Christmas Letter 2005

Media_http3bpblogspot_xsonc

Another year, another move for the McDermotts. For some of you, it may come as a surprise that the famed family of five relocated in September to the mid-west metropolis of Saint Louis, Missouri. Some call it “misery” but in fact for the McDermott clan it has been a marvelous change of scenery.
The 1800 mile move came about quickly, bringing Rich to join in practice of orthodontics with Drs. Bankhead and Firth. He has enjoyed working with his colleagues and keeps very busy with patients as the practice thrives. Rich is also serving as the Ward Mission Leader in the Arnold Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Lisa has also been very busy especially since receiving a call to serve as the Young Women’s President at church. She also seized an oppor-tunity to perform at a Crèche and Carol exhibit (as well as at church) this holiday season, with Rich accompanying on piano and guitar The children are also enjoying their new home. With many children their ages on the block, it seems like every day is a party when the weather is nice. The boys also enjoyed the first snow at the beginning of the month. They surprised their mother by staying out to play much longer than expected and even Tommy was sad when it was time to finally go inside and warm up.
Parker turned 6 in September and is funnier than ever—always creating and recreating jokes to share. He continues to excel in school and likes to see how s react when he tells them he is in first and second grades. He needed to be challenged so he started going into a second grade classroom for core subjects. Mom and Dad were pleased that he made the transition smoothly.

Media_http2bpblogspot_efytd

Scott is nearly 4 and pleases his parents with greater maturity and understanding in daily interactions. He is showing his creative talents more and more. He loves to be in the spotlight and is a very good singer. His mother is sure he will be a great musician in the future. He loves people, and watching his favorite shows and movies, and going out to see new sites in St. Louis. This boy has tons of energy--he can play, play, play!

Media_http3bpblogspot_vrtwc


Thomas (Tommy) is still darling, and little, although he is nearing age 2 much more rapidly than his parents would like. He has a very happy disposition and loves to play with his big brothers, copy what they do, and be held by or cuddle with Mom and Dad. He is talking more and more lately, and catches everyone’s attention with his white-blonde hair and adorable smile.
The Fab-5 would like to send their best wishes to all who read this column and extend a heart-felt thanks to all their friends and fans-those who have sent mail and email alike. They encourage one and all to keep in touch and extend an invitation to anyone passing their way.
The spirit of Christ is alive and well this season in the McDermott home and anywhere that loving, serving, and giving are the focus. May you enjoy all of the music and the meaning of this season during which we turn our hearts again to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to all!

First Season with the Cardinals - 2005

Media_http2bpblogspot_geegh

Another Flashback - This was one of our first Cardinal Games, back in 2005 - notice it is the old Busch Stadium, with the new field partially completed in the background.

We LOVED the feeling that we felt when we first walked into Busch Stadium. We were like "What's everyone cheering about"?, and they were simply excited to see the home team up to bat. They were screaming and yelling like we had never seen in Los Angeles.

The quality is poor, but I love the video clip because it shows how much fun we were having from the very beginning with the Cardinals, and the culture that we found ourselves immersed in out here in St. Louis. The fans are SO much more enthusiastic and fun compared to the Dodger fans out in L.A.. I had no problem switching my loyalties completely to the Cardinals.

I was in an airplane returning from a business trip, right above the new stadium when we won the World Series. It was a beautiful sight. I wanted to watch the game that night, but getting an aerial veiw of the stadium that was sparkling with camera flashes was a special memory for me.


Media_httpphotos1blog_zcjzl

Here I was with Lisa in May 2003 on a date to Disneyland, or California Adventure, to be more specific. We had a park hopper pass. This was before Lisa took her first ride on the best roller coaster there. She is SO cute. I love that she will go along with my spontaneity, such as suddenly taking a video of her without telling her first.

Lisa finds more meaning in music

Email 7/9/05

Oh yeah! I almost forgot to share this. I got to do another fun singing thing. Robin, this was right up your alley. A lady in my stake called and asked if I would like to learn a song and sign language with a small choir she put together for a recording session. It was cool. I'm not clear on all the details of the video they are producing, but I think it had something to do with teaching sign language. We did a Christmas song and I met the woman who wrote the song and her daughter who is deaf. Amy, the daughter, is an accomplished gymnast. She almost made the Olympics twice.

So I went down to North Hollywood last night for the recording session. It was in the same church where they film 7th Heaven. It was kind of cool. The cinematographer had won an Emmy, which seemed pretty neat. They had dinner for us and it was really quite fun. I enjoyed the sign language so much! It's funny, but at first I wondered if I was even going to be glad I committed to do this, but now I keep thinking I would really like to learn sign language. Who knows, maybe one of these days I will.

Lisa

Santa Barbara September 2005

Media_http4bpblogspot_kewcu
Media_httpphotos1blog_jeyly

Ok, this was the LAST time we were in California, before we visited last week. I thought I'd post the picture, as it shows how much we've changed since moving to St. Louis. This is also my victory picture, after overcoming the worst 6 months of my life - look, we made it!!! If you ever want the story, you'll have to email me. It was the most awesome terrible experience I've ever had, and hope to never have again (knock on wood). The morale was "Never give up - you are probably inches from gold when you feel like your life has gone to h#*% in a handbasket! Lisa proved herself worthy of exhaltation that year. 2005 was the year of the Phoenix for the McDermotts. Me, specifically. Good thing the kids were too young to realize how terribly wrong things can go. :) I love these little peeps and my wife more than I can ever fully express. Thank you Lisa, for helping me through that year. Speaking of helping me through that year, we visited the other person who helped me get through my trial. I'll post his pictures here on my next blog.

Lisa on Rich's Recovery

Journal 6/19/05

We moved out of our first home of our own yesterday and into a home that we are renting. It has been okay emotionally—I already mourned the move before the work had to be done. I am so grateful for Carol. She has been here all week and I would’ve died without her. We brought numerous van loads over here on our own before the “big move” on Saturday. We even had some things unpacked and I had a plan for where things should go. The elders from each ward helped us and they really did a great job. The truck was packed in 2 hours and unpacked in 1 hour. Carol and I went back over to the other house last night to finish the cleaning. We worked until about 12:30 am. I felt good about the condition of the house. We left it better than we found it in many ways. When we finished cleaning last night I relished the feeling of a job well done.

I feel badly that today was Father’s Day and we didn’t have a chance to do much for Rich. I helped Parker and Scott make cards for him and Parker gave him some special things he made for Rich at school. We gave him a fancy house key with a flame design on it and we went to Paul and Darlene Harris’ home for dinner which was relaxing and enjoyable.

I felt sad that this was our last Sunday in Valencia 3rd Ward. I have gotten to know many of the sisters through my service as a counselor in the Relief Society and have seen some wonderful changes with the sisters. I’m sure we will enjoy our new ward also. Too bad we don’t know how long we will be here.

I have faith that the Lord will help us determine what to do next. Hopefully, our next chapter will be one of tremendous growth for Rich as well as a period of physical strength for him. The medications he is taking, although helpful, are also quite hard on him. We hope to find out more about what is happening with his body chemistry and how to approach it more holistically. I love him so much and I want to see him enjoy life more.

Respite from insanity in Valencia, California

This is Rich on February 15th, 2009, putting a preface on an email sent almost 4 years ago. We were coming out of the toughest period of our marriage, no, life! I was losing my job with Dr. Snow, and was looking desparately for a new job, while recovering a mental crash that came with discovering why things hadn't been going so well. At this point, things were starting to get better. We didn't know we were going to St. Louis yet, but we felt the Lord helping us. If you want more details about exactly WHY I was near mental breakdown from February through April 2005, it will take more time to explain than I currently have. Here is the short version: $600,000 home purchased first year out of Orthodontic school against our better judgement, job goes south with Dr. Barbakow, job going south with Dr. Snow (who we miraculously found out was going to let me go in September 2005), diagnosis of ADHD for me, which I didn't understand completely, and thought it meant I might never be able to keep a job as an Orthodontist. I felt like I WAS the sinking Titanic: a huge investment that looked great in so many ways, but couldn't slow down fast enough to avoid the icebergs of life my first year out. Luckily, Lisa kept her head, kept the kids protected from my near insanity (sleeping a few hours AT MOST every night, thought distortions of every kind, panic, etc.), and kept loving me throughout. She didn't show any thoughts of deserting me. She said over and over "money isn't important - it's the family that matters! WE are together forever, and THAT is what matters!" She didn't know I would recover so fast, once I got on the right track, so to her credit, she showed that even in most dire circumstances that she would hold on!

Ok, so here is the May 2005 letter she wrote, that shows no hint of the chaos and fear that we had been recovering from. Instead, she focused on the music that brought a great feeling of peace into our lives. We sang with a choir in Valencia tha was spectacular. The effect was a deep calming to our weary hearts. God was with us - we would make it:

05/17/2005

"Hi everyone! I wanted to write and tell you what a great time we had participating in a Stake activity for s on Saturday night. It was titled, An Evening of Elegance. They started the evening at 7:00 with a "gallery" of visual art by members of our stake. Then at 7:30 we began various performances--all by members of our stake. It was very good and some performances were quite amazing. The first half of the show was classical music but included everything from french horn to violin and vocal arias. The second half featured a stake choir and included other musical numbers from Broadway to Chic Corea to God Bless the USA. After the performance they had a spread of food that was very nicely done.

Rich and I sang with the stake choir which performed 4 numbers. One of them was The Circle of Life and we sang the African words of the background choir while a very talented brother sang the melody. Several people commented about this song afterward--it was cool! And we even got to move--none of that standing stiff and still. It was funny to rehearse this and see many struggling with the artistic license we were given. Some were very uncomfortable doing this song by feel and by ear--we didn't have any sheet music and the language wasn't at all familiar. It was fun and funny :)

I also got to sing a solo number. I was so thrilled when the stake music director asked me to do something and she asked for a classical piece. I ended up singing Musetta's Waltz from the opera La Boheme by Puccini which was a rather exhilarating challenge (three high B's). I didn't know if I was really going to be able to do it at first. Fortunately, between the choral singing and my own vocal workouts I was able to perform at a level I was pleased with. I dug up an old tape from Marilyn Simpson with some great vocal exercises and boy did they make a difference! It was so great to have this performance to work toward.

Ohhhhh! I almost forgot! One of the most amazing things was how they transformed the cultural hall! Someone in our stake is incredible. He took architectural drawings of greek columns and other detail work and blew them up. They covered all the wall panels with a couple of beautiful repeating patterns. Then across the front of the hall, framing the stage area, they had four HUGE columns with another relief pattern as a header across the top and big potted palm plants interspersed. It was amazing! They also made a chandelier with battery operated candle lights that hung up above in front. The grand feeling that all of this created was just incredible. Patti King (Stk. music dir.) also had her own black grand piano moved there and tuned for the occasion. It really was quite the event. Someone told me she felt like she should be paying $100 a ticket. There was no admission, of course.

Many people were very complimentary of my performance. Rich said someone told him "You're holding your wife back--she could be performing downtown." Wasn't that sweet? I was surprised how many people questioned me about my vocal studies and background.

Anyway, with all the stress we've had lately, this was just a wonderful and spiritually rejuvenating experience. I couldn't wait to share it with all of you. It made me realize that we need to have more music in our home. We have already started changing that. I had a great prompting recently to start morning devotionals. We sing a primary song and read one of the scriptures at the bottom of the page in the primary songbook and have family prayer. It made a big difference immediately and the great part is our kids like it! If we keep it up, then it will just be routine to them when they are older right?

I hope you are all well. I am envious of Mom and the Eaquintos Hawaiian vacation. Have a great time and send your report!

Love, Lisa

Lisa's Journal May 2005

Sunday, May 08, 2005


It’s Mothers Day and my sweet boys have given me some great gifts. Parker made a beautiful butterfly at school with a poem on it and wrote me a letter. Scott gave me a beautiful gold handprint on paper with a sweet poem that his nursery teachers helped him make. They made cards for me with Rich also that were lovely. Rich wrote me a very sweet note. Thomas is too little for cards and gifts yet, but his wonderful hugs and smiles could keep me going for years.

Rich has been sweet lately. He has been challenged and struggling for some months now and he realizes that I have had more weight to bear during this time. I am grateful that he appreciates me and only hope that he will have some relief from his stress and concerns. He is working so hard to try to mature professionally and emotionally that we are starting to miss the just plain fun side of him. It peeks out now and then.

I have experienced some personal growth during this time, but still see areas where I need to make greater changes. I love my family so much and want the best for them. We have tried to set some routines and change some behaviors lately and there has been an improvement in our family relationships. I hope to keep this upward trend. Rich needs organization and scheduling but hasn’t been able to do it on his own. I am encouraging him to do it more. I think he needs me to continue gently reminding him.

The boys are so fun. Some of things we have enjoyed doing together lately include swimming, going on walks or to the park, dancing in the family room, playing games like tag or “little pig” in the backyard, and reading. I have been reading the Magic Tree House series with Parker lately which has been really fun. We are on book 20 now. I also wrote Mad Libs with Parker today which he loved. Once again he surprised me with how quickly he picked up on the concept and learned what verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives and adverbs are.

Scott is so sweet and needs much tenderness and a good dose of outdoor physicality every day. Rich and I have both been trying to give him more one-on-one attention and it is helping him. I will be happy when he drops napping out of his schedule. I don’t try to have him nap anymore except when it’s really obvious that he needs one. Otherwise, he won’t go to sleep until really late and when he wakes up from his naps he cries and whines and it takes him a long time to get out of the funk. Sometimes he just drops off to sleep somewhere though, and there’s no rousing him when it happens.

I enjoy Tommy so much also. I like to just watch his mannerisms and see him play and hug him. He is a very good little toddler. We are going to have to at least trim his hair soon it’s getting quite long. But, oh! I just love those curls! I am ready to stop nursing him but he is going to make it tough I think.
I feel so blessed. The Lord really knows me and each of my family members and helps to see that our needs are met. How merciful and great is our God. I have really enjoyed all of the lessons in our Relief Society and Priesthood manual this year. It is the teachings of David O. McKay and every lesson has been so enriching and so timely for me. It has seemed as though each lesson was just what I needed that week. It is truly a testament of the truthfulness of the gospel and that Christ heads our church and teaches us through living prophets.

Email sent a few months before moving to St. Louis

Email - April 22, 2005

LeeAnn, thanks for sending the pictures of the choir. I really enjoyed seeing them--that was a very nice picture of Dr. Smith. How come he doesn't look any older than when I was there a decade ago? Wish I could've been there with you. What a blast!

It's been fun reading everyones responses to the quiz. LeeAnn definately had the longest list of nicknames--I missed my "low of the lows" name. How could I forget that! So Tracey did you put that one little dent in the bumper of the white van? I never knew that. One of my favorite things is seeing what time of day or night people are writing their email. I was startled at Angie's 4:45 until I realized...nursing baby. Such is life for mothers of infants!

We accepted an offer on our house this week. The family is moving here from Korea. They seem like extremely nice people. The inspector came today and all went well. Our escrow will close around June 20th. We will have to let you know our address after that. I am happy with the price they offered and that we won't have to move until after school is out for Parker.

Parker (5 ½ ) has his first T ball game tomorrow morning. It ought to be a up. He really likes the shirt and hat. And he has fun. Rich and I are hoping our kids develop more athletic ability than we did.

Scott (3) is growing up a little bit. He is really a fun boy. He counts very well and is showing a little more interest in letters now and trying to write some of them. He has done some mazes with me lately and knows how to spell his own name verbally. He hears everything even though he is not big on eye contact, so I suppose he learns well auditorily. That will be useful in school--so much listening. Tommorow night our primary is having a talent show and he will sing with the nursery kids and maybe on his own too. He is supposed to sing the Family Night song on his own. This kid LOVES the microphone. He often uses a mixing bowl as a hat and some household object for a cane and dances for us. He also uses toys, etc. as pretend microphones. And Parker chose a doozy for his talent; animal noises. Yep, a 5 1/2 year old doing pig and rooster noises and roaring like a T-Rex into a microphone. It's pretty entertaining--totally his idea, of course.

Tommy (1) is darling but he's ramping up to be a slightly more demanding personality and he has been climbing up on my kitchen table the last couple of days! I still can't cut those curly locks. He is just too cute! He loves to play outside and gets a good mouthful of dirt from the backyard every day. He does this growly voice that he thinks is hilarious because we laughed so hard the first time he did it. It's really fun to watch his personality emerge more and see the ways that he initiates play.

Love, Lisa

This year has been one of big changes for our family. Last year at this time we moved to the Santa Clarita Valley, which is 20 minutes northwest of our home for the last 8 years in Glendale, California. Three months later, on St. Patrick's Day, a sweet little toe-head of a baby, Thomas Harris, was born into our family. Today Tommy is crawling around the home and climbing the staircase at high speeds, saying words like "Mama!" and "Dah!", to his parent's delight, and filling the home daily with his sweet little giggles.

This year Scotty has single handedly helped the dairy farmers of California reach their milk sales quota. Also a very active and talkative child, Scotty has learned most of the lines of his favorite movie "Monster's Inc.", and creates most of the 'toys' that he plays with out of paper towel rolls, rolled up sheets of paper, and legos. Scotty will turn 3 years old in January.

Parker turned 5 in September, and is a very enthusiastic Kindergartener. This year, to the amazement of all, he has expanded his reading skills to the third grade level, and just keeps on reading. Occasionally, he corrects his father's reading errors as well. In his spare time Parker likes to play board games like Chess and Stratego, and video games like Zoo Tycoon, and Metroid.


Lisa and Rich were very excited to purchase their first home this year in Valencia with a yard large enough for the boys to enjoy themselves. Rich actually graduated from the U.S.C. Orthodontic program this year, and is thrilled to be using his skills to actually make money for the first time,…I mean beautiful smiles! Rich was recently called as the ward organist. Lisa is an awesome room parent for Parker's Kindergarten class, and is currently in the Relief Society presidency.

We hope all is well with everyone this holiday, and wish you all the merriest Christmas ever! We love to hear from friends by email at rich_e_mcd@yahoo.com and lisa_mcd@yahoo.com.

Love,
Rich, Lisa,
Parker, Scott
& Tommy
McDermott

Thomas is born! (From an Email sent to the Wakefields

Media_http1bpblogspot_medzb

Media_http2bpblogspot_jcdbw

Media_http4bpblogspot_wgwab

Hi everyone! Here are some pictures. We are doing
great. The nurses at the hospital didn't know how to
deal with us wanting to leave before 24 hours passed.
But I was glad to be home sleeping in my own bed and
using my own shower. It's so great to have Mom here.
The boys have had so much fun playing with her and she
helps me with so much! We don't want her to leave.
Hope you are all well. We love you!

Lisa & the boys