Christmas Letter, 2008

December, 2008

Seasons Greetings, Friends and Family!

We've had a wonderful and crazy year, once again. Never a dull moment in the Armstrong home but there's not a day that goes by that we don't take the time to reflect on our blessings and give thanks for the many that there are. We healthy and doing well.
Here's the quick lowdown:

Brady--In March we had the 1st year anniversary of his Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. We still don't know everything there is to know and have plenty of struggles trying to figure out even the little things, but he's doing well and we've all adjusted to this new life. Brady is incredibly brave and strong. What he endures on a daily basis is something I wouldn't wish upon anyone but he does it without any complaints. Mind you, he still has plenty of tantrums and fits that are the 3-year-old he is. Brady started pre-school in August. He enjoys it very much and has made some friends he talks about non-stop. In January he graduates from Nursery and becomes a Sunbeam, in Primary. He's very excited! He's quite adventurous and imaginative. I catch him playing with his action figures and cars, creating little stories as he plays--it's very sweet! He loves to be a super-hero as well, Buzz Lightyear is his current preference. However, even super-heroes like hugs and cuddles every now and then and Brady is a pro at cuddling and giving hugs. Brady turns 4 on January 11th.
Elise--Kindergarten was a blast for Elise but 1st grade is like nothing else. She loves being at school all day, bringing her lunch and going to recess 3 times a day. She is at the top of her class. We're very proud of her accomplishments. She enjoys reading and art very much. She would trade a Barbie for a "Junie B. Jones" book any day! Elise is quite the chatterbox, which can get her into a little trouble at school. She comes home and happily fills us in on what happened at school, not missing a single detail! Elise is incredibly curious and full of questions. I can tell she tries to figure things out on her own, first, and then she'll come to us. It's amazing the thoughts she has--especially the thoughts she has about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Her testimony is growing as she ponders on the things she learns in Primary and at home. Elise turns 7 on March 24th.

Audra--In April, Audra did something quite drastic. She had her hair cut short! It hasn't been this short since the 3rd grade! She likes it though and rarely misses the time and hair products it takes to maintain long, curly hair. Audra got released as Primary President in June and then was called to be a Stake Cub Scout Unit Commissioner. At the time she knew very little about Cub Scouts but is enjoying her calling now and gaining a testimony of the Scout program. She is still working with a chiropractor, doing massage therapy and enjoying it. Something else she enjoys, as does the rest of her family, is her new Wii Fit. It makes working out so much fun while trying to get some weight off.

Nathan--With the current travel freeze at Thomson, Nate didn't have many business trips this year (Audra didn't complain!). He missed the yearly 1-2 business trips to Europe. He enjoys being able to work at home 3 days a week, yes, even in a t-shirt and pajama bottoms. Nate has 3 callings right now: Stake Auditor, Stake Officiator (basketball and softball), and 11-year-old Scout leader. Luckily, these callings don't keep him too busy but he enjoys them all. Recently, Thomson had a huge round of layoffs and we were blessed to be notified that Nate's job is still safe. A true blessing in these hard economic times.

As parents, we are enjoying being able to watch our kids grow, discover and learn. They amaze us with their talents and abilities. We look forward to 2009! We pray the economy will improve and President Obama will begin to "clean house" a little to make our lives better. We pray for peace and unity in all things.

Love, Nathan, Audra, Elise and Brady Armstrong