As many people have posted on Facebook, Christmas cards did not go out this year! So I am revisiting writing an annual family letter. 2021 is behind us and I don't need to tell anyone about all the bad things that happened in our country last year! But I did want to let anyone interested know what has happened in our family.
We started out 2021 with Dave recovering from shoulder surgery in December 2020. He did great with his recovery and PT exercises. We also bought a camper in November 2020 which was fun to start using. Dave's truck was only able to take the camper on shorter, flat trips, so jump ahead to Fall 2021...Dave got a bigger truck!
We took two camping trips in the winter; and Amy ran her Mississippi Half in February in Jackson, MS. Then Camden ran his first Half in TN with Amy in May.
Nathan finished out his Junior year at the University of South Carolina in May and Camden graduated from the 8th grade at the Charleston Christian School in June.
In June, Dave and Amy were able to take a trip to Wyoming and Montana to celebrate their 50th birthdays! Amy was able to run in two different states; and Dave was able fly-fish in Yellowstone National Park; and the Snake River in Wyoming. It was 10 days of the best vacation we have ever taken!
Camden ran club track in the spring and qualified to run in the USATF national meet in Jacksonville, FL in July. He continued his running by joining the cross country team when he started high school in August. He had a great season and lettered in cross country! He also made the JV basketball team. He is enjoying high school.
Amy and Camden were also able to take a trip to South Dakota for her to run another half and to see Mt. Rushmore. It was another incredible trip that was able to happen because of Amy's goal of running a half in all 50 states.
In October, Dave came down with the dreaded Covid! He was quarantined upstairs and fortunately, Amy and Camden didn't get it. Dave was very sick and he definitely had some lingering effects, but he did recover and is doing well.
He also lost his last two grandparents. His two grandmothers in CA both died this past year. His Grandmother Shirley would have turned 100 in January (like Betty White); and his Grandmother Madden would have turned 91 in December. They both had lived long lives, however, it was hard to lose them.
In November, after having had rain cancellations 3 times, Nathan and Camden finally got to do their Christmas presents from 2020! Nathan got to drive a race car and Camden got to ride with a professional driver! They got to do this at Darlington and loved it!
In December, it was Amy's turn for surgery After trying to work through what she thought was an IT band issue, she found out in July that she had a displaced vertebrae and needed surgery. So in December, she had back surgery. It made for an interesting, although more restful Christmas season. Lots of sitting, walking and not lifting things over 10 lbs! At least for Amy...Dave had to do extra work and driving to help out.
Overall, 2021 had a lot of downs, but many good times also! And having now gone through back surgery and 4 weeks into recovery, I can say that God is Good and He alone is the reason for my joy and peace. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 43:2...."When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."
Happy New Year to all who have read about our family! My prayer is that this year will bring you joy and happiness! And that it will bring us all times to run! Hopefully my recovery will involve another half this year....not only for myself, but for Nathan and Camden too!
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