The Ginter Family

Ginter Family Christmas Letter 2009

2009-12-24T17:14:00.002-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

We hope this letter finds you well and happy during this wonderful time of year. As you make plans for how you spend your time now and in the near future do not forget about the real true spirit of Christmas.

As we contemplate how we’re going to spend our money to buy gifts this holiday season, let us plan also for how we will spend our time in order to help bring the true spirit of Christmas into the lives of others. The Savior gave freely to all, and His gifts were of value beyond measure…He gave us His love, His service, and His life. (President Thomas S. Monson, First Presidency Christmas Devotional, December 6, 2009)

May we all pledge to give more of ourselves now and in the year to come to the service of others. The service we give as a result will be a true gift to our Savior.

Our family has seen many changes this year. Emma (6mo.) was born on June 2^nd weighing 8lbs 14.5oz. Thanks to a miracle delivered by Abigail’s Audiologist we discovered that she is profoundly deaf just two days after she was born. As we pondered different options for her therapies and education we felt guided to return to Utah. It was very sad for us to leave Arizona for the land of ice and snow but several things fell into place and we arrived in West Jordan on August 1^st. Here is what we have been up to ever since.

Dad was able to keep his job with Pearson and now works from home 5 days a week. He gets to work with Matthew as a Webelos Den Leader and soon after we moved in ended up playing the Scarecrow in the stake production of the Wizard of Oz.

Mom has been busy helping the kids transition to their new school, arranging for and coordinating all the professionals involved in helping Emma, and helping the kids with their new studies. On top of all that she was called as the Activities Committee chair and has already pulled off two major Ward activities.

Abigail (11) is in the sixth grade and is getting way to close to becoming a young woman. She enjoys Acheivement days and loves to baby sit. She was also in the Stake play as an Oz beautician, helping to stuff the scarecrow.

Matthew (10) is in the fifth grade this year and has done a great job keeping up in his studies. He started Webelos in September and he did a great job as the Mayor of Munchkinland in the stake play.

Natalie (8) was baptized this year in our new stake. Relatives came from Las Vegas, Utah, and Idaho to see her baptism. She is doing very well in the second grade and has been enjoying her first year in Acheivement days.

James (5) started Kindergarten this year. He loves his new primary teachers and points them out whenever we see them at a church activity. It has been great to see his personality blossoming as he becomes even more of a big brother to John.

John (2) misses his brothers and sisters when they are at school but has also had some great one on one time with Mom and Dad. He has started speaking in full sentences and has the exasperating combination of persistence, intelligence, curiosity, and fearlessness.

Emma (6 mo.) is the happiest, most easy going child we have had yet. She is always quick with her infectious smile and rarely cries.

We hope your year has been eventful and full of blessings as ours has been.

Love,

The Ginter Family

2009-07-05T16:47:00.002-07:00

We had our 6th child, Emma last month, June 2nd at 7:25AM. She was 8lbs. 14.5 oz. Three days after she was born we discovered that she is profoundly deaf just like our oldest, Abigail. Lori and I have decided to move back to Utah because the early childhood services for the deaf are much better there. We feel it is important to be close to the LDS deaf community and the deaf mentor program. We are shooting to be there by the time school starts (August 20^th) so that the kids can begin school in the fall.

Things have already started to fall into place. My boss has agreed to let me work from home up there so I will be keeping my current job.

We blessed Emma in our Mesa ward this morning. We wanted to do it before moving to Utah. I will be in Utah this coming week looking for our new home. We will keep you posted.

I am sorry the quality of the photo is so poor. We forgot the camera and took this picture of Emma with a cell phone.

Emma Ginter
July 5th, 2009
Almost 5 weeks old.

Healthy Puppies

2009-01-22T09:28:00.003-07:00

As many of you know our puppies decided to take turns getting PARVO. First poor little Rosie, then one week later it was Max's turn. I think it was as hard on us to give them the shots and IVs they needed as it was on them to receive them.

After all that grief we are VERY happy to announce that they have both recovered and are doing just fine. Here is a video of them hanging out on the hammock with Lori and John.

Family Home Evening Lessons

2009-01-22T08:09:00.001-07:00

Lori found a cool page for family home evening lessons. Click here to see them.

Ultrasound Pics. It's a ....

2009-01-13T15:58:00.004-07:00

Face Shot

Profile
One hand on the Head

Now for the announcement you've been waiting for...

It's a GIRL!!!

Christmas Puppies 2008

2008-12-25T15:39:00.004-07:00

There was a ring of the doorbell this morning and what do you know... but two Labrador puppies waiting in a box. Matthew named his Max and Abigail calls her's Rosepetal.

Christmas Letter 2008

2008-12-17T21:06:00.003-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

“True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service. It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth,’ because it means—good will toward all men.” (President David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals (1953), 551.) May we embody the true Spirit of Christmas by showing brotherly love towards those around us in our word and deeds, and may we also remember to be grateful for our many blessings. Here are some of the things we are grateful for this year:

Abigail received a cochlear implant on her left side in February. We were glad to have Grandpa Steve and Grandma Heidi to come and help out with the kids during this time. Mom and Dad have already seen some improvements in her ability to hear in crowded situations and at home.
We have had the opportunity to make some fond memories with so much of our extended family this year. We worked and played with them during a number of family trips. We even had the opportunity to help out with the Brake (friends from our ward) and Silva (Lori’s second cousin) wedding in Brianhead.
We are excited for the arrival of our sixth child expected sometime around May 30, 2009.

We hope this letter find you and yours with many blessings and we hope you have a prosperous new year.

Love, The Ginter Family

Abigail - Tropical Beauty

2008-08-03T15:54:00.002-07:00

Abigail started doing her own hair. We went to the library and found a few books with creative hair do ideas. This is the product of our hard work. What a tropical beauty.

Natalie's 7th Birthday Party

2008-08-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

Easter

2008-04-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

We had a great time on Easter with Grandpa and Grandma Lofgren in Las Vegas. We even had an Easter egg hunt with Lori’s brothers and sisters and their kids. This picture was taken right after the Easter Egg Hunt at Grandpa Lofgren’s Condo.

The Ginter Family

2008-02-13T13:35:00.006-07:00

Gingerbread House Fun
We always have a great time at the Brake home. In the picture left to right is Lori, John, Tom, and Natalie in the back and James, Abigail, and Matthew in front row. We loved being creative. Kristy slaved over a hot oven baking all of the house pieces. She made the smoothest royal frosting. Thank you Kristy for a fun time.

Tuesday Tech Night

2008-02-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

Andrea Taught us how to