Family Letter by Lisa - Summer 2003

Rich & Lisa McDermott
2121 Valderas Dr. #55, Glendale, CA 91208 (818)541-0468


June 9, 2003


Dear Family & Friends;

We recently took these pictures and felt this would be a good opportunity to write and update you on our family. We are just cruising along here in So. Cal. Time passes with ever increasing speed now. Rich’s last year of schooling at USC promises to fly by more quickly than any of the past seven. He will graduate in orthodontics next May.

We aren’t sure where we will settle yet, but later this month Rich will be visiting some orthodontists in Utah to discuss possibilities of practicing with them. We will be sure to tell you where we are going just as soon as we know.

Our boys are growing up so quickly. Parker is 3 (he will turn 4 in September) and already reads. He does math and likes learning languages and loves to do science experiments. He is very much like his dad. He often makes up games. It is surprising how logical yet complex his games can be. The only trouble occurs when he tries to organize these games with other young children. He is still lacking some leadership skills, and other small children don’t always follow his thinking. Parker is sweet and fun. We cherish his loving nature and his ability to verbalize his feelings. He is also the most social 3 year old child around. He is always planning some event. Recently, he informed us that he thought we should “have a beach party with everyone from our big church.” With him, it is always the more the merrier.

Scott is 16 months old and he is an action-adventure boy. He is happiest when he is outside running around. (Mom can’t wait to have a back yard!!!) He is starting to speak some words that are intelligibly English and it’s darling. He has a cute little voice and loves to sing and dance. Scott likes anything physical: tight, squeezy hugs, dancing, running--even down slides, wrestling, tickling, somersaults, swinging, spinning, etc. And he hardly reacts to most falls or bumps. He is very mischievous and VERY lovable. His smiles and laugh are just as infectious and wonderful as his screaming and crying are loud and frustrating.

Rich enjoys orthodontics tremendously. We are grateful he will be in a profession so well suited to him. He likes seeing the great results with his patients who are finishing their treatments right now. Most of his patients are young people who he really enjoys interacting with. It’s rewarding for him to see his patients regularly and develop relationships with them.

To keep things balanced, Rich has other pursuits he works on in his spare time. He has been teaching himself ASL, American Sign Language. Parker likes to ask Dad how to say things in Sign Language or Japanese. Rich plays guitar and sings with his friend and a band. He plays our piano or video games sometimes, and plays with our boys a lot. It’s no wonder they prefer Dad to Mom. It’s all fun and games with Dad. Rich is a great primary teacher and Parker is thrilled to have him as a teacher this year. He only has 3 kids in his class, but that’s because 2 of the boys are very challenging. He has been doing a great job trying to keep them engaged and make the class fun as well.

I am a counselor in our primary presidency and I always enjoy being there with the children. It is fun and challenging to teach them, and we are fortunate to have wonderful teachers right now. We have around 50 kids in our primary so it’s not too difficult to know them individually, at least on some level. Rich and I were also called to be in charge of a ward roadshow this year in November. That’s a daunting task, but we have done it before so hopefully our previous experience will help. We are thinking of doing a take on The Wizard of Oz. Should be fun!

The boys are my main focus and take most of my time and energy, but I am also enjoying some other activities. I have been singing with a local women’s chorus and, with some friends, have helped organize a book club this year. The women’s chorus has performed songs in a nice variety of styles and difficulty. It’s been great! Our book club has been so fun! We meet once a month in the evening at about 8:30 pm. Since most of us have young children, the after bedtime plan seems to work best. We voted on some books to read this year and we take turns hosting the meetings. The hostess always tells some interesting things about the author of the book we are discussing and provides refreshments. We have read some good books so far. This month we are reading Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis. I suggested this as our June book because I thought it would contribute to the patriotic mood of Independence Day if we read this before the 4th. I also try to get to the YMCA to exercise regularly. It takes strength and endurance to keep up with my little boys. I really feel the difference when I don’t get there regularly.

Thanks for enduring my verbosity. We always love to hear from you and we keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Please don’t be strangers; let us know how you’re doing too.

Sincerely,

The McDermotts
Lisa, Rich, Parker & Scott