My January Letter...It's been AWHILE...I love you, this is Jezzy and Me at Christmas 2008.

Dear Family and Friends, January 15, 2009

I just wanted to write to my family and friends since the New Year has come upon us and it has been several months since the last letter. I just finished my favorite lunch or dinner of all time, a bean and cheese burrito with roll tacos from Las Panchos, a little Mexican dive here in Oceanside. I am sitting on a picnic table at a local park near my studio apartment with my dog, Jezebel. It is currently sunny and about 82 on a Thursday afternoon. This park is killer, it overlooks the ocean and a view of the mountains. I will post some pictures on the blog for your viewing. Jezebel and I come up here just about every day, to play ball, read, be lazy, and now write on my computer. I miss all of you dearly, especially the ones that I don’t see very often. I would love to hear from any or all of you. I wanted to send this letter to get you updated on how I am doing and it is my 2009 New Year’s resolution to keep better in touch with family and friends through letters, phone calls, and posting to the blog.

. I am still living and working in the city of Oceanside. I didn’t like the cold weather and rain we just had, but now the weather has returned to gorgeous, as always. We really are spoiled when it comes to weather out here. Thank you Lord, for my beautiful San Diego weather. If anyone is looking to move, the houses are going pretty cheap out here of late. Currently still working part time for the local Boys and Girls Club, where I have started programs such as a Drama Club, a Book Club, Club Strategy, HeyGirlHey and Uno Frenzy. My Dram Crew recently did a comical piece of “Rudolph” and we already have a production planned for the end of this month. The Book Club was inspired by my sister Paula, when she told me to read the “Twilight Series” by Stephanie Meyer. She and I were in our own little book club, talking about the Twilight books each week. So, I will be getting together with teens each week to discuss the books and other pieces of literature. My elementary kids will be reading the Chronicles of Narnia, which are written by a brilliant Christian Theologian named C.S. Lewis. Both are approved reading by today’s public schools. The Club Strategy was inspired by my love to play chess and the possibility to one day teach and tutor chess. I predict chess as being the next Texas Holdem!! I have been attending classes at Academic Chess, designing my own online chess curriculum, and playing lots of chess. Get your chess sets ready. I play online daily to improve my game, people from all over the world on chess.com, I am EnforcerT, if you ever want to challenge me online.

I am also still officiating high school basketball. I had many exciting holiday tournament games, which included teams from all over San Diego and out of state. I had a girl’s varsity game that the teams got up into the 80’s, and that’s a lot of points for a girl’s basketball game. Heck, 80 is a lot of points for a boy’s game as well. I was recently working a game in Mt. Carmel, where there were 400 people in the stands screaming for their teams, it went to overtime and what an adrenaline rush to be the one calling the game and have the best seat in the house. You must have the thickest of skin to be a referee and realize that you won’t make everyone happy. My experience and accolades in my officiating are bringing me opportunities to reach the college level as soon as next year. I have been invited to attend a Pacific Coast Conference officials meeting, which is a junior college division here in San Diego. This invite will require me to attend a camp this summer and begin to focus on improving my game for the next level. Thank you Lord for this wonderful opportunity to make a living doing something that brings me passion, adrenaline rushes, and exercise. Hopefully one year I will be telling you about my invite to Division 1 basketball, where I am currently seeing more and more women these days. We always have to have dreams, right?

I am getting ready to go back to the East Coast to visit my sister Paula, friends, and other family members. I leave next week and I am really excited to see everyone. I can barely recognize Paula’s kids on the phone now days, they are growing so fast. While out there, I can keep in touch with my clients I am currently tutoring online via the internet. My Mom and my sister Yonna might make the trip up from North Carolina, since they live there now and we can make a big family reunion of it. Thank you Lord for this opportunity, and thank you Paula for opening up your home for all of us.

Well, I have rambled enough, I didn’t want to write too much, since I sometimes can write novels. I hope this letter finds everyone happy and healthy. I hope this New Year brings you lots of love and growth that will allow you all to prosper. Don’t forget the bonds we all have with family and friends and the relationship we have with our savior, Jesus Christ. His relationship has the power to nourish, strengthen, and put out all the fires in all of our relationships. Thank you Lord for this opportunity to write to family and friends, thank you Lord for everyone who read this far, may you bless them, and I say this in your heavenly name, Jesus Christ, amen. I love you all and God Bless!!

Tonya

www.flywithchrist.blogspot.com

www.BigSisterTutoring.net