In December of every year I sort through all the photos I've taken that year so that I can put together a calender at Shutterfly to give to all the grandparents. My reaction to this year's crop of photos is along the lines of good grief, what a year.
January 2010
My grandparents house was burned to make
way for a new elementary school.
I miss this house.
I miss my grandparents.
The day after I learned the house had been
burned I started this blog.
A few days later I wrote about
losing the house.
A few days later I wrote about
losing the house.
February 2010
My parents bought a condo in Nashville (finally).
Owen and Sarah helped measure the empty rooms.
The room above is two and a half Vallejo kids wide.
We are all happy that they are here now.
We are all happy that they are here now.
March 2010
The kids and I spent a few days in Orange Beach.
They were so sweet to each other on this trip.
Almost nine and just turned six were fun ages.
April 2010
My parents were in a car accident on
Good Friday and my mother spent many weeks in
in a rehabilitation facility afterwards.
It was a tough couple of months, but she was able
to get some really good therapy
that she could not have received otherwise.
May 2010
Owen had his first sleepover (for his 9th birthday)
the same night that Nashville had a 500 year flood.
Owen's friends were marooned with us for
two extra days and our dog died -
not because of the flood, just during it.
Not sure what I'm going to be able to plan for this
year's birthday that will top last year's party.
the same night that Nashville had a 500 year flood.
Owen's friends were marooned with us for
two extra days and our dog died -
not because of the flood, just during it.
Not sure what I'm going to be able to plan for this
year's birthday that will top last year's party.
June 2010
We traveled to DisneyWorld with the Barts.
Owen ended up in he ER as a result of a stomach bug
but the first days of the trip and the last days of the trip were great.
We had a view of the Magic Kingdom from our room!
July 2010
This is a photo from our Vallejo Family Vacation
in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Our trip coincided with the arrival of
oil on the beaches from the BP Oil Spill but
we learned a lot about blimps and Coast Guard helicopters
and the impact of oil on the environment.
Also, the view from the condo was like having
box seats to a natural disaster and I
like having box seats to just about anything.
August 2010
New floors!
Our basement finally shed it's "flood chic" look and the
new floor is a vast improvement over the old carpet.
September 2010
My parents celebrated their 45th
wedding anniversary on September 4th.
Lots of lessons here about endurance
and perseverance.
October 2010
The kids and I spent a few more days in Orange Beach.
We met my aunts and cousin there.
It was the most beautiful week
we've had at the beach in a long long time.
While we were away Joel was in an accident
that totaled his car - but he was fine.
Also in October . . .
I visited Washington, DC and fell in love
with the place. Hoping to go with
Joel and the kids sometime soon.
November 2010
Joel ran the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon
and the kids ran the last mile of the Kids Marathon
(they had run the first 25.2 miles in the weeks
leading up to the marathon).
Sarah is crying in this photo because she got trampled
at the starting line, but she finished her race.
December 2010
December was busy in a good way with nativity plays,
basketball games, dinners with friends and family,
present wrapping and opening and general merry-making.
Best of all, we woke up to snow on Christmas morning.
December is a good way to end a year.
To sum up:
2010 was not an easy year, but it was a good year.
We survived some things and we made the best of others.
At the beginning of 2010 I wrote a list of what I wanted
to accomplish during the year and the first item on that list was
"Choose Joy - breathe deep, let go, choose joy."
It became my mantra for the year and I know it kept me saner
during the flood and the many trips to the rehab hospital.
I'm still working on my list of things to do in 2011
but I think "Choose Joy" is going to stay somewhere near the top.
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