Howdy from Hope, Arkansas!

It's me, your friend, Kenni Denise Harlingen!  

For those who don't know me, let me do a quick review.  I am ten years old, I live with my family in Hope, Arkansas (I have a mom, a dad, and two younger sisters, Blythe and Tori, who are 8 and 6), and I want to be a country singer when I grow up.  

My favorite singer is Loretta Lynn, "The Coal Miner's Daughter" herself.  I have loved Loretta as lnng as I can remember.

I want to be just like her.  I think I've gotten a head start, 'cause just about every Saturday, I perform at local Oprys around my neck of the woods; I mainly sing Loretta Lynn songs.  Lately, though, we have been singing Christmas music 'cause Christmas will be here in a few weeks.

Christmas is my favorite time of year.  

Besides learning Christmas music for the local Oprys, at church, we have been working on Christmas music for the children's Christmas program, which is this coming Sunday.  I am singing a solo; I am singing "O, Holy Night".  I hope I do a good job; I don't like it when I mess up, especially in front of a whole crowd of people.  That is always so embarrassing!!

Mama and Daddy have been busy doing their Christmas shopping, but I am trying to make it as if Santa Claus is the one who is doing it.  I know Blythe and Tori must be suspicious of the mysterious bags that sometimes appear when Mama and Daddy come home from the stores.  I tell them that it's just their helpers disquised as Mama and Daddy.  They look at me like I have a horn growing out the middle of my forehead, but I don't want to ruin it for them by tellng them that Santa Claus is nothing but a big fat fake!

I know he isn't real, but my little sisters still believe in Santa Claus.  

Let them be little for just a little while.  They'll find out the heartbreaking news soon enough.  I did when I was eight and it about destroyed me!

Today, after we get home from school, Tori, Blythe, and I are going to help decorate the Christmas tree with Mama; as for Daddy, he's gonna rig up the outside lights.  We have lights on our house every year but this year he got new ones.  He got electric blue icicle lights.  I bet they will be pretty when they are lit up!

Well, the bus is here, so I gotta go.  I gotta get to school.  I will write in here again soon; untl later, this is Kenni Harlingen signing off! Take care and God bless! Bye!

~Love, your friend in Arkansas, Kenni.  :)

~To be continued.~