The Year in Review

2009

To our Dearest Friends and Family,

It is hard to believe another year has gone by. It seems like we were just writing our Christmas letter last week. This year has had its fair share of ups and downs. But we have so much to be thankful for and this is what we would like to focus on.

Derrick: This has been an incredible year. We have really seen an outpouring of blessings and I honestly feel that we have drawn closer to God this year as a family. My family lost a wonderful woman this year-my mother. Mom lost her brief battle with cancer and passed away in July. The expereience made me realize how blessed I am to have a family that has been sealed in the temple. My beautiful wife continues to be such a pillar of strength for me and really helped me through the difficulties we had in losing my mother. I love my wife dearly. Jayden has had an explosion of development and I'm happy to say he is one of the goofiest kids I've ever seen for his age. He's very talkative and inquisitive, and even though he keeps us on our toes I'm very excited to have him in our lives.

Another exciting thing that's happened this year us that we got accepted into an MBA program which I'll be starting in January. This will cause us to adjust some things here and there, but we are excited that this will allow us a better opportunity to provide for our family. As I reflect back this year, I'm most grateful to my Savior Jesus Christ and for my Father in Heaven. I'm constantly amazed at the love They have for us. I'm blessed beyond what I deserve to have such a wonderful wife and child and for such a supportive family. I've also listed a few other things for which I am grateful: disposable diapers, the gospel, ping pong. onions and bell peppers, Catherine, Jayden, accepted to Grad School, my Savior.

Concerning table tennis (aka ping pong). I have found my second calling in life. I'm seriously considering going into an amateur leauge this next year. I'll inform you all when I make my youtube.com premier.

Catherine: I truly have so much to be grateful for this year. We have been blessed with so much and I know my Heavenly Father is watching over us. I would first like to express how grateful I am for Derrick . He is such a strong person who inspiries me each day. I am so grateful to have him in my life.

As a mother of a 16 month old, one thing that I am grateful for is patience or learning to be so. Some days I am not as patient as I should be but I have been learning to be better. Even though some days it is not easy to realize I am so very grateful for Jayden. He is such a joy to have around. He has an infectious laugh and always knows the best time to give me hugs and kisses.

I am also so very grateful that we have all of our needs met such as a place to live and food to eat. I am so very grateful for a husband who works so hard to provide these things for us. I am also very grateful that I can stay home and take care of Jayden and that Derrick makes it possible for me to do so. I am so very grateful that I have been given health and strength and I am able to do all that is required of me. I am so very grateful for our family that give us so much love and support. I don't know where we would be without you all.

Lastly, I wanted to express my deep gratitude for my Savior. I have truly felt his influence in my life this past year and I know that it is through his great sacrafice that I am able to become better each day.

Jayden(as observed by his mom and Dad): I am grateful for prayer. I am grateful for my blanket, my binky, and Doug (stuffed elephant) at night ot help me sleep. I am grateful for a new car seat that I can face forward and see out the windows and see my mom and dad. I am grateful for good food including peanut butter, bananas, toast, French Toast, cookies, juice and milk. I am grateful for books and music. I am grateful for spoons and that I have started to feed myself. I am grateful that I can communicate with my parents through words and sign language. I am grateful for my mom and dad.