2000 Livingston Family Sampler

Merry Christmas! Here is the "normal family newsletter" version of our Seasonal Sampler, for those of you who just want the facts (less-but still plenty-of this analyzing life stuff).

Sarah is now 6 1/2, in first grade, growing smarter and more beautiful and kinder every year. (Oh, these newsletter superlatives are so great! Parents and grandparents definitely have license to write this on a yearly basis, right?) She is learning to read, has spent some time learning to play violin but is now taking piano, did gymnastics for a while, loves to be with friends and cousins and grandparents, and holds dear the memory of a best friend who passed away this year, She can be SO giddy and silly that Lane and I always say she has the other's genes in this area. (I confess, however, that I have yet to see Lane giddy). She has demonstrated a very compassionate, caring nature and an interest in being a nurse someday.

Nathan, who will be 5 in January, is still a tremendously dear and sensitive boy. This year he has shown a little more "toughness" and independence in his behavior. He still ties knots in everything. He loves watching any John Wayne movie with Lane, has 3 swords and 2 guns and typically has a sword near his bed or under his pillow at night. He is fascinated by Captain Moroni and Helaman's 2000 stripling warriors and Ammon's cutting off the arms of the Lamanite thieves and more. Nathan's natural aptitudes include things academic. He has often surprised us with some melody he remembers from 3 months ago, or asks how to solve some math problem, or requests us to dictate a word. Must be those Morley brains! :) We are also really proud of Nathan that he learned some gymnastics and some violin this year. (We loved how during his first violin recital, he stayed bowing for probably ten seconds!)

Julia, or "Lulu,"will be "free" (3) this month and is at that wonderful stage where she is just starting to learn how to channel some of her energy and curiosity into productive (versus destructive) activities. This week she has been abnormally helpful-vacuuming, putting away silverware, making Nathan's bed, picking up toys while singing the Barney clean up song, hanging up her clean laundry, clearing her dishes without spilling, offering to help with the laundry, wearing underwear without having accidents! Is this a forecast of things to come? WOW, I hope so! She has gone from the baby talk of a 2 year old to really talking well and being much more understandable and communicative. Hooray! I love closing the gap in knowing what my children need, want, and feel. She's got rhythm in her bones, too-loves dancing and singing. She is delightfully sweet and affectionate, has tons of spunk, and more curiosity than we'd sometimes like. Now only if we could keep clothing on her...

Rebecca, who turns 1 this upcoming week, could be called "angel child." To this point in her life, she has been about as great as a baby could be. She sleeps wonderfully. She plays by herself. Her Aunts and Uncles have wondered out loud if she ever cries. Well, yes, but rarely. Certainly, all this will change. But right now she is at the "fat and happy" stage of babyhood, and has been for a number of months. (Was I the baby who someone used to call "Marshmallow?!") She has a darling personality: she doles out kisses to Mommy, then playfully refuses Daddy any such privilege. Later, she'll relinquish and kiss him on the lips with a smile. She'll reach out to hug her siblings; they especially love this. Lane and I have watched with "bated breath" as Sarah, Nathan, and Julia have each carried Rebecca up the stairs or across a room, which is no easy task since she is so hefty and they are none to big. She has made having a fourth child all worthwhile.

Lane is on a "high" taking pilot lessons right now. He has always dreamed of being a pilot ( I just hope he never loses his glasses during flight-he still hasn't had that laser surgery yet!). I suppose that since it will never be legal for him to drive as fast as he'd like that flying is the appropriate pastime for him. He has continued to enjoy working at FIBERNET. Educational opportunities abound in the technology industry. (This man reads more computer industry-related periodicals than I can count. Thank heavens most of them are free.) He has great co-workers for whom we as a family are grateful. (We drop in at work just to give the office staff a break from the adult world :)). He's worked with Scouts (Webelos) this year and had other service opportunities in our church that have blessed our family. He's been a tremendous help at home--when he is home--this year. The work associated with our young children can really overwhelm me at times, and he is a great father and husband. I love him for it.

As for Liz, I'm just about as much of a mother as I've ever been this year. What in the world does that mean? Well, I'm learning to let Sarah go to school with very greasy hair and the same underwear that she wore yesterday, or to leave the house in unmatched clothing. We've had a few more cold-cereal-and-milk dinners than I'd hope for, but on the other hand, I'm also making more sit-down-and-eat-your-vegetable dinners than in the past. I'm learning how to help Sarah do her practicing in the morning and her homework after school (or in the car on the way to school). I'm learning to walk over laundry piles that have been on my floor more than a day (did I say a day? I meant a week) and hardly wince. I love reading to my children and singing hymns in the morning with scratchy voices (or only my voice, if everyone else is asleep or begrudging). I'm learning to let the toilet training take as long as it needs to. A few choice BYU students have helped me out a lot with my housework and caring for children, namely Shannon, Michelle, and Abi. What a blessing they have been! I love being a part of Relief Society, the women's organization of my church. Currently, I learning how to be a "doula" (non-medical support person for laboring women and their husbands). At two recent births, I awed at the miracle of birth-and was so grateful NOT to be the one in pain!

And how about you? We love you! I believe that the depth of our gratitude grows each year for the people and relationships that affect our lives. The circle of your reach has blessed our life. If you were with us, we could tell you specifically. Broadly speaking, it's the cumulative effect of your kindness, your sharing, your teaching, your example, your perseverance, your humanity and your reliance on Divinity that helps make us want to be better. Most of all we cannot imagine having made it through this year without the knowledge that Jesus Christ is helping us every day, and that our Heavenly Father has this great plan of happiness that we are trying to follow. We are His children. Lane and I would be miserable without this knowledge, especially when trying to raise our family. We want to share what we have because it has been and continues to make our lives so worth living, through everything.

May you feel our love, and Heaven's love, too, this season and always. If we can ever help you in any way, please tell us!

Love, the Livingstons