I always archive our Christmas letter here. So here it is...
I read a quote recently that said, “This is not the year to get everything you want. This is the year to appreciate everything you have.” This is so true. Although we have not personally faced some of the same struggles or losses that many have, we have still experienced our share of 2020 disappointments. But in each disappointment, we were able to find a silver lining and appreciate this year we have been given.
Disappointment: We
experienced sadness during our spring quarantine and beyond about the abrupt
end to sports seasons, missed end of the school year festivities, decreased
social opportunities, and cancelled activities.
The silver lining: We did not miss out on any milestone or once-in-a-lifetime activities. Thank goodness that 2020 was NOT my year to finally qualify for the summer Olympics. (Stay tuned for news about 2024!)
Disappointment: Zach has
been working from home since March. He
misses the socialization of seeing friends and co-workers and gets a little
stir-crazy spending hours on end in the basement by himself every day.
The silver lining: Zach still enjoys his current job, department, and boss at State Farm. His commute is WAY shorter, he is able to provide a mostly adequate amount of child supervision on the two days that I work at the Children’s Hospital each week, and the cats love having company in the basement every day.
Disappointment: Many
summer activities and events that we generally enjoy were cancelled or closed
this year.
The silver lining: Staley still got to attend church camp, the kids got to take swim lessons, the girls’ theater group was able to resume, and we soon realized that a blow up pool on the deck can provide hours of entertainment.
Disappointment: We love
to travel, but this year kept our travel options fairly limited.
The silver lining: We were still able to enjoy two separate trips to the beach in Michigan, as well as our first ever National Park trip with the kids to the Smokey Mountains.
Disappointment: Masks and
social distancing means that the school year looks different than in years
past.
The silver lining: My kids are so blessed to have made it the entire semester going to school full-time in person. They have received much needed socialization and academic instruction, as well as a much needed break (for all of us) from home and each other. And with them being in Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grade, we get the added benefit of having all 3 of them in the same school for the first (and only) time.
Disappointment: We have
reduced our extra-curricular activities and limited our social calendar.
The silver lining: We have had LOTS of family time to introduce our kids to new things like new games (hello, Monopoly!), new hobbies (hiking, anyone?), new family endeavors (a garden? Sure.), and new experiences (backyard camping? You bet!) Zach and I have also had plenty of time for running (a mental health necessity this year), and the kids have been able to explore new activities like the school news team (Staley), piano lessons (Adelie), and joining the girls in their theater group (Briggs).
Disappointment: The
Chicago Bears
The silver lining: Ummmm….
This was not the year any of us planned. Just like everyone else, we had our share of
disappointments. But in the midst of the
disappointments, we can focus on God’s continued blessings. We are healthy. We have stable jobs, our kids are in school, we’ve
been able to slow down and enjoy an abundance of family time, and we have wonderful
family and friends that, even when we can’t be physically together, are still
an important part of our lives. (That’s
you. J) 2020 may not be the year we all wanted it to
be, but there is always a silver lining.
It’s almost over!
Until then, wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy,
pandemic free 2021. Here’s hoping.
Love,
Ellen, Zach, Staley (9), Adelie (7), and Briggs (5)
The silver lining: We did not miss out on any milestone or once-in-a-lifetime activities. Thank goodness that 2020 was NOT my year to finally qualify for the summer Olympics. (Stay tuned for news about 2024!)
The silver lining: Zach still enjoys his current job, department, and boss at State Farm. His commute is WAY shorter, he is able to provide a mostly adequate amount of child supervision on the two days that I work at the Children’s Hospital each week, and the cats love having company in the basement every day.
The silver lining: Staley still got to attend church camp, the kids got to take swim lessons, the girls’ theater group was able to resume, and we soon realized that a blow up pool on the deck can provide hours of entertainment.
The silver lining: We were still able to enjoy two separate trips to the beach in Michigan, as well as our first ever National Park trip with the kids to the Smokey Mountains.
The silver lining: My kids are so blessed to have made it the entire semester going to school full-time in person. They have received much needed socialization and academic instruction, as well as a much needed break (for all of us) from home and each other. And with them being in Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grade, we get the added benefit of having all 3 of them in the same school for the first (and only) time.
The silver lining: We have had LOTS of family time to introduce our kids to new things like new games (hello, Monopoly!), new hobbies (hiking, anyone?), new family endeavors (a garden? Sure.), and new experiences (backyard camping? You bet!) Zach and I have also had plenty of time for running (a mental health necessity this year), and the kids have been able to explore new activities like the school news team (Staley), piano lessons (Adelie), and joining the girls in their theater group (Briggs).
The silver lining: Ummmm….
