Christmas 2019
Our Dear Friends and Family,
Our year started off running, or rather sailing, in the western Carribean for a 10 year wedding anniversary cruise with no kids. We do love our children, however, and missed them at least once on the trip. A little. After the cruise, we hit potty-training Gabe hard. Let me rephrase that as we did not hit our child hard, we just potty trained him. It went as well as you might think it would.
This year we found a new and interesting plague for Devri (“potty training” pneumonia), danced the reel (at the Regency Ball), danced and quickly got winded (at the “I’m not as over pneumonia as I thought” BYU Traditions Ball), rode the Incredicoaster (Disneyland), tried to camp without snow/rain several times, found corn in pockets/shoes/ears (from a pumpkin patch), and went to the theater (Newsies, Cinderella, Nutcracker) where we discovered it’s somewhat strange to hear high school kids sing about being floozies (Mama Mia).
In March and April, we took several trips to Idaho to help Devri’s parents finish their brand new/renovated house with wiring, moving, landscaping, and moral support. Just one month after moving them in, we went on a camping trip with her family and had a fantastic time together, despite the chill that Idaho has in early June. Tragically, just a few days later, we received a call that Devri’s father had passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack at the age of 59. Most of June, July, and August were a blur as we just tried to survive each day through loss and pain, and each month has gotten easier, though no less painful. With that said, we are happy that he no longer has any earthly pains and feel grateful to know we will see him again after this life. As Devri observed recently, it is a strange feeling to be heart-wrenchingly sad and yet feel so much joy when watching our children laugh and play. At this Christmas season, we feel especially blessed with a Savior that gave His all for us so that we may have joy in the midst of sadness.
Brian went backwards in time (carefully avoiding eye contact with his past self) in a failed attempt to de-age himself. However, the experiment went awry and he ended up turning 35 instead. He still works for Adobe, loves programming, and hates interruptions to his work. He also went to Lagoon (amusement park) for the first time ever this year with family, and discovered yet again just how much he loves crazy roller coasters and not holding onto safety bars on said rides.
Devri will be 75 in the year 2060, finally reaching the age she has always felt on the inside. In addition to the pneumonia that took her out for months, she furiously planned out the interior of her parents’ house, a funeral, and multiple parties for our friends. She photographed her highest paying wedding thus far, and she is looking forward to the Dickens Ball in December and sleeping in general.
Michael is 10 in body but 17 and ready to move out in spirit. He is continuing the Advanced Learning Lab program at his school and has many friends and too little time to experience all the life he yearns to experience. He sang as one of the leads in a musical for his class (and killed it, who knew he could sing so well?!) and played in piano festival. He also tried track this year (it did not stick), and soccer continues to be a passion and a source of joy for him once he decides to put down his WWII books.
Rachel turned six in January, and she remains the only human we know able to sing in the highest octaves known to man or woman. Sometimes when I believe she is quiet, I ponder my life and if I’m too old to hear the pitches she is singing. She is a just a little obsessed with boys and has lots and lots of friends. She joined a dancing company and performed in the Nutcracker ballet this fall as a chocolate. She remains sweet and has a laugh that can make anyone smile. She literally lights up the stage with her smile.
Gabe is a charming 3 year old who has finally learned how old he is, never growls, yells, or kicks, and is always quick to give a hug, a huge grin, and say “I love you”. Ok, ok, to be completely honest, I lied about the things in the middle. Our little “bear cub” (as we affectionately call him) started preschool this year which has us over the moon and yet shocked that he is so big already. He is catching up to his big sister in size (not really a challenge if you’ve seen both of them together), and remains our only cuddler.
As we near the end of this year, we would like to talk about how grateful we are to have all of you as friends and family. May the odds be ever in your favor, except when doing yoga. We don’t believe in yoga.
Love,
Brian, Devri, Michael, Rachel, and Gabe Saville
