Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas from the McNamee's!

2009 has been filled with challenges, blessings and changes....here's some of what's gone on in our home during the past year...

Joshua - Now 3 years old, enrolled in the Early Intervention Pre-School, and doing wonderful! He loves riding the bus, with his brother and cousin Nathan. His speech is improving - though he still lisps and talks "baby" talk - he is 95% understandable and we are grateful for his strong will and sweet spirit. He is a handful - always on the go, he loves "Brother" and babies. He has a sweetness about him, and you can't help but laugh at his antics, he's prone to climbing walls, cabinets and making "forts". He's constantly on the go when he's up and currently is into PLAYDOUGH. (Yuck! Our carpets will never be the same) His imagination is unparalleled and he's just your average rough-n-tumble boy.

Matthew - Now 4 years old, is our big helper. He too is enrolled in the Early Intervention Pre-School and he is thriving under their direction. He only has the faintest lisp - and we are now working on socialization and behavior. He's such a good helper and oh my! is this boy smart! He absorbs everything. We mean it. EVERYTHING. Already fascinated with the concept of Heaven, and its location, he overhears and stores everything - trying to make sense of it all in his amazing mind! He's still into trucks, cars, trains, and of course, tools....and he constantly amazes us with his logical reasoning - he's quite the planner and also, executor, of said plans. He's a wonderful big brother - who tries to look out for Josh. (Only he can pick on Josh - no one else...) and he makes each day just a little brighter.

Liz - Wife, Mom, housecleaner and future student....she's started the process of looking for grants - trying to get all her college courses under her belt for college - she hopes to complete all the necessary prerequisites for the Nursing Program at MHCC (Mt. Hood Community College) and be eligible for the 2011 Nursing Program, while simultaneously juggling her other day-to-day tasks of Mommyhood and household errands....she's a little shy of half-way through writing her first book - which she continues to revamp and revise, and still has hopes of one day being published, though, it won't be in the near future, unless time either slows down, or she gets 3 more of her to go around completing all the other things required of her. She still teaches CTR 5/6 and 6/7, she loves her class and also working with the RS Enrichment Board. Now that she has both boys in school twice a week, she's started running again, and is hoping to finally achieve her goal (still on her New Year's Resolution list, 3x's going...) of one day running a marathon. She's crossing her fingers that 2010 will be her year...

Stann - Though business has been cut back and the economy is struggling, we're still very blessed to be able to make ends meet. He was released as the YM's 1st Counselor, and is currently teaching the Melchizedek Priesthood Prep Class, and really enjoys working with the men in his class. He's learned a lot for himself through this class and has really enjoyed the chance to brush up on his Church History. He's still plugging along - enjoying time with friends when he can, fixing things with the boys around the house and loves it most when he can find time to "hold down the couch" all by himself....(aka watching TV without children on top of him - or watching their shows...LOL).

2009 has been a tough year - make no mistake - as I'm sure most everyone in the nation can agree with! We've learned some very valuable lessons - on empathy, compassion, humility and kindness....as well as learning some very valuable lessons on thriftiness!! The old adage:

"Use it up! Wear it out! Make it do - or Do without!"

has become our family's favorite mantra of late....and we've been grateful for these life lessons. We've looked at it as a year where we've gotten to know our Savior better, spent more time on our knees looking for answers and less time worrying about appearances, just for appearances sake. And though it's been tough, it has been worthwhile and we are grateful for the love and blessings that our Heavenly Father has seen fit to bless us with.

We are grateful for this Christmas season... The opportunities that are given to us to express our love of the Savior and the gift of Eternal Life and reflect upon the birth of our Savior, His life and ministry....

At this time, we hope this Christmas Season finds you and your families well, we wish the choicest blessings of our Heavenly Father for you and yours and hope that your Holiday Season will be merry and bright.

All Our Love,
The McNamee's
Stann, Liz, Matt & Josh