I'm finally getting around to sending the 'holiday' greetings. I've done it for years, but I've finally gotten smart enough to at least take a bit of the pressure off of myself by ordering New Year cards and nothing with a Christmas tree or Santa that says "Merry Christmas". Now, I feel like I'm pushing the New Year option!
One resolution I'd like to keep this year is blogging more. I think it's a great way to keep thoughts and pass so much onto Kira. I've only done a handful here through the years, but I'm hoping to do better with that. As most of you know, I love to write and that has been calling to me louder and louder.
Below, I attach my 2011/12 Holiday letter for my first blog entry of the year. It condenses much of what our last year has held. I hope to be back here more than less this year and I hope to see some of you here.
Happy New Year!
I hope this letter will find all of you happy and healthy, having had a beautiful holiday season with those that you love. As I sit at my desk in the same messy office where I wrote last year’s letter, it’s hard to believe a whole year has passed again. 2011 will be remembered as a year of struggle for many, so I believe most of us are looking expectantly to 2012. I have just come off of a week-long high of birthday bliss, celebrating my 50th year, so I already feel 2012 heading off in the right direction!
Because of Facebook, I feel I have been able to stay connected so much better with so many of you. That is one of the things I really enjoy about Social Media, but I do miss the personal contact which it often replaces due to everyone’s over-scheduled and multi-faceted lives. I love many things about the ease and the instantaneous results of our world these days, but I miss the days of handwritten notes, surprise cards sent for special occasions, and the thrill of going to a real mailbox. I suppose I’ve always written and continue to write this yearly letter because I grew up every year watching my sweet grandma do the same thing…so, I realized I better sit down and get my thoughts together and out to you all, or it will need to be a Valentine!! (Gram’s letter was out the weekend after Thanksgiving and tree was up and house decorated. I sure didn’t take that after her, but the things I got, I’m most thankful for!)
One of the biggest accomplishments of this year was finally getting my Mom’s house SOLD!!
Needless to say, this was a blessing, but it was an event in our lives that was bittersweet. It was our ‘family home’ for over 35 years, housing four generations-sometimes all at the same time. Going through the contents brought back so many memories and having to release so much in so many ways was sometimes hard. In the end though, one realizes that it is the memory and not the item that tugs at our heart.
This was truly an undertaking that took many hands…and hearts. I learned I don’t have to ‘do it all’, realizing asking for help is okay, and being overwhelmed with the generosity of friends and family that pitched in and just made it happen. We were blessed with an amazing realtor who gathered the troops and organized us, leading the way in helping us get things cleaned out so that we were able to put the house on the market by early June. By mid-July, we had a contract, an amazing blessing in this housing market. (If you need a realtor, call me; I’d love to share her!)
Looking back, I am overwhelmed by what was accomplished and it’s sometimes hard to believe it’s finally done. I know I never would have been able to do it alone. I am so grateful ‘that’ part of the journey is behind us. I never realized what a huge part of ‘space’ it took and I feel so light now. It was a time of transition for everyone, from Mom to Terri and her girls to me and my family, sending us all exploring new horizons. For updates, Mom’s new address is 1713 Bellevue Avenue, C716, Richmond, VA 23227.
Due to all of the above, our Aruba trip this year was probably needed and appreciated more than ever. We even extended our time there an extra week and felt decadent soaking in the Aruba way of life for three weeks. There’s no doubt, it’s our happy place! Kira has lots of friends that she sees every year as families return to vacation the same week.
Reservations are already made for June and it will be Kira’s 9th year. One more and they’ll consider her an Honorary Citizen!! No, really …that’s what they do! She’s really looking forward to that!
Palmer continues his work at Guidestar (www.guidestar.org) as a Systems Administrator, having just celebrated his 10th anniversary there. Although the home office is still located in Williamsburg, he has been able to start working several days a week from home. It’s great to have him closer and it’s been great for our gas budget!
Fall marked some big excitement for Kira as she began 5th grade as a new student at Orchard House School. This is a small (only 80 girls) private all-girls middle school (grades 5-8), located in the heart of the city in a beautiful historical building right off of Monument Avenue. It’s like our only child has just been adopted by 79 other sisters!! Coincidentally, it is also where I work! Kira and I have loved going into school together each morning. There is nothing like the luxury of being able to share a big hug right in the middle of our day! I feel really blessed that she is able to attend OHS and experience middle school from an entirely different perspective. Check out our website and see what we’re all about. We’d love to have you follow along on the journey with us. (www.orchardhouse.org)
She has really blossomed this year and we are excited to see what is in store. We are very proud of her and the things we are seeing her accomplish--academically, personally and socially. It’s going way too fast, but since one can’t go back, best to hang tight and enjoy the ride.
Along with her school studies, she is continuing with volleyball and tried out field hockey and basketball through the OHS teams. One of the many great things about OHS is that they welcome anyone that wants to play to be part of the team—no tryouts. It’s such a confidence builder and truly teaches team spirit and camaraderie. She wasn’t too keen on field hockey, but really seems to like basketball. I think she’ll have the height for it. She’s grown an inch since September and is already 5 feet tall. She’s only 2 inches from beating me, and right now that is one of her biggest bragging rights. I’m glad she seems to have gotten the tall gene from her Daddy; I always wanted to be tall.
My Mom was hospitalized twice early in the year with some pretty scary situations involving her heart. The second time, we almost lost her and but for the fact that she was not alone when the event occurred, the fact that the paramedics were so quick and that there were some awesome docs and nurses at St. Mary’s ER, I know we would have. She is almost back to full capacity, and for the most part, the rest of our family was happy and healthy in 2011.
Sadly, we watched many friends experience sickness and loss, only reminding us how fragile life is. We continue to keep each of them in our hearts and prayers, realizing each day is truly a gift. I hope that I can do my best in 2012 to embrace that for myself and my family, bringing happiness to others, and finding the positive in every situation. Life is full of ups and downs, but we are here—and in the end…always…always--so blessed. May you and yours be blessed as well.
Much love and peace to each and every one of you!
Jenna, Palmer, Kira, Meko and Marley
stickley3@gmail.com Facebook: Jenna Moore Stickley, Palmer Stickley (find us and friend us!)
No comments:
Post a Comment