Merry Christmas from the Morrisons

We love to read others’ Christmas letters. We love to hear your updates, your stories, your creative commentary on the year’s events. Writing our own yearly letter is, on the other hand, a bit of a chore. Getting a good picture to go with the letter (since what is a yearly update without the picture?) verges on nearly impossible. Nevertheless, without further ado, we attempt the nearly impossible chore once again:


Matt continues to work for Vann Pumping Systems and with mentally-challenged adults at Breckenridge Village on the occasional weekend, where he demonstrates the kind, patient attitude we’ve admired in him for years. He continues to manage several income-producing websites, as well as our budget. These two tasks afforded him the opportunity to eke out the cash for a big purchase: after stalking his friend Denny at Stereo and Video Center for months, he finally bought yet another large TV. It’s newer and better than the last one. Does that make it worth it? Elisa’s not sure.

Elisa continues to work part-time at Mother Frances Hospital on the Labor & Delivery unit. She has completed nearly all of her Master’s-level family nurse practitioner program and looks forward to graduation in August. Although she’s not in charge of the budget, Matt’s purchase of the TV afforded Elisa some leverage, so her main purchases this year were a new couch and a Queen-sized mattress set. Did we mention that we are not really buying gifts for each other this year? Feel free to give us a call anytime you’re in the area: we now have a guest room complete with a brand new sleeper sofa and large-screen TV.

Ethan, sweetly oblivious to his parents’ materialistic ways, continues to grow, talk, learn, run, finger paint, and pull things out of cabinets. His current obsession is playing in the sink, pouring water from one side to the other, filling containers, dumping them, and generally getting the entire kitchen wet. He repeats nearly everything we say, and loves to sing and dance. Naturally, we think he’s brilliant. Ethan will turn two in January, and will be starting Mother’s Day Out twice a week, giving Mommy a chance to complete her clinical requirements early in the semester.

We all eagerly anticipate the arrival of baby Noah James in March (except maybe Ethan, who really has no idea how drastically his little world is going to change. For that matter, neither do the rest of us). If Noah should turn out to be a little girl despite three very convincing ultrasounds, we’ll be sure to let you know next year.

We pray God’s richest blessings on you this coming year and always, remembering the words of the old Christmas hymn:

All praise to Thee, eternal God,
Who, clothed in garb of flesh and blood,
Dost take a manger for Thy throne,
While worlds on worlds are Thine alone. – Martin Luther

With love, Matt, Elisa & Ethan Morrison