Christmas Letter 2011

Dear Friends & Family,
We are nominating this year, “our year of many miracles.” We have grown in many ways, especially in our love for each and every one of you. We have realized that it is the little things that make a big difference in our lives. We want to express our gratitude to each of you for the difference that you have made in our lives whether it was through a smile, kind word, prayer, and in many other ways. Thank you.
Why is this our year of many miracles? Our year began with the privilege of being able to spend the last couple months with Brittney’s grandfather before he passed away in February because of pancreatic cancer. His return to full activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a couple years ago is one of the greatest and most special miracles of our lives.
In March we experienced an incredible miracle that strengthened our faith in the power of the priesthood, fasting, and the prayers of friends and family. Brittney was 9 months pregnant and a week away from her due date when she was awaken in the morning by the armoire (dresser) falling on top of Katie Marie. Brittney was able to lift the dresser off of Katie Marie. Katie Marie regained consciousness after the 911 call. Randy came home soon after and gave her a blessing. Friends and neighbors were there as she was transferred to the ambulance, driven around the corner to the park and transferred to the life flight helicopter and flown to the hospital. We have angelic neighbors and ward members. They watched Belinda for us, cleaned our house, brought us meals, drove stuff to the hospital for us, brought countless gifts to Katie Marie, said many prayers on her behalf, the whole primary wrote her get well cards, the Bishop was miraculously at the hospital before we even got there and bought us breakfast. I don’t think I can adequately express my gratitude to EVERYONE who supported us or who had the desire to be there for us. Even those who offered to sit with us at the hospital, even though the need never arose. Those little thoughts of love have made a big difference in our lives. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Miraculously Katie Marie healed from her two skull fractures and is just like any other kid her age with absolutely no side effects.
Another miracle is that through all of this, Brittney held out for another two weeks before delivering our sweet little miracle Alvin. Thanks to those who did the nesting for us in the meantime. Alvin spent 2 days in the NICU and had to spend time under bilirubin lights, but is a healthy and happy baby boy.
Other miracles this year that did not necessarily occur in this order include: Getting a car that will fit all members of our family, avoiding serious injury when Randy hit a deer, not getting towed away when we had to leave our car on the side of the road because of a flat tire and return a couple hours later. Finding Randy’s phone on the white line to the side of the freeway undamaged after he accidentally dropped it while getting out of his car to latch the hood down tighter (he actually had to go back a few exits to find it). We grew a successful garden. Financially we were able to pay our bills and lower debts. Randy was able to find a second and sometimes third and fourth job to earn a little extra money!! And many more miracles!!!
Randy-Appraiser (moved to new office building), wedding decorator (can tie bows better than Brittney), ward mission leader (still learning), husband (good cook, handy man, honey do it).
Brittney-Referee (stop arguing kids!), nurse (let me kiss that owie and here are some doTERRA essential oils), ward compassionate service committee (ready to share the love), chauffer (swimming, music & ballet), best friend (just ask Randy and Alvin), and best of all “MOTHER” (what more can I ask for?)
Katie Marie-Piano player (Let’s Play Music), Diving swimmer (that’s right she can dive off the diving board and do her elementary back stroke and a few other strokes), Ballerina (waves while performing), Reader & writer (learning phonograms and has excellent handwriting), whistler & finger snapper.
Belinda-Potty trained (big girl), nursery lover (she learns about fruit snackies almost every week), prayer sayer (all by herself), Kubali lover (can’t get enough of that little stuffed animal), best friend (she and Katie Marie love each other).
Alvin- Crawler (watch out for the stairs), taste tester (anything and everything), stander (don’t press the DVD player!), Clapper (happy boy), teether (he has his two front teeth for Christmas…on the bottom).
We have a testimony and love for our Savior Jesus Christ and are thankful for this holiday season that we have to celebrate His birth. We know that He loves each of us and each of you. He knows the challenges that we each must face in this life and He can help carry us through them. All of our losses will be made up to us as we remain faithful to Him. We must endure to the end. It most likely, and almost guaranteed will not be easy, but it will be worth it. Miracles happen in our daily lives. It’s the little things that make a big difference. We hope that each of you has a very Merry Christmas and we love you!!!