Our annual tradition of group Christmas letter writing. The kids have all been instructed to say something about themselves and something about each of their siblings. My letter comes first though.
Dear friends and family,
Merry Christmas!
Syra’s Scribbles VI is out on Amazon!l Check out syrasscribbles.com Ι play cello and teach Calculus. Ι do Pilates once a week and this year joined Thrill the World Albuquerque and danced Michael Jackson’s Thriller with over fifty people. Esther, John Ben and Misha moved in with us last Christmas and stayed through August, so Ι played Nana to my heart’s content. We heard Misha say his first words and saw him take his first steps. When he says, “Nana,” a thrill of joy runs through me. Now I’m buying cute pink dresses because my next grandbaby is a girl! Ι plan on flying out to be with Esther in February for the due date. I spent a girls weekend away with my sisters Ellen and Kimmy and our cousin Ari in Spokane. Then Mike and Ι took all the kids and Misha, except Sophia who had her own trip to Cananda and Basil who was working in Pennsylvania, on a family vacation up to Washington. We drove all around the northern and western edge of the state and down into Oregon, saw so much beauty, and saw some friends and family. Then Ι came back with Justin, Xenia and Xenia’s friend Tara from Texas to visit my hometown and to see more relatives. We made it back to Texas for a long weekend in November. We are so blessed with all the people everywhere who love us. Ι had a milestone birthday this year. Ι put up balloons announcing my 40th birthday, but everyone who knows me knows better.
Mike continues working at the BioTech company in California that he’s been at long time. He was promoted this year and loves the work he does. We took an anniversary trip to San Diego in May.
Esther earned her Master’s in Philosophy and plans on continuing work on her PhD in another year or two. She loves working as a professor while she grows her baby and takes care of Misha. She also writes papers and is working on a play and a novel. John Ben is a very hands-on dad. He is a Master of Theology and is working on his PhD at Franciscan University. They finished up their master’s from our house in Albuquerque last spring but are back in Ohio.
Sophia changed her major from interior design to illustration and produces wonderful pieces of art in her classes. She helps with transporting the kids and grocery shopping. It’s so good to have her with us.
Basil spent his spring semester at Hellenic College in Boston after deciding that he didn’t want to study engineering at Embry Riddle. Now he is looking at a career at the Antiochian Village where he worked the past two summers. He moved back home, worked at a restaurant this fall, and will take culinary classes in 2026.
Jonah (16) has his driver’s license. Homeschooling didn’t work out well last year so he’s now attending a private Christian school across town that seems to be working for him.
Xenia (14) is a high schooler this year! She took a CPR course over the summer to become a great baby sitter, but has yet to find kids to babysit other than Misha. She’s in the advanced choir at school. She takes piano and voice lessons on Tuesday and parkour on Thursday. Between classes on Wednesday and Friday she puts in five hours a week with her competitive gymnastics team. She has had aches and pains and shin splints but is hopeful that the grueling training will all be worth it. The competitions begin in January.
Justin (12) is in middle school. He loves riding around on his OneWheel. He takes parkour and promises to teach me ukulele.
Coryn has had a good year. She is faithful to her daily exercise regime and helpful around the house. We are so glad she is with us.
Dear friends and family,
Merry Christmas! John Ben and little Misha and I spent the first part of the year in Albuquerque with my family, and then returned in August to Steubenville, OH. John Ben passed all of his comprehensive exams with honors, and was accepted to Franciscan University’s Theology PhD program. I was offered a job there as well, as an adjunct professor of Philosophy and Classics. A kind professor couple from Franciscan even invited us to stay with them for the year. This fall I’ve led a couple of great books seminars and taught a lecture class on the philosophy of the human person. The best news of all, however, is that we are expecting a baby girl in February. I can’t wait to see John Ben as the father of a little girl and Misha as a big brother.
Misha has dozens of words now, including favorites like “Dada?!” “Shoe?!” and “Kitty?!”. He was finally coaxed into independent walking at fourteen months by his uncles and aunts, and then spent the rest of the summer chasing after them on his toddler feet. His favorite food is ice cream. Sophia is doing great in her online college classes, and made some beautiful art projects this year. My favorite was her massive paper-mache lizard installation. Basil and I never actually overlapped in our visits home, but I heard he had a blast at the Antiochian Village and we expect to see more of him during the holidays. Jonah is growing into a tall young man. John Ben and I had a great time playing Arkham Horror with him all summer. Xenia is kicking butt in competitive gymnastics, and has surpassed me as a pianist. Misha likes to follow her around like a little shadow. Justin is a wise old man in a twelve-year-old’s body. One of my very favorite parts of being in Albuquerque was riding our OneWheels by the Rio Grande with him. Even just writing this, I miss my family so much. We’re so excited to be home again for Christmas.
Sincerely,
Esther Ople Berry
Dear friends and family, Merry Christmas
I have spent this year immersed in art school. Last fall, I moved back in with my parents and siblings and started attending an online program with Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, majoring in illustration. I hope to illustrate books, possibly ones I write myself. My strongest ability is still life drawing. The most exciting thing that has happened to me this year, is that, courtesy of my parents, I took a trip to Canada to see a phenomenal show before it ended forever.
I am certainly not the only artist, Jonah has shown me line work that I can only aspire to, and both Xenia and Justin are bringing realism into their pieces. Xenia is the do-it-all kid, taking voice, piano, gymnastics, and parkour. Justin is the adventurer, OneWheeling all about and often landing at the library. Come end of year, he will turn 13, and the youngest sibling is a teenager. Jonah turned 16 and got his license. Despite his vast range, his most frequent destination is the local convenience store where he has found community. Basil joined the throng this fall and is starting classes at a local college. He and Jonah are bunked together. The boys were momentarily grumpy at the idea but quickly began bonding and having fun together. Esther, John Ben, and their first child, Michael (Misha) stayed the summer with us, and I got to watch Misha learn how to walk. Tax Fraud is now decidedly a shoulder cat. A trait I tried to foster when he was a kitten and about half his size has come back to claw me in the back.
Sincerely,
Sophia
Dear Friends and Family.
As the year ends, I wanted to share some of my experiences and updates with you. Over the past year, I have studied theology in Boston during the spring. I spent the summer and fall working at the Antiochian Village and at a local restaurant. I’ve begun testing new recipes and cooking more often, and the game nights I host with my friends have been phenomenal.
My favorite movies currently include Lord of the Rings, The Creator, Bullet Train, Terminator, and Nobody. I have enjoyed watching TV shows: Person of Interest, Psych, and Brooklyn 99. My podcast recommendations are Wolf 359, Chrysalis, and Welcome to Night Vale.
As for my siblings, Justin has been showcasing his echoic memory by challenging me with quotes from my favorite podcasts. Xenia has been pushing herself in gymnastics, and her skills are amazing. I’ve had time to hang out with Jonah, which has been fun. Sophia has been making art and caring for her cat, while Esther is in Ohio.
I am excited for the Christmas-New Year holiday party with my best friends, whom Ι’ll pick up on a road trip. I’m also looking forward to the Antiochian Village Ski Retreat and/or Winter Camp, culinary classes in the spring, a Murder Night in Blood Forest, and returning to the Village for the summer.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
God Speed,
Basil
Hello friends and family, as you may very well know from many previous Christmas letters, Ι am Jonah. So far this year has been quite nice, and Ι have turned 16. In the fall Ι was home-schooled with help from my brother-in-law to keep me on track, and when the new year came ι was able to get into another private school. In between the summer was also nice. Ι got a job at Dollar Tree, and met many new people, then in the latter part of summer Ι enjoyed two weeks at the Antiochian Village, this amazing summer camp in Pennsylvania. So far this year has been fun, and I am especially looking forward to skiing this winter.
Over the course of the year many people have lived here at the Ruehle Home. Over the course of the winter and into the summer Esther, her husband John Ben, and their son Misha all stayed here. They were soon replaced with my older brother Basil who I now share a room with. Overall, I think this year has been one of the best for sibling relationships, with much less direct fighting and moving into guerilla warfare. Xenia and Justin are still attending Axiom, and I believe Xenia is doing a Gymnastics class, and Justin is doing a parkour class. Sophia is also here, with her cat Tax Fraud. She is very fun to hang out with, and we sometimes watch some tv together.
And that’s all from me, so till next year, Goodbye and have a Merry Christmas
-Jonah
Christmas letter of Xenia
I am currently fourteen, which is not that bad. People are so dramatic, in my opinion. I am physically broken with at least two injuries but actually have friends, so that’s cool.
Justin is twelve and turning into a teenager a few days after Christmas. I bet our parents are leaping around like frogs for joy. He does, however, use deodorant, so he’ll be ok. I can’t tell if Jonah does. Jonah has been getting migraine after migraine which is concerning. He goes to a new school now too which he seems to be comfortable in.
Basil came back from the other side of the US a while ago but has since come out of his room within ten times since his “return”. He has a job, though, and will have school when his classes begin.
Sophia has been doing as well as I can see and is very dedicated to her schooling. She is more mature and responsible than most people I know.
Esther has moved away from our house but will return soon, worry not. She and John Ben will bring along Misha, their massive toddler who will be expecting a new sister.
My mom is more active this year and my father is more into me reading books such as Lilith by CS Lewis.
We have gone on a few trips this year which some of you might have seen us on. They were beautiful and while there, we went to a very nice church that you can read about in my mom’s blogs. You could view most of this on her blog [be it, as accurate as a mom of teenagers can be with her kids’ tales]. Have yourself a very, merry Christmas.
Xenia
Hey, Justin, here. Hope the eternal darkness hasn’t consumed you yet. I’ve had a good year. We had Misha living with us for the summer he was adorable. In June as a family Me, Mom, Dad, Xenia, Jonah, Esther, John Ben, and Misha took a vacation to Washington and Oregon. While we were there Esther told us that she was pregnant!! Then we had a great vacation we went to the beach, a lot, an armory and nice restaurants. A few weeks later Mom, Me, Xenia, and Tera went back to the same places along with Mom’s childhood home, and her uncle’s house.
Xenia has had a hard year. No one really understands her. She now does gymnastics along with parkour and music. She is still funny and kind, but she and Basil have not gotten along.
Basil is now living with us. He works at El Pinto and is still a hermit in his room. He tells jokes shows us memes and plays a lot of games with us.
Sophia is doing great! She is doing an online art collage, and her sketches are amazing.
Jonah is enjoying his new school. He’s made a lot of friends and is spending a lot of time with them.
Hope you’re doing well.
J.R.
Syra's Scribbles 