Christmas 2011: The Year in Review

Because we have a family blog, we shouldn't need to write a Christmas newsletter.  Instead, we should just tell people to read the blog.  But that would require more than two postings for the year.  And since we didn't send out a Christmas letter last year, you probably have no idea what we've been doing.
In keeping with the Gothic family photo this year (see "American Gothic," for those of you who never played Masterpiece as children), we will try to provide a report that reflects the Gothic characteristics of realism and detail. 

First of all, we're now a family of six.  Sterling Williams Beck was born on 6 December 2011.  He has all the health, strength, appetite, and desire for sleep that we could ever want in a newborn infant.  We're all grateful for that.  Sterling loves to be swaddled and held, but there's nothing terribly unusual about that.  What is perhaps somewhat unusual is that Sterling has become accustomed to using the bathroom like a civilized human being instead of soiling his diapers.  We're all adjusting to our new addition fairly well.  His big brother and sisters are glad to have him in the family, though Sarah can sometimes be particularly sensitive to her new position as a big girl rather than the baby of the family.

Sarah Jane is Little Miss Independent.  Though petite for her new age of two, she has remarkable physical strength and an even more impressive will.  But Sarah's independence doesn't require her to sacrifice snuggling, stories, and one-on-one attention.  She loves to play outside, is learning how to handle the single-rope swing in the yard, and is not terribly concerned about talking in ordinary English.  However, she is quite expressive and able to communicate her needs, desires, and decisions.  Sarah is a self-potty-trained individual and a chameleon-like dresser who seems to be sporting a new outfit every time you cross her path throughout the day.  Sarah is also the champion eater in our house and will often eat a hearty breakfast that is as big as what her Dad eats.  She loves playing with Joseph and Caroline and is quick to emulate their behaviors, whether silly or serious.

  

Joseph is a little working man, just like his Dad.  He is always early to bed and almost always the first to rise.  From the time he gets up around 5:30 or 6:00 AM, Joseph gets dressed and is ready for the day.  He is neat and tidy, but normally prefers to spend his time outdoors in our desert.  As a result, he usually has a patina of dust from playing in the sand, swinging, working in the garden, moving firewood, or feeding, petting, and gathering eggs from the chickens.  Joseph loves the chickens and would be able and willing to take care of them all by himself if he was only a foot or so taller (four-year-old boys have trouble getting over 42 inch electric fences).  Joseph has a great sense of humor and has recently taken to enthusiastically reciting Millie's famous line from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers:  "Ya gonna act like hogs... ya gonna EAT like hogs!"  Though sometimes shy amongst strangers, Joseph is an engaging boy with a contagious sense of humor and a keen sense of detail. 

 

Caroline is the best reader in the family... and an artist.  Those are her own words.  And that characterization is in no way delusional or deceptive:  it is a perfect description of our six-year-old daughter.  Caroline learned to read and wasted no time immersing herself in the wonderful world of books.  She reads several large "chapter" books at a time (i.e. the 300 page varieties like the Little House on the Prairie series) and will devour two to four books of that magnitude every week!  But she's not just turning the pages; her comprehension is excellent and her vocabulary is growing as she asks about some of the trickier words she finds.  But Caroline is also an artist who creates incessantly.  You can see some of her work here.  From writing to woodwork, flowers to sand sculpture, and drawing to dining preparation, Caroline always has another brilliant idea that she is working tirelessly to reify.  Still, Caroline spends plenty of time playing outside, helping in the house, and just being an ordinary well-rounded child.  As she learns to wisely harness and focus her creative passions, she will be a bright and powerful force for good.

 

Shaela had the bright idea to adopt 16 new chickens just as we began raising 25 chicks in September.  But due to a violent tragedy in the chicken's former house, natural selection left us with only 9 mature hens and 1 amazing rooster.  The good news is that we have had enough eggs to supply our family over the last few months.  This year, Shaela learned to trust in the Lord and to remember that these demanding, crazy times of young motherhood are both fleeting and precious.  She has learned that, with the proper attitude, diapers, laundry, pool maintenance, chickens, and house cleaning can be exhilarating and inspiring, especially when the children are involved, learning to work, and even arguing over who gets to clean the toilet, iron handkerchiefs, or set the table the nicest.  Additionally, Shaela has learned to love to learn this year as she has redoubled her own efforts in her studies while teaching the children.  Day by day, she finds great joy watching their minds work and their souls expand as they gradually come to understand, embrace, and apply light and truth.

Eldon has had so much to do that he has not had time to do more enjoyable things, like post photos, videos, and pithy comments to this blog.  He spent the last year, until November 2011, as a defense counsel and found great satisfaction helping Marines in trouble and holding the government accountable (i.e. "sticking it to the Man").  Eldon is grateful for the many wonderful people he was able to work with and the opportunity to learn so much through interesting and challenging cases, such as this case.  He has recently become the officer-in-charge of the Civil & Installation law section and, as a result, has temporarily left the courtroom to learn the "corporate" side of the Marine Corps.  He loves the challenge and complexity of his new job and is excited to tackle ambitious, much-needed, and high-payoff projects that will make a lasting positive impact on the way the office works.  In Church, Eldon was released from the Elders Quorum Presidency in order to serve as the Second Counselor in the Bishopric.  This has been another time-intensive opportunity to learn and serve that has been both demanding and rewarding.  At home, Eldon continues to strive to be the husband and father that Shaela and the children need and deserve.  There are always projects around the house and the chickens to care for, but we still find many a Saturday morning for a family hike in Joshua Tree National Park and sometimes even get the chance for an occasional Friday night movie in front of a cozy fire.  And every night in our home is the time for Eldon to read aloud the great books that teach and inspire us to become great people.

That's about all the detail and realism we can share in a little family newsletter without turning it into an unwieldy tome.  If you want the full experience, you'll have to pay us a visit!  In the meantime, here are some of the best pictures of the family and the kids from this year:

  
Life is good.  We miss all our friends and family, many of whom we haven't seen now for several years.  We think of you often and are grateful for the uplifting influence you have had on us.  More than anything, especially at this special time of year, we are grateful for our Father's gift of his Son and our Savior's gift to us of the Atonement, which opens the way back to our Father.  Those eternal gifts provide the purpose and hope for our individual lives and our family.  They are the path of immediate and everlasting happiness for all people who will but follow the plan.  We are thankful for the many blessings we have received as a family.  We're humbled and sometimes even slightly whelmed by the challenges and opportunities we receive.  But we trust in and follow Jesus Christ and know He will make us equal to whatever burdens we may have to bear.  We wish you all the best in the year to come and pray that you may feel an abundance of the sweet peace that the Gospel brings.