2013 Christmas Card

This year, we have been coast to coast--Atlantic to Pacific, moved away from lifelong friends and added another girl to our family. Through all of this, we have been blessed with the guidance of the Lord. He has guided us from North Carolina to Utah, from 2 to 3 children and from our own faulty notions and habits to a more excellent way. Each of us, as well, have experience His guidance in our lives.

Devin - I have felt the guidance of the Lord as I have been confronted with complex problems ranging from calculating the concentration of plutonium in a nuclear waste recycling facility to convincing an irrational, sick and sleep-deprived toddler to sleep. In all cases, He has inspired me to find the solutions that evaded me on my own. With his help and guidance, I earned my masters degree in Nuclear Engineering. When presented with an opportunity to finish my graduate work at the University of Utah, the Lord helped this stubborn man to accept the change and move forward. Through all of the changes and challenges, the Lord has helped me to not give into the stress and fatigue and to keep my mind focused on what matters most.

Joslyn - When I reflected on this year I thought I haven't done anything but grow a baby while being sick, sleep deprived and cranky. I think of all the times I fell asleep while doing something else (or all the times I wanted to be sleeping but wasn't). I thought frequently throughout the year- at least I laugh more than I cry. I've grown in my appreciation and understanding of God, who gives all to His children. Its amazing that God gives me strength over and over to have patience, love, and joy in my role as mom. I'm also so grateful for my life lines with family close by again as our little family grows. This year, I started "Cambry" school which later became "Cambry and Vienna" school. It has been fun and rewarding to watch their little minds grow and understand new concepts.


Cambry (3) - Cambry has been learning, growing and exploring so much this year. The advancement of her verbal skills has really allowed her to express all of the connections that she is making. It has also allowed her sense of humor to really surface. Here are some quotes from this year:

Cambry: "Excuse me swing"
Joslyn: "Is the swing in your way?"
C: "No, I just tooted on the swing. Oh excuse me again swing. Excuse me another again swing."

Cambry's rendition of "5 Little Monkeys":
"Mama called the doctor and bumped his head"

Teaching Vienna how to climb rocks:
"EE-en-a (Vienna), you just need to hold on to your wobbles like this."

C: "Daddy, do you see what my shirt says?"
D: "What does it say?"
C: "It says Daddy's under my covers" (Actually says "spell")

While sitting on the potty:
"Hey can you help me hold my dress? I don't have 3 arms."

D: "Do you want to go sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you want for Christmas?"
C: "Maybe, he can just stand up"

In addition to her sense of humor, her care and compassion have really come through in words and actions this year.

To a sobbing Vienna:
"EE-en-a, do you need a hug and a snuggle?" {gives her a hug}

"It's alright EE-en-a. Want to go home and slide down the slide? Okay, here" {hands her a rock}

Vienna (2) - Vienna is a comic relief so much of the time. She has two volumes: loud and louder. She is so expressive and demands attention, laughs, snuggles, and love. People tell us frequently how she's their favorite. She just wiggles her way into people's hearts. She loves to dance and sing. Every night after dinner she gives us a little performance in the kitchen.  She follows the philosophy "better to ask for forgiveness than permission" and seems to know when her parents are too tired to stop her. She's learned colors and shapes without words ("point to the triangle"). We switched a couple months ago from mom and dad reading scriptures to the family, to having the girls repeat the words we read. An amazing thing has happened: Vienna's vocabulary has doubled! She used to just say "Deh" for just about everything, but she's sounding out words and pronouncing many words right. The scriptures ARE true!






Myla (3 mo.) -  Heavenly. Angelic. Gift from God. Pure joy. That's what this child is in our family. She sleeps more than babies should, she cries less, she smiles at everyone, her laugh melts our hearts. Her older sisters love and dote on her constantly, and they are rewarded with big smiles and giggles and chatter. She is such a calm blessing in our family ever since she was born in September. From her first minutes on earth, we were surprised how alert she is. We thought at first maybe it was because she's the first baby I had naturally, but she continues to be extremely alert and aware of her surroundings. We are so humbled and happy to have her in our family.

"...lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." (Matt 2:9-10)

Our Heavenly Father in his great mercy has not left us alone to seek out Christ, but has given us "stars" to guide us in our lives to paths that lead us closer to Christ. May we all seek Christ by finding and following stars that bring us closer to him so that we, like the wise men of old, may rejoice.