more encouraging, “For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face,” Psalm 11:7.

May you have a joyous Christmas and a blessed New Year,

With all our love,

Mark, Rita, Ryan, Eric, Sara, and Lora Robinson


We didn’t move. We’re still in the same house on the same lot. If you don’t remember which country house is ours, just look for the pine needle igloo in the front yard.  And if you want to send us an e-mail instead of dropping by, then you’ll need to know :