Christmas 2006
I know I haven't been a great blogger lately. You all know how December is. Anyway, below is our Christmas letter.
Also, be sure to check out our 2006 Family Video.
Enjoy!
Christmas 2006
Every year when I sit down to write this letter, I always go back and read the previous year’s Christmas letter. Sometimes I get carried away and go back and read ALL of the Christmas letters I have written in our 11 years of marriage. (Yes, I still have all of them and believe it or not, the early ones fit on just one page!) Every letter starts out in a rather shocked sort of way about how busy that year has been. Well, this year has been busy, insanely busy, at times but this year, I am not shocked by it. I knew this year would be a year marked by many firsts. A year of joyful stress having all 3 kids at home. A year of change that comes with a move and new people. I wasn’t surprised by it, but I was surprised by how God’s loving hand has been made manifest in the midst of it all.
I’ll recap for you…
We accepted the position here at Meadowbrook last December. We put our house on the market the first week in January. We sold it in 10 days for more than we asked. We came to Jackson on a house hunting trip during January and found (on the last day of looking) a beautiful house that was vacant and was about to be foreclosed on so we got a great deal. This house is in a neighborhood where several other families from church live in and is in walking distance to the school that Isaac now attends. Our move in February went flawlessly; nothing broke or lost. The worst part was when my parents left to go back to San Antonio. The very next week, they made a decision to move here. They found a house in our neighborhood and moved in May. We see them just about everyday. We are so grateful for all that they do; all that they have done. It is such a blessing to have them here. They are a great support to us in every possible way. They seem to be genuinely happy as well. These things are meant to be a testimony as to how great God is and how He does work everything to the good of those who love Him. (Rom. 8:28)
Eric is thriving in his role here at Meadowbrook. It is amazing to see him in this position and how others respond to him. He is fulfilled in his job for the first time ever and he has grown so much in this position. It is clear to me the anointing of God’s Spirit rests on him. He is doing things that did not come easily to him a short time ago.
Isaac will turn 6 in 2 weeks and has done amazingly well ever since we got here. He was the one we worried about last year when we decided to move. Apparently that worry was all for nothing. He has had friends since we got here. He has done great in kindergarten. He has a marvelous teacher and lots of friends at school. He played soccer this fall for the first time and had a blast. Isaac plays with another friend who lives across the street which is so great. Having a friend right across the street is one of the best things in the world. One of my best friends in the world moved in across the street from me the summer before 6th grade.
Ethan is 2 ½ now and is just silly. He is silly about everything. He has a great smile and a super personality. He says funny things all the time. He’ll look in the trash can and say, ”Come out Daddy!” He likes to say, “That’s not fair!” a lot which isn’t so funny. He and Jaylie are getting better and better about playing with one another. He does pester her quite a bit but she has recently started giving it right back to him. He has been potty training since Sept. and is pretty reliable during the day time. He loves his Nana. He wants to go in Mom’s car at any opportunity. (That may have something to do with the DVD player in their van)
Jaylie is 15 months old and is all over the place. She climbs on everything. I can turn around once and then turn back around and she’ll be sitting on top of the table. She says several single words, no phrases yet. Her first word was baby, which I think is sweet. It has been amazing to us to see the differences in her interests as opposed to the boys’. She has been loving on her baby dolls since before she could sit up. She likes to wear jewelry, and scarves and things like that. She also loves shoes! She likes to watch me put on makeup and she likes for me to brush her cheeks with the blush brush. She mimics everything. It is just really neat.
I have been doing more of the same. Wow, that sounds pretty boring, but you know what I mean. Boring is not a word I would use to describe my life at all. I sing on the praise team at church when I’m needed and I just finished up teaching 2nd grade with a friend of mine. I enjoy ladies’ Bible class on Tuesdays. We have a cooking circle with the other families in our neighborhood and I volunteer at Isaac’s school from time to time. I’m not completely shut off from the world in my home, but I am home most of the time, which I prefer.
We have had an amazing year of blessing. The week before Thanksgiving, however, our families seem to have entered into a season of trial. Eric’s Grandma was admitted to the hospital and then suffered a stroke. She is now in a nursing home and having a difficult time adjusting. Eric’s Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer the day before Grandma’s stroke. She had surgery yesterday (Dec. 5) and will undergo radiation after the New Year. The doctors are very optimistic and so is Joyce. The day of the stroke, my Dad lost his job. He is currently looking and has a real good possibility, but it won’t start for a couple of months. I ask that you remember these: Shirley Mayberry, Joyce Livingston, and Sam Beasley in your personal prayers.
In all things we give God glory. Eric and I are grateful for each of you and the memories we share. We hope to see you soon and long for the day when we are reunited.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Merry Christmas!
Love, Eric, Dixie, Isaac, Ethan and Jaylie Livingston
Also, be sure to check out our 2006 Family Video.
Enjoy!
Christmas 2006
Every year when I sit down to write this letter, I always go back and read the previous year’s Christmas letter. Sometimes I get carried away and go back and read ALL of the Christmas letters I have written in our 11 years of marriage. (Yes, I still have all of them and believe it or not, the early ones fit on just one page!) Every letter starts out in a rather shocked sort of way about how busy that year has been. Well, this year has been busy, insanely busy, at times but this year, I am not shocked by it. I knew this year would be a year marked by many firsts. A year of joyful stress having all 3 kids at home. A year of change that comes with a move and new people. I wasn’t surprised by it, but I was surprised by how God’s loving hand has been made manifest in the midst of it all.
I’ll recap for you…
We accepted the position here at Meadowbrook last December. We put our house on the market the first week in January. We sold it in 10 days for more than we asked. We came to Jackson on a house hunting trip during January and found (on the last day of looking) a beautiful house that was vacant and was about to be foreclosed on so we got a great deal. This house is in a neighborhood where several other families from church live in and is in walking distance to the school that Isaac now attends. Our move in February went flawlessly; nothing broke or lost. The worst part was when my parents left to go back to San Antonio. The very next week, they made a decision to move here. They found a house in our neighborhood and moved in May. We see them just about everyday. We are so grateful for all that they do; all that they have done. It is such a blessing to have them here. They are a great support to us in every possible way. They seem to be genuinely happy as well. These things are meant to be a testimony as to how great God is and how He does work everything to the good of those who love Him. (Rom. 8:28)
Eric is thriving in his role here at Meadowbrook. It is amazing to see him in this position and how others respond to him. He is fulfilled in his job for the first time ever and he has grown so much in this position. It is clear to me the anointing of God’s Spirit rests on him. He is doing things that did not come easily to him a short time ago.
Isaac will turn 6 in 2 weeks and has done amazingly well ever since we got here. He was the one we worried about last year when we decided to move. Apparently that worry was all for nothing. He has had friends since we got here. He has done great in kindergarten. He has a marvelous teacher and lots of friends at school. He played soccer this fall for the first time and had a blast. Isaac plays with another friend who lives across the street which is so great. Having a friend right across the street is one of the best things in the world. One of my best friends in the world moved in across the street from me the summer before 6th grade.
Ethan is 2 ½ now and is just silly. He is silly about everything. He has a great smile and a super personality. He says funny things all the time. He’ll look in the trash can and say, ”Come out Daddy!” He likes to say, “That’s not fair!” a lot which isn’t so funny. He and Jaylie are getting better and better about playing with one another. He does pester her quite a bit but she has recently started giving it right back to him. He has been potty training since Sept. and is pretty reliable during the day time. He loves his Nana. He wants to go in Mom’s car at any opportunity. (That may have something to do with the DVD player in their van)
Jaylie is 15 months old and is all over the place. She climbs on everything. I can turn around once and then turn back around and she’ll be sitting on top of the table. She says several single words, no phrases yet. Her first word was baby, which I think is sweet. It has been amazing to us to see the differences in her interests as opposed to the boys’. She has been loving on her baby dolls since before she could sit up. She likes to wear jewelry, and scarves and things like that. She also loves shoes! She likes to watch me put on makeup and she likes for me to brush her cheeks with the blush brush. She mimics everything. It is just really neat.
I have been doing more of the same. Wow, that sounds pretty boring, but you know what I mean. Boring is not a word I would use to describe my life at all. I sing on the praise team at church when I’m needed and I just finished up teaching 2nd grade with a friend of mine. I enjoy ladies’ Bible class on Tuesdays. We have a cooking circle with the other families in our neighborhood and I volunteer at Isaac’s school from time to time. I’m not completely shut off from the world in my home, but I am home most of the time, which I prefer.
We have had an amazing year of blessing. The week before Thanksgiving, however, our families seem to have entered into a season of trial. Eric’s Grandma was admitted to the hospital and then suffered a stroke. She is now in a nursing home and having a difficult time adjusting. Eric’s Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer the day before Grandma’s stroke. She had surgery yesterday (Dec. 5) and will undergo radiation after the New Year. The doctors are very optimistic and so is Joyce. The day of the stroke, my Dad lost his job. He is currently looking and has a real good possibility, but it won’t start for a couple of months. I ask that you remember these: Shirley Mayberry, Joyce Livingston, and Sam Beasley in your personal prayers.
In all things we give God glory. Eric and I are grateful for each of you and the memories we share. We hope to see you soon and long for the day when we are reunited.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Merry Christmas!
Love, Eric, Dixie, Isaac, Ethan and Jaylie Livingston
posted by Eric Livingston at
12/09/2006
1 Comments
