2009 in Review

What a year this has been! Here's a recap of the trying year we call 2009:

January

• Started out cold and dreary.
• The van breaks down, leaving me with no car for a big chunk of the month. Being from a family of mechanics, we had a shop patch it up so that we could drive to TC to get it repaired for WAY cheaper. Thank you Dad & Jeromie!
• Randy worked non-stop putting in 60+ hour weeks and employee morale was plummeting. The company does it's first layoff...Randy was included...ugh!

February

• We increase our temple attendance from once in a blue moon to weekly while we try to come up with an action plan. Little did we know that there would be much more waiting than doing...a challenge in it's self!
• We travel home to the TC to be with family while we wrapped our minds around the shocking change. We evaluated our needs and continue the job search hoping to be able to find work in the crippled Boise economy.
• I attend a concert with great friends and enjoy the escape from reality for an evening.

March

• Becomes very clear that the chances of finding a job in Boise is very slim. We broaden our search and continue hoping things will turn around really soon.
• Randy has some job interviews in the TC area. Not his dream jobs but we're not in a position to be picky. We travel more.
• The kids are LOVING having Dad around to play with all day long! After years of college & then working long hours, the chance for him to spend so much time with them is a blessing.
• We continue to get together weekly with our good friends the McKays.
  
• I teach my 10th year at Camp Wooten with Jason Lee. It rained or snowed the entire week but we all had a great time anyway.
  

April

• Randy is one of the 5,000 people to attend the Lockheed Martin Job Fair in hopes of getting one of the stimulus jobs.
• The Daughter & I go on her class field trip to the Zoo together. Really enjoy see the new Africa area that just opened.
• The weather is beautiful and you can tell summer is right around the corner. Randy fires up the BBQ to kick off the season.
• Randy receives a job offer with a Network Management company in Pasco WA. In a matter of hours, He; works out details, accepts, packs, and is on his way to start the next day. The kids and I stay to allow the Daughter to finish her school year.

May

• We take turns traveling to visit Randy on the weekends.
• I break my toe, making packing even more fun.
  
• Randy finds us a place to live, nothing like we are used to, but will do us just fine.
  
• The Daughter Graduates from Preschool and says good bye to her teachers and friends.
• The last day of the month we loaded up all of our earthly possessions, said good-bye to our friends, and travel to the dry side of the Evergreen State.

June

• Spent the month gutting the house of all signs of old people, stripping HORRIBLE wall paper found on just about every surface, making repairs, being sick of working on this stupid house, and living out of suitcases.
• Randy flies to CA to attend his brother Richie's wedding. He plays at Disneyland while there and makes us completely JEALOUS!
• I celebrate a Birthday.
• The little man turns 2 years old.

July

• We are totally sick of working on the house, decide that we've taken care of the things that HAD to be done and will live with the rest for a while (the wall paper in the kitchen...).
  
• The unpacking begins and we have it pretty much all done within a week.
  
• Spend as much time as we can at the pool soaking up the sun.
• The kids have sleepovers at Grandma's
• We go to Boat Races, Randy's first time ever.
• Randy celebrates a Birthday

August

• We take the kids on a surprise trip to Silverwood
• Visit Pullman and enjoyed running into friends and acquaintances.
  
• Randy starts biking with friends a couple times a week.
• The daughter gives learning to ride a bike another shot and is SO close to having it figured out.
• Go to a Family Reunion at Emigrant Springs (love that place!)
• Take my brother's senior pictures
• Randy passes his first two sets of certifications and gets a raise. The job is getting better.
  
• Randy & I get away for a weekend to celebrate our Anniversary.

September

• The daughter starts Kindergarten and LOVES it!
• Randy gets a newer car after many years of driving junk.
• Go out to dinner for kids night at AppleBee's with Ryan, Megan & kids every few weeks (the highlight of the week for the kids, even us grown-ups have a good time:).
• I get called to be 1st counselor in the Young Women's Presidency. Gone is any spare time I may have had.

October

• We are super busy with school, church, youth activities, and life.
• Randy meets all his college friends in Pullman for a "reunion".
• Take the kids to see Disney On Ice.
• Enjoy having Sunday dinners with family.
• Things are looking up. We feel more at home, Randy feels at peace with his job most days and we have realized that what makes a job great has more to do with those you work with and less about the amount you get paid. It would be nice to have something comparable to what we used to earn but it's no longer the end of the world. Some how we get by each month (BLESSING!)

November

• The Daughter celebrates her 6th Birthday
• We have additional kiddos at our house while their parents are on a cruise.
• We host Thanksgiving at our house and have a great time with my family.

December

• Busy bouncing from one Christmas party to the next.
• Enjoy Randy having a week off for Christmas. Loved having him home!

It's been a tough year. I'm so Thankful for this opportunity to look back on the year and discover amongst the challenges there have been so many more blessings. Here's to hoping for a brighter new year!