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Please bear with us, our family is large and has become larger by
adopting one more Hood member. This letter can get a bit lengthy but we
don’t know a short way to stay in touch with all of our family and friends
spread all around the globe. We will start with news about the kids (oldest
to youngest).
Brianne Kristina
(age 23)
Brianne has graduated from Gonzaga University and she is going to
school at ______________ in Pullman. She graduated this year with a major
in Biology and a minor in Psychology. She will be taking courses to obtain
a Master’s degree in psychology and human development. Brianne worked at
her dad’s dental office during the summer so we did get to see her often
before she went to Pullman.
Marissa Kimberly
(age 21)
Marissa also graduated from Gonzaga University and she has been a
tremendous help at her dad’s dental office. She graduated this year with a
major in Biology and a minor in Religious Studies. We loved having Marissa
home and cooking some gourmet meals for us. Her specialties are Chinese
dishes, salads, and fancy desserts.
Janelle Karina
(age 20)
Janelle is our only child at Gonzaga University and enjoying her
junior year living in the college dorms. She is taking a major in biology
in the Pre-Med program with a minor in Psychology and also is getting her
teaching certificate.
Mikayla Karlene
(age 18)
Mikayla graduated from high school this year from Central Valley
High School and still loves her music. Mikayla has a passion for opera and
you can find her listening to classical music in her free time. She is
attending Spokane Community College and loves the music program. Mikayla
worked part-time in her mom’s and dad’s offices. Mikayla plans to get her
music education degree and teach music and perform. She also is involved in
karate and ice skating.
Kyler James
(age 16)
Kyler is a junior at Gonzaga Prep this year. He enjoys high
school and is looking forward to playing basketball. He loves to read and
enjoys creative writing from time to time. Kyler also still appreciates
nature and camping and looks forward to skiing at Schweitzer Mountain in
Idaho with his oldest three sisters. His younger brothers like to play with
him on the computer and trampoline. Kyler worked in one of his mom’s
business this summer and spent a lot of time in the office. He is also in
karate although does not get to lessons as often as the smaller boys. So
far, we have survived the most frightening aspect of our lives, having Kyler
drive us with his driving permit!
Kelsey Katrina
(age 13)
Kelsey is a 7th grader at St. Mary’s Elementary
School. Kelsey really enjoys playing the flute and is on the basketball
team at St. Mary’s this year. Kelsey is an excellent attentive big sister
to the younger children and the foster children. She is a great help to mom
and dad and to the younger three.
Corbin Joel
(age 10)
Corby is in 5th grade this year at St. Mary’s
Elementary School. He loves soccer, baseball, swimming, and flag football
and is now asking to play hockey. He also is taking piano lessons. He is
excellent at computer games and is doing some of his studies on the computer
too. He definitely likes to stay active and enjoys his Boy Scout meetings
also. Corby began hockey practice is looking forward to playing. When the
weather is nice he likes to go biking and race with his brothers and
Kelsey. He likes to help out with feedback on mom’s children stories also
and is a big help with his younger brothers.
Caleb Jerome
(age 9)
Caleb is a 4th grader at St. Mary’s Elementary School.
He is active in boy scouts and is learning to play the piano with his
teacher (mom) and loves to tell jokes. Caleb also enjoys reading lots of
books. He is also helping give his mom feedback on her children’s stories
and books along with Kelsey and Corby.
Devontay Joshua
(age 7)
Devontay is in 2nd grade at St. Mary’s Elementary
School this year and really enjoys it. He is also taking piano and swimming
lessons and has great fun with them also. Devontay loves to play and is
very active. He still enjoys karate and is learning a lot.
Mercedes (age
4)
Mercedes is our newest addition. She is a foster child and joined
us in February 26th. She is in kindergarten at St. Mary’s
Elementary School this year and really enjoys it. She has joined our family
and enjoys being around everyone. Please keep all foster kids in your
prayers over the holiday season. The holiday season is a difficult time for
all of them.
Derek Moss
(nephew)
Derek now lives with us and is working as a computer graphic
designer and plans to go back to school at Eastern to complete his degree in
English this spring. He is working designing websites and doing graphic
design. In his free time he continues to write poetry and short stories.
Derek, on his own, plans to make a music CD with his own recording
equipment. He has offered to give all the kids guitar lessons.
Jim (Dad)
Dad is enjoying being Dad and gets the very important job of
running the kids all around to music lessons, soccer, basketball, etc. etc.
Jim is currently enjoying taking classes in the Doctoral Leadership Studies
program at Gonzaga University with Mom. He is also actively working as a
CASA to advocate the rights of abused and neglected children in the Spokane
Juvenile Court system. He has a busy active dental office and is very proud
of his dental staff. He is looking forward to some quiet time over the
holidays and a get away weekend in the snow with all the family. Dad also
enjoys editing and encouraging mom to write poetry which she appreciates.
He couldn’t be busier but also enjoys the family get togethers.
Karen (Mom)
Mom is sure enjoying her large brood of children. She is
fortunate to be able to work from her home office where she can spend time
with all of them. Karen is currently taking classes in the Doctoral
Leadership Studies program at Gonzaga University with Dad and has recently
started substitute teaching biology and chemistry in the high schools in the
area from time to time. She is also actively working as a CASA to advocate
the rights of abused and neglected children. Karen enjoys writing and
publishing poetry, fiction and non-fiction, in her spare time. She also
looks forward to Sunday noon with family and friends.
Grandma Bert moved to town!
Grandma Bert has settled in Spokane and we are so happy she
is here. All of the kids have enjoyed her cooking and spending time with
their grandma. She has a home right across from St. Mary’s Church (our
parish) and St. Mary’s school playground so the kids are literally a hop and
skip away.
From All of Us
We again extend a warm welcome and invitation to our family
and friends to come by and visit us at anytime. We hope to hear from you
this holiday season and look forward to hearing how you are doing. Do
write, call, or email us.
It looks like we will be home most of the summer. We look
forward to seeing most of you sometime this summer.
Sandy’s (Karen’s sister) boys, Derek and Monte are living in
Spokane and Bradley & Shawnda are teaching school in Utah and enjoying their
babies, Anton and Isaac. Monte enjoys his apartment off Sullivan Road and
is working in a science lab.
We would enjoy it if all of you could send your e-mail
addresses so we could also respond by e-mail. Please send your address to
info@hoodfamily.com so we may have it. Visit our website at
www.hoodfamily.com to see the family photos and photos of all the kids.
Have a blessed Christmas and healthy, happy New Year! Love
from the entire Hood family and foster kids too!!
Jim, Karen, Brianne
Kristina, Marissa Kimberly, Janelle Karina, Mikayla Karlene, Kyler James,
Kelsey Katrina, Corby Joel, Caleb Jerome, Devontay Joshua & Derek Moss
Merry
Christmas 2003 from the Hood Family!
P.S. – Don’t forget we are still working on our Hood and Matsko family tree
and genealogy study. We would love to get any information you may have to
help us fill in any blanks. If you have any further information on your
family tree and how it connects to the Hood and Matsko family tree, please
let us know. Thank you!
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