This year's newsletter had to wait until finals were over to get started and I did have concerns about whether or not I would finish it in time, but here it is! We've come a long way since I first started writing these things. Miriam wanted to make sure that we took family pictures before she had oral surgery, so we ended up taking them the same day I got my braces. My face was in agony...and Miriam's surgery ended up being postponed (until January 3)...but the pictures turned out alright. And we at least got to cross "taking family pictures" off our list of things to do!
You can download it here or read it after the jump!
Two-thousand and twenty-four zipped right on by!
It’s time once again for me to summarize
the annual trip that we make ‘round the sun,
explain where we’ve been, who we’ve seen, what we’ve done:
We had a good visit with our friend Amanda
who wanted to bid fond farewell to the pandas—
we bundled up warmly and went to the zoo.
The very next day we came down with the flu!
Just kidding, my friends. It was COVID—round two.
The timing was poor, for you see we were due
to see Hamilton. So with Dad we sent Rachel
while I went with Reid and his extra “special
friend” Darla (and Miriam, too). It all worked out well,
but I’m sure you are thinking, “Nancy, please tell
me more about Darla!” I will. Here’s the sitch:
They met last December. By March they were hitched!
She’s lovely. He’s happy. What more could we ask?
She joined us for “beach week!” We splashed and we basked
on Edisto Island. We had a great time!
But let’s backtrack a bit in this ol’ Christmas rhyme…
*****
she really loves dogs and so it was quite lucky
some neighbours of ours got a puppy and we
get to walk her around the block three times weekly.
That kind of a pet is superior to
the ones that are apt to find their way into
our basement. They’re slimy and crawly and creepy.
One day Alexander called out, rather weepy,
“I think there’s a skink in my pants!” And there was!
He flailed around ‘til it came out (as one does).
In April sweet Phoebe, while riding her trike,
swerved into Miriam, who totally, like,
tripped and then landed wrong, breaking her arm.
The timing was poor and we had a few qualms
‘bout sending her casted self traipsing ‘cross Europe
but the tickets were paid for so she still had to do it.
Thus with Aunt Josie and Rachel in tow
she headed to Österreich to visit my bro-
ther Patrick. They toured around Znojmo,
Freilassing, Salzburg, and Bratislava.
The cast came off days before her spring recital!
For organ and piano hand health is vital.
Besides all her music stuff, Miriam’s driving
around with her permit (!) while Rachel is thriving
as a licensed driver. She’s been my chauffeur
to campus this year—where’d I be without her?
First Benny and Zoë joined swim team and then
Alex decided he’d also join in!
He made lots of progress and improved his strokes
'til one day he lagged behind, clung to the rope,
dragged himself down to the end of the pool,
and announced that he wasn’t feeling too cool.
The boy had pneumonia! He was miserable, but
soon had some company—ain’t that great luck?
Our family was sick the whole summer through,
clear into October. So starting up school
was a bit rocky, but life—as a rule—
mever stays tricky or easy, but swings
from one to the other of either extreme.
Our homeschool kids started their work in July
to get some devoted-mom time before I
started my PhD studies—go Dawgs!
This year Rachel also was in for a slog.
She took at full course load at Idaho’s Y,
and what was the class that most oft made her cry?
Sewing. That’s right. The -ologies were fine.
She aced all her courses. I also aced mine,
but that hasn’t made me feel more self-assured
(my imposter syndrome will never be cured).
Zoë, our resident author de jour
wrote a Halloween tale that was far spookier
than anything I could have dreamed up and won
first place in a contest! Not to be outdone,
Benjamin entered a brick building challenge.
Through buckets of LEGO we foraged and scavenged
to find the right pieces for his winter scene.
He came in third place! We avoided a threne,
listening instead to his triumphant yells.
If you’d like to listen to something as well,
I recommend Miriam’s YouTube channel
where she shares her music (her playing is swell).
Andrew’s still at GSU and consults
on outside projects like election results.
At church he’s been called to be the family
history leader. I’m in primary
where I lead the music—the best calling ever!
And that about sums up this year’s endeavours.
If you’re reading this, then we hope that you
find peace and success in all that you do.
May your Christmas be joyful, and may we all strive
for a wonderful two-thousand and twenty-five!
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