Christmas Letter Links

Hospitals we're looking at-

• Memorial Christian Hospital in Bangladesh
• Diopsi-Suyana in Peru
• Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons at Mbingo Baptist Hospital in Cameroon

Things we read-

• World Magazine
• First Things

Nathan’s favorite YouTube video search-
John Deere tractors

Websites/ Ministries we participate in-

• Samaritan's Purse
• Stand to Reason
• Portland Pregnancy Resource Center
• Global Health Missions Conference

Audio favorites-

• Charles Garland sermons
• anything from Stand to Reason
• Our interview on CMDA Life Support :-) --We were asked to do an interview about finding your mate for a CMDA audio publication called Life Support. We taped this in the fall of 2005 at 5am one morning before Jason went to work!

Kid gear we depend on-

• Double BOB stroller
• Kelty kid backback
• Kiddopotamus Bibs

Christmas Letter

“Da-da RUN!!” On any given day around the Lattin home, we feel like we’re running even when we’re not. But now, we are literally running most evenings. Our living room easily lends itself to being a small racetrack, and Nathan takes extraordinary glee in pounding out laps especially when he can “chase Dad!” Noelle enjoys it too, either as she bounces along with one of us or from a spot on the floor where she giggles when we run by and make funny faces at her. As Nathan nears two and a half, he’s becoming much more verbal… Included are some familiar phrases around our house.

“Hold me! Hold meee!” I no longer have to imagine what life would be like fifty pounds heavier. No, that’s not how much weight I gained while pregnant with Noelle. But it is the combined weight of Nathan and Noelle, both of whom like to be held and frequently at the same time. I now have shirts I can’t wear because the arms are too tight…

“No-Weeeellllll… Nooo-Weeeelllll….Noelle-wEEEEE!!” Our precious daughter, born January 20th, has been a delightful addition to our family. Her smile is radiant and the surprise kisses and hugs that she gives are truly treasures. Noelle adores Jason and jumps up and down when she gets to see him at the end of the day. There is something magical in the unfettered excitement of a child.

“Da-da tie-tihhd.” (Read- Dad’s tired.) Almost half way through his fifth year of general surgery residency, Jason still puts in really long days and some long nights too. He sees some pretty crazy stuff – snake bite to the tongue, … We have seven months left until Jason completes his residency. A graduation party is planned for July 12^th at Jason’s parents in Portland. Please mark your calendars; we would love to have each one of you here to celebrate with us.

“Meh-ki-co?” With Jason graduating, the big question is what next? We’re excited to share that we have been accepted with World Medical Mission, a branch of Samaritan’s Purse, for a two year term abroad. After many years of hoping and dreaming of international medical work, the time draws near. We are considering hospitals in Peru, Bangladesh and a couple of African countries. The process of actually “picking” where we’d like to go is difficult, and we’d really appreciate your prayers as we seek to find the “right” place. (Nathan always asks us if we’re going to Mexico where the Thomas cousins live.)

“Abby girl, Pa-pa, Gran-ma, Blake, Ellanie, Aye-uhn, Bala, Sha-on…” Nathan is a people lover. He has an uncanny memory for names and often surprises us by talking about people we spent time with months ago. During a typical week, we walk with Sarah and Abby, Nathan spends a day with Grandpa and Grandma, Blake comes to play, we catch up with Aaron and Amanda, and our small group meets at our house on Sunday night (every other week). We have been blessed with special relationships in our church and community. Additionally, I have been able to volunteer on our church nursery committee and complete the training necessary to perform limited ultrasounds for the local pregnancy resource center.

“May-ee, Jo-phehff, Baby Jeeesus” Our hearts are full of joy and thanksgiving in this Advent season as we anticipate the coming of Christmas – celebrating Jesus Christ and the first Noel. We are grateful for the gift that each of you are to us and pray your heart and homes will be filled with the knowledge of Him, God’s greatest Gift.

Our love and joy and God’s blessings to each of you.

Jason, Anna, Nathan and Noelle

Getting big

Just thought I'd share a couple of major milestones that have come in the Lattin household. Noelle is crawling and Nathan is now sleeping in a "big" bed. Noelle still prefers the "army crawl" but she is getting up on her knees some. And Nathan has only woken up on the floor a couple of times though we've found him in every position imaginable on the bed. They are getting big so quickly. We're enjoying every minute (and love the two of them being so close in age).

199 to go!

Today is a big day in the Lattin household... We officially have only 199 days to go before Jason finishes his surgery residency. Yea!!

Though the schedule is still rough and many frustrations are still the same, there are a few bright lights that peak through. Like yesterday...

Jason is now on surgical oncology. The surgeons he operates with are sought out by folks with cancer from all over the state (and sometimes outside the state). Their names are well-known in the medical community. But yesterday, while Jason was busy in clinic, he looked at who his next patient was... Mrs. D., a former patient from Grants Pass! Jason had operated with one of the surgeons there for Mrs. D. when she had colon cancer. Unfortunately, her course was complicated and she had a couple re-operations as well. Now she has metastatic disease to the liver. She had to come to Portland for further treatment.

Mrs. D. was elated to see Jason. She had asked her surgeon in Grants Pass to get in touch with him since she was going to be in Portland, but that wasn't accomplished. Nevertheless as the Lord would have it, Jason will be operating with another surgeon for her hepatic resection (today). So during her pre-op appointment...

"Oh please don't take any offense Dr. Billingsley, but I am just so relieved that Dr. Lattin will be part of my operation. I was so worried. This is such a big operation. But Dr. Lattin is such a good doctor and I really feel much better now..."

And with those words, she has probably paid Jason one of the biggest compliments of his entire residency. Our hope is that she would see her care not merely in the hands of her physicians but the Great Physician.

Nathan-isms

I am fascinated to observe how Nathan is slowly developing his language skills. With plans to move to a different country soon (still not sure where), I'm keenly aware of the upcoming challenge of learning a new language (or two or three!). Here's some Nathan-isms from the last couple months and a few cute conversations too.

- P-p-pew = computer
- Mu-mu-mow = tomorrow
- As we head upstairs to get Noelle from her naps, he yells, "I come-come Missy!"
- Sitting on the couch the other morning on a classic overcast NW morning, Nathan and I were talking about the clouds. I asked him, "Nathan, where is the sun?" He said, "Sun westing." (That's resting.)
- Today it's bright and sunny, so he said "Clouds westing."
- One of his favorite foods right now is a "hot god".
- The first national chain that he recognizes is "Stah-bucks." Why you might wonder. Grandpa (Lattin) has initiated a ritual of getting him a hot chocolate when they're together which he calls a "Nathan latte".
- When asked what to say after he gets his "latte", he answered, "thank you... MORE!"
- And now with Thanksgiving and Christmas goodies upon us, Nathan has developed quite a taste for ice cream. He announced in the kitchen the other day, "get more ice cream."
- When he knows his sister has a dirty diaper, Nathan announces "Missy Po-Po."
- And when asked who taught him to pick his nose, he'll answer "Mom" and then..."Dad"and then..."Mom"and then..."Dad". We're still not sure where he picked up the habit.
- In the midst of potty training, he's learned a whole host of new words like "disgusting", "nasty", "ridiculous", "awful"...
- But Jason and I both just melt to hear "I love you." And each morning when he wakes up, he shares who he dreamed about the night before. Mom has a lot of "points" but Dad has some too and just the other day he said Missy.

Who could imagine the joy!?!

Special Visitors

This entry got lost in our "draft box". In October, we enjoyed spending more time with Ben, Libby and Shane - sweet friends who are now working with the Dalits in India. And also with my grandmother, Grammy, from Texas. She made a special trip out to see us and we enjoyed five great days of play and fun. Noelle enjoyed reading books with Grammy and Nathan was excited to have a friend to ride the escalator with.