Christmas Letter 2008

Christmas 2008

Warm and heartfelt Christmas greetings to you!

We pray that this letter finds you embraced by the manifold blessings and all sufficient grace of God.

2008 has been quite the ride! We have been greatly blessed at many turns, and have come to know, in even more sincerity, the Grace and Peace of Jesus

Well, we welcomed the New Year (2008) by finding out that we were pregnant. This brought us great joy as we had experienced a loss of a pregnancy during November of 2007. The pregnancy was great and healthy, and in August (2008), Jackson Harris Liberius Larkin burst into our life and made it much more full! As I write this letter, Jack is four months old and is such a joy. He loves to smile, chew his fingers, stand up (holding on to us, of course), examine things, play games, and cuddle! Jack’s (or Jack Jack’s) name is in honor of Lauren’s maternal and paternal grandfathers. The “Jack[son]” and the “Liberius” honor Grandpa Jack Liberius Alimisis, and the “Harris” honors Grandpa Harris Ellis. It’s a long name, but it’s a strong name; and, we know that Jack will grow into it and that his namesakes would be proud of him.

Daniel V is a riot! He is two and full of life and...TALKING! He goes about his day describing nearly everything he is doing and making jokes. It’s only when he’s silent that we go and check on him—silence, with a talker, indicates “up-to-no-good” (as Lauren found out with dry-erase markers the other day)! He is deeply inquisitive and quick, VERY quick, to pick up words and phrases—also, how to apply those words and phrases correctly, like when you drop something, you say, “Oh, Crap” [mommy blushes…whoops!]. We have realized that we have to be very careful about WHAT we say around him. He has also learned all of his letters and numbers—not in order, but he’s figuring that out, too! He loves drawing letters, kitties, fishes, effitents (elephants), cars, trucks, and tractors (it all looks like a series of “w”s) or getting you to do draw these things for him. All in all, Quinn defines the words “Vibrant” and “Intense”—we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Daniel’s job is going well and steady. He is very busy with old and new projects. He is, also, a glowing father of two boys, and you can see how proud he is of both of them as they grow. As soon as he gets home from work, he pours out love and fellowship with both of his sons in such a way that warms the heart. He’s encouraging and challenging and loves to teach them new things. Lauren is confident that her two boys will grow to be mature, strong, and capable men after their father’s lead.

Lauren was honored to be a Teacher’s Assistant for one of the professors at Trinity (where she obtained her Masters) during the Spring semester. But, since the birth of Jack, is a stay-at-home-mom. She really wouldn’t have it any other way! She has also been blessed to have some opportunities to teach, and remains active in Theology by writing and blogg-ing for herself and for an organized ministry outreach called Mockingbird, based in NYC. This keeps her teaching, writing, and researching skills honed as she waits to continue her schooling in Theology.

As a family we are growing together and experiencing new things at many turns! We traveled to NYC in the early part of the year. We traveled to NH and to CT to vacation, visit friends, and attend the wedding of a very dear friend of Lauren’s. In August, Grammie and Grumpy Ellis came to visit us in Ambridge as we waited, PATIENTLY (or not so patiently) for Jack’s arrival, which was late! Grammie stayed longer than planned--this was a HUGE gift to us. We have been able to spend quality time with some of our family; especially, Nana and Papa Morris, Uncle Luke Morris, Grammie and Grumpy Ellis, Uncle Greg and Aunt Lisa Ellis, and Jack and Quinn’s cousins, Erin Kate and Harry Ellis. Quinn is fascinated with all of his relatives and loves them all deeply (and talks about them by name often). We will spend time with Uncle Colin and Aunt Julie Larkin over Christmas and hope to see Grandma and Grandpa Larkin soon!

“To You they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame” (Psalm 22:5).

God’s Peace and Blessings to you during this wonderful Season!

Love,

Daniel, Lauren, Quinn, and Jack!