2010- A Year in Review

2010 is over, just like all the years before it. The stroke of midnight just clicked away like any other minute of the year, right on into 2011. These past few weeks leading up to the end of 2010 has had a lot of restful moments and times of reminiscing. A lot happened in 2010, as well as a lot that was left to be done.


Instead of focusing on the “not-done” list such as sending birthday cards, remembering friends’ anniversaries, or even getting Christmas letters sent out, Shawn and I have tried to stay focused on the more positive aspects of 2010. While there were certainly events that happened that we would like to forget, they did in fact occur for a reason and they were part of our very busy year.

Zachary had a busy year ending 1st grade and beginning 2nd/3rd grade. He is a very brilliant kid, which hopefully not bragging, keeps us very busy with his intelligent. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, he did qualify for the gifted program, and will possibly be accelerated at the end of this school year. While most parents would be jumping for joy and purely ecstatic, wanting a bumper sticker for such a fortunate child, we are thrilled, but in dilemma of how to raise him to be a respectful person. While we take on the challenge full-fledged with only the strength God gives us, there are days where Zach can challenge us to the brink of our exhaustion. He is a terrific, wonderful child, full of curiosity and wonder. He is also burdened with my inheritance of being an anxious perfectionist and worrier. As a caring and compassionate child that he can be, he often takes the weight of the world on his shoulders, unbeknownst to us. Thankfully, we have great therapists and wonderful, supportive family and friends that are helping us raise Zachary to be a God-fearing, good kid.

He has been fascinated with dinosaurs this year, working on many “pressing” research projects. He is also a video-gamer, much to my dismay. He LOVES Webkins (cuddly, stuffed animals that are cared for online), his DSI (Nintendo gaming system), the Wii (also a Nintendo gaming system), and Poptropica website. He has also found an interest in Legos and building sets- that is until one tiny piece is missing- than we throw the entire kit across the room and give up.  He is still set on being a construction worker when he grows up. Zachary started BoyScouts this year and sold enough popcorn to earn a marshmallow shooter. He has done many projects with Shawn and also has earned many badges already. It is such a good outlet for his creative side. He really enjoys it. Also, he’s been reading through the piano books and teaching himself many piano songs. Who would have thought that he wouldn’t let ME teach him, but has secretly been reading up on it by himself!  We were thrilled to hear his first few “basic” songs. He really surprised us with that!

Logan is getting ready for his sixth birthday this year. He also is only a few pounds heavier than his younger brother. But, he has such a mighty personality! He started kindergarten this year, which was a bit of a tearful day for me. He’s been through so much and I was just hoping that his teacher would love his personality as much as we do. Despite a few setbacks during some growth spurts, he has been doing fabulous and, like his older brother, has a bright future ahead of him full of possibilities. I just “published” the much asked for Book of Loganisms for 2010. It was emailed out to most everyone on my email list. He provides us with laughter daily! As with each of our kids, they bring so much joy to our lives. Logan however, has a unique talent for thinking outside the box and giving us a different perspective on life’s little things. As he said this year, “I could be a talent show!”

Logan has been asked many times what he’d like to be when he grows up and he answers lots of different things from being “grown up”, a Transformer, a McDonald’s worker, a football player for Riley County, or many other various random things. As with his brother, we will support him in all that he does and love him no matter what. Logan has enjoyed a lot of things this year, mainly traveling and visiting relatives. He is a bit confused with where he wants to stay grounded, but we still end up keeping him content despite his urge to be “Fed-Exed” to Aunt Laurie’s or to Aunt Tiffany’s. He is starting to read and really taking off with that, reading things we might have underestimated him to be able to read yet. He has a lot of his great-grandfather in him as he is a talker, a story-teller, and a friend to EVERYONE. At his age, it is a little worrisome how friendly he is to anyone he meets, yet it also such a relief that he can have a delightful conversation with anyone no matter how young or old they are. He still sports cowboy boots and attire as much as he can, although they are getting a bit worn out after all the wear.

Malachi is soon getting ready to turn three years old. It’s so hard to believe that our “baby” is growing up so fast. He still really enjoys being a “baby” including the fact that we may never get him potty-trained. I’m ready for the judgmental looks of other moms that see my three-year old STILL in diapers. Right now, that’s just a battle we’re not going to fight. And, truthfully, can I even potty-train him or isn’t it all up to him? We encourage him, but in the end, it has to be his desire to not be in diapers or dirty. So, here’s just hoping I’m not typing this same line next year!  Maybe that will be a resolution of his for 2011.

Malachi is a feisty child. He has a great mix of both Shawn and my temperament, with a tad bit more of my short temper and attitude!  He loves to say “no” to us with a bit of defiance in his voice. Right now, he LOVES farm stuff. Ever since he rode in a combine with our friend Valerie, he wants combines, tractors, cows, horses, etc. He also went to watch Uncle Brady perform in the Wizard of Oz this year. Brady was the scarecrow. Now Malachi LOVES scarecrows and has watched the movie probably 50 times since he received it about a month ago. It never seems to get old for him. He is a biker too and got a Strider for Christmas. Now he’s turned loose running all over with his bike, and will hopefully master the “big” bike by this summertime.

As for Shawn and I, we’ve had a very busy, tiring, exhausting, thrilling year. Shawn is in his seventh year at the same hospital. Many challenges have arose with it, but he’s preserved to see them through and grow in his professional career. He went to San Antonio for a week last February and took a course to help him prepare for the boards. He did pass the nuclear medicine boards as well as became certified for advanced life support. I’m so very proud of him. He takes a lot of call for the hospital and that ties us close to home most times, but we do a lot around here and spend almost all our times as a family. Shawn has really enjoyed BoyScouts with Zachary. I think it’s helping him relive his childhood. He greatly enjoys playing video games with the boys and loves to get home and hear them yell, “Daddy, can we watch you play the Wii?”

The year of 2010 was a quest for health for me. I went from specialist to specialist to finally the Mayo clinic. In February, I had a procedure done on my heart that was supposed to help it, but didn’t, so we continued to search for answers. Finally, in August we got some answers and diagnosis to let me start to path toward healing. I am in my sixth year of the same teaching position with the elementary school. It is the best job ever. I really enjoy the work that I do, no matter how stressful it becomes at times. I’ve also worked on my master’s degree and will hopefully complete it in this coming summer.

2010 was a year full of lots of celebrations and trials. My great grandmother lost her battle with cancer in September. We have had family choose to no longer be parts of our lives that we are still coming to terms with. We also have had many great things happen, such as my niece Brienna being born. My other sister will soon be having a baby girl too. These additions to the families help us focus on the importance of family and the amazing promise God gives us of continuing life. May 2011 be as plentiful and blessed as 2010 has been for everyone.