Christmas Letter...Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas….It is a time for reflection. Reflection on what’s and how’s of the year. The “what’s” are easier then the how’s. It is easier to list all the things that we’ve done in a year, but the “how’s” this is a character review—and honestly it makes me look at all the flaws for 2010. But are they really flaws? Aren’t they more like opportunities of growth—more like blessings? The “What’s” and the “How’s” list went something like this:

Jan-March 7, 2010: Work, set goals, make it through the last trimester of my pregnancy, sledding, shopping, chores, do the everyday routine, homework, plan for a summer adventure, pay the new medical bills, and watch our third Son Isaac enter into the waters of baptism. Once he received the Holy Ghost he started to calm faster, think a little longer before he teased any of his siblings and he basically grew up that day—a blessing. Scott and I celebrated an early Anniversary and his father suffered a stroke….he made it through but it was scary! All went day by day and then, something happened:

My sweet Margaret had a night that frightened my heart. She woke from the night in a rage and flew towards her sister and frightened and hurt her. She was not herself, she was not Margaret. It was as if something else had taken over her train of thought, her emotions, and her little spirit. Scott comforted Virginia, we talked and tried to understand Margaret, and I shed tears and wept for days. It was an altering cry for help…but I did not know where to begin. The next morning all was well again; she acted as if nothing had happened. A week later I went into labor and delivered a sweet baby girl.

March 17, 2010: After 7 lucky pushes Marianne Ellen Giauque arrived late on St. Patty’s day. She took a little while to take her first big breath…always a nervous moment, Scott shed tears of joy, Marianne smelled like spinach, and I was so excited for this new adventure. She failed her first hearing screening, and then past it a few days later. That was on the radar screen for me, but I had to allow for the joy of the moment to sweep me away. On March 19, 2010, Virginia was the first sibling to meet her. It was a treasured moment where Virginia got to be the first, be the spotlight, and got to
hold her. She was filled with love and peace! We then left the hospital and drove straight to the school to introduce her to her new family. The eyes of all the children were filled with love and everyone said, “she is sooooo dang cute!!” My heart was filled with love. My heart was overwhelmed by the love she had already brought into the family. The next week Isaac turned 9, and he had a Lego party.

April-May 2010: Scott and I had our 1 year anniversary, we listened to Conference, and I got to be home with our lucky spud! She grunted all the time and just was a –and she never woke up to all the noise in the house. I thought, “Finally! Heavenly Father sent a calm baby”. The Family LOVED their little sister greatly. Scott and I loved the change in the siblings…especially in Kellis and in Margaret. She was a gift from Heaven and an answer to many a prayer…she was our 2010 Miracle—but Scott and I were beginning to fear that she could not hear. A blessing?? Well yes, we are now blessed to learn humility and patience in order to communicate with her.May-June 2010: A baby blessing—she was blessed with strength, a strong testimony of the gospel, happiness, and as a gift our family. I’m so grateful to be married to an honorable Priesthood holder—BLESSING! Garrett’s art work, “The
Harriman Zoo”, was growing and growing animal by animal—then we went to the zoo with his cousin Dallin and nothing could have made that little boy more happier! Virginia was excited to be with two Aunts and her grandma the whole month of May and then she turn 5 in June—complete with a froggy cake!, Margaret graduated from Kindergarten, Kellis finished big (perfect test score in the Language Arts CRT), Isaac was learning more and more with his tumbling skills, all blessing! But, Marianne and her lack of response to all the sounds, bangs, and screams was unnerving . It was time to check this out! Is this a blessing? I’m wondering…

July-Aug 2010: Summer landed on our family with a vengeance! We swam, we played, we jumped, and we pulled and pulled weeds. We cut Grandma Ann’s grass, crushed cans, scooped poop, and this was all to save money for the new computer. We had our first Flag’s and Flapjacks 4th of July celebration, with music, food, and the cannon—still not a flinch from Marianne. We went on two “Daycations” one to the Uinta’s and another to Echo Reservoir with the Beck’s and Memmott’s. Water, boating, food, sand, Sammy, tubing, sunburns, and exhaustion—now that’s a day-cation! Kellis turned 12, had a
birthday party at Boondocks, was the jackpot winner, received the Aaronic Priesthood and grew about 4 inches and went to Scout camp. BLESSINGS! The kids and I went to the Dinosaur Park, Thanksgiving Point, and prepared ourselves to return to school. I had an unexpected visitor to the school and had to call the police—here it comes! Marianne had her first ABR…and the results were…she has Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder. Sigh….more prayers to understand what this adventure will
mean. Blessings…

Sep-Oct 2010: School—I have the opportunity to lesson plan for the whole 5th grade: set up IEP’s, lessons, and teach a new LA then I ever had before. I was excited to teach something new, balance baby, family, work, and so forth. Virginia loves Kindergarten, Kellis loves 6th grade—the locker! Garrett is getting used to his mom being his Math teacher, Isaac was introduced to SPEED STACKS, and Margaret needed a little adjusting in 1st grade. Between court and hearing aid appointments I somehow managed to work in work, family, dentist, and our BIG TRIP to Arches, 4 Corners, Dead-horse point, and Monticello. This trip was a memory and a BLESSING for us all: Arches for the first day—the kids fell in love with jumping and climbing and wow everything! I loved driving through the sunflower fields down towards Cortez, 4 Corners—no cash and emergency run to Tech Nos Pos for the money, and then story telling! We had pictures, movies, food, traveling, and memories for our lifetime. Ahhh, Scott took us to a little slice of heaven! Garrett was baptized by Dallin on Oct 24, 2010. Wow! It was a night filled with love, and the Spirit. Right before Halloween we got to witness our friend’s Sealing…blessing to remember that our family is eternal! Garrett’s birthday on October 30, 2010 at the Zoo (again with Dallin, pizza and squirrels at the park) was another memory. Then Halloween trick or treating in the rain, Margaret turning 7 and enjoying her Pillow-pet, and swimming at Doug’s house—a blast!

November-December 2010: More court dates (we are praying that we can legally all become Giauque’s soon), presenting at the Autism Conference, and yummy Thanksgiving. Work, field trips, homework, Scott and I getting to go on a date (Thanks Harry Potter), and learning how to use American Sign Language (ASL). Marianne ripping out her hearing aids…sigh, more work, sewing, loving, and trying to help our little Margaret cope with her emotional swings…it is coming. Putting up the decorations, watching the tress fall down twice—once on Marianne, Primary program, practice for Spectrum’s program, pizza, shopping, wrapping, family parties, Scott’s triumphant creative abilities with the big family gift, and wow—it is 5 days till Christmas.

Memories, ups and downs, travel, dates, disappointments, STRESS, hard work, times to relax, and blessings, that was 2010. Blessings: two baptism, Marianne and her deafness, Kellis and the Priesthood, Scott and his Priesthood, attending the temple, and counting our many blessings. Merry Christmas everyone! Remember that the Savior makes it all possible for us to progress and grow. He allows us all to count our many blessings and to name them one by one…loves to all!