Our Christmas Letter 2015

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Merry Christmas to all of you and many happy memories. It’s the time of year where you all receive the Christmas cards and letters from loved ones near and far. We haven’t sent them out for a few years now but this year I feel the need to put a few words down and share them. Read on if you like.

The best gift of the year has been waking up every day to spend another day with my family. My health has been a roller coaster ride the last few years and where my kidneys are staying stable thanks to many lifestyle changes… The last few weeks I have been fighting my depression, something I struggle with all the time. I choose to win the battle and surround myself with friends and family and see my doctor regularly. I am still active in the band boosters, OA and the Troop. I am working my tickets from Wood Badge, almost done!! 

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We have had a very busy year good and sad… let’s get the sad out of the way so we can end this with some amazing celebrations. This September Grandpa Bob, my father, passed away in his sleep. It was a HUGE shock to us all. He and I were in the process of fixing our broken relationship. He was an amazing Grandfather to all 4 of the kids and had just found out he was going to be a Great Grandfather. He went out in the prime of his life in one of the best moods, in my opinion. I can see him bowling and talking with his Dad now.  If you do not have a will, no matter your age, go and get one now. Our family has learned much from his passing that it is a much needed item when someone passes away even if you do not own property or have underage children. … It’s a gift to those that are here after you pass.

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SO on to happier news.

Telling the weather...

Van has been hard at work at Parsec, that means we can still pay the mortgage. The best thing this year is he has been able to step into more roles with the Boy Scouts. He is the Assistant Council Commissioner and the Program Director for Wood Badge 2016. He is also going to be running a podcast with the help of a few Scouters. Van is dedicated to making the program better for the Scouts and Scouters in our area. His blood is truly red and green! He attends the Troop meetings and goes on campouts with Orion and the troop. He has been able to attend training's and campouts without them as well. He is part of the Brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow. He won the District Award of Merit this past spring. I could go on forever and tell you so much more… I am so proud of him.

Van hard at work at camp

Orion, this kid will blow your socks off. He is in 8^th grade already. He is in his fifth year of cello and third year of trombone. He is taking 2 high school classes and all advanced placement classes this year. He completed his Eagle Project and has just a couple merit badges to complete to become an Eagle Scout. Orion is saving money to attend the 2017 Jamboree with about 40,000 other Scouts in Virginia. They will get to tour Washington DC, he is really excited to tour museums and sight see the historic sights of our country! It’s a once in a lifetime experience for him. His popcorn sales that he does every fall has helped him put down his $1,000 deposit for this trip. Thanks for your support! 

Orion is still asking for and doing private lessons on both instruments.

Today Orion got his very own full size cello! He will be able to use it for many years to come.  He will be playing Bach on the cello and a piece from Carmen on his trombone late January at the solo/ensemble for middle school. He is looking for summer camps to attend again this summer but doesn’t want to travel everyday like last year. I think that wiped us both out!

August Court of Honor 2015

Scouts has been amazing for Orion. He is the Troop Guide for the newest Scouts in the troop right now. He is responsible for helping them understand how Scouting works and how our troop functions. It is awesome watching him realize that you can’t make people do things and that they have to go at their own pace. He has been asking awesome questions and has been able to utilize his Scoutmaster and us for these questions. He has come to understand the program better being in this role and has asked why the troop is not doing this or that and my standing answer is go talk to Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol leader about it… bring it up at Green Bar if they have open discussion and see what they think about it. Write an email it’s a great form of communication adults do it all the time. I love what he has learned so far and what I know is still to come. Orion plans on getting palms after his Eagle… This kid has a life plan thank you for the part that you play in helping him along the way.

Signing for his Eagle supplies

Selling Popcorn 2015

Orion and I went to Texas in March to visit my Grandfather, Papa. We spent a week there getting loves and hearing stories. It was a great week even if we all spent a day in bed not feeling well. I love the time we get to spend together and I love my Papa. I miss not having holidays at his house.

We are doing good here in Richland. We are having more and more time with friends. It makes our lives better to have you in it. If you are having game night, hang out and chill, movie night don’t hesitate to give us a call.

May your year ahead be full of fun and laughter. Fill your life with those that make you happy.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Orion just busted in and said its snowing...barely but its a white Christmas!!!

Thankful

On thanksgiving you are always asked what are you most thankful for... you get some silly answers but mine lately is the same. I am thankful I am alive. 3 years ago I really thought I wasn’t going to be alive for another year much less that Christmas.

I had something running in my body to the point I was dehydrated and my kidneys were starting to show signs of stress. I lost 40 pounds in one month. I was as grey as ET, not a good look on anyone. I was miserable and my family was suffering. The doctor gave me another one of the talks saying “this could be the end are you prepared…” I had a lot of good friends that stepped up and helped me get a medical procedure that saved my life. Once again my friends saved me.

I am thankful to be alive. I wake up every morning thankful for one more day with my family. One more day to figure out how to be a parent, how to be a friend and how to repay the kindness that has been given to me.

I struggle on some days and the last few months make me wonder how much of the stress of life I am going to have to endure to show just how strong I am in this life. Yes I can take it, yes I will be on this earth ever day finding my way… I really am thankful for the love, encouragement and support of each and every one of you even if we don’t talk all the time.

My First Scout Master

They say you never forget your first Scout Master. That they challenge you, teach you and help you grow. Your Scout Master is always there for you even if you don’t see him. The Scout Master helps keep the whole troop Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

Three years ago, at 36 years old, I met my first Scout Master and I went home from the first meeting thinking we were walking into a hot mess. I spent over an hour telling my husband how much chaos there was at that meeting. That the adults all sat in the back talking and no one was in charge of anything.

Orion's First Meeting Aug 20, 2012

The next meeting I expressed my concerns to this official looking man and he gave me this silly chuckle. As he explained how Boy Scouts worked I cried. How were they supposed to learn anything if no one was leading…. This was my second meeting. My first Scout Master not only had this new Scout on his hands he had me.

Luckily Orion jumped in with both feet and loved it even though he didn’t really understand what was happening or how things worked for the first few weeks. He started asking questions and caught on quickly… the way it’s supposed to happen. I started reading everything I could get my hands on and took all the training online that was offered. Every meeting after flags if my Scout Master was not busy with a Scout I had a question or two for the first few months. My Scout Master always had questions instead of answers or he had great examples by telling me a story but I always left with answers.

About 3 months in I got the Oath and Law correct during flag and was so excited I shouted “Yes I did it!” Everyone stared because we were not done with flags. My Scout Master gave me a high five.

Boy Scouts is boy lead, adult mentored. I started seeing this after a few meetings. They really were not a hot mess. Yes there was some chaos but they were boys running things their way not an adults way. You could see the adults in the back of the room occasionally walk over and say something to a Patrol Leader or the SPL when things needed to move along.  I learned quickly to not answer the Scouts when they came to me with a question. Coming from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts that was one of the hardest things for me. I wanted to just give the answer now I answer with a question. “Where is your patrol leader?” or “Who should you be asking?”

I went to my first summer camp because my Scout Master asked me to go, it was one of the best things I have ever done in my life. If you ever have to opportunity to attend Scout Summer Camp GO!!! You will watch all of the Scouts grow before your very eyes. The bonds get stronger between the Scouts and adults on the trip. It was amazing I will NEVER forget it.

I have been on some of the best camping trips, training weekends and watched my son becoming his own person. All great changes are preceded by chaos. I am thankful for my Scout Master.

Thank you Dean for all that you have done, continue to do and will do in the future for me, my family and all of the families that I got to talk to the last few weeks. You put your heart and soul into these Scouts and it shows in them.

I will never forget my first Scout Master and I am thankful that you helped me become a better person, a better Scouter and a better parent by getting me involved in the Troop.