Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Fröhliche Weihnachten! Alles Gute in neuen Jahr!
Dear
Family and Friends,
Eight years
ago, I sat to write my Christmas letter that ended the year letting you know
that Sean was about to deploy to Iraq; this year, I sit down to write letting
you know that Sean is deployed in Africa.
About 160 days from Sept. – March.
The holiday season is just a little less festive knowing he is not with
us,but knowing that Spring will bring new life and my beloved home makes it
easier. Having teenagers with whom I can
share my heart and mind makes it much easier.
Russell, Clark and MJ are truly a blessing to me as their lives are busy
and full, but now it is not just me doing everything for them – we are able to
do things for each other.
Sean had a very busy year – from San Diego for a medical
conference to Korea in March for a training exercise, promoted to
Lieutenant Colonel in June, learned of deployment in July, which led to training in
preparation for deployment in San Antonio and Alabama for 6 weeks; home just
after the kids started school. It wasn’t
until September that we were able to take a family weekend and see more of the
Alsace region in France; followed by a long weekend for just 2 in Split,
Croatia before getting on a plane to go to the US to fly to Africa. Every week in between was full of patient care
and administrative duties. Everyday that
I go into the hospital someone asks me how is he doing and when is he coming
home, they all miss his smile, positive can-do attitude and leadership. Cindy and Rich – you should be very proud of
your son, I know I am eternally grateful that you molded such a wonderful man
to be my husband. Thank you!
Russell is interested in everything and loves life with a
passion. Even on the most difficult days
he can muster a smile and good word, just like his Mother,Tasha. From the little kid we visited in Rye CO to
the young man he is today he has always brought a smile to my face and
heart. Russell keeps realizing that he true talent is in the
physical world. He started playing
tennis this summer in a more serious manner and already made the school’s
tennis team. His dad, Dave was also a
tennis player in high school and loved the sport – it is good to see that
passion living on in the next generation.
The summer was spent visiting with family
in Tennessee and Colorado, going to camp and learning more construction
skills from Uncle Craig. He has started
his junior year here at Kaiserslautern high school. Doesn't seem possible that he only has 1 ½
years of school left.
Clark is interested in science, science and math; at least
that is what it feels like, but then I step back and realize his language
skills (in addition to German, French, and Latin, he is now in his 2nd
year of Russian and dabbles in Hebrew a few times a month) and growing
knowledge of history and society and I am awed by the German school opening so
many unique doors to him. He continues
to play tennis with a passion – 3 times a week and also in tournaments. Still developing the skills of playing in
tournaments; completely different mind set than playing with friends. Next year the entire education process
changes and it will be even more like college, with essentially declaring a
major for the next 2 ½ years. It looks
like he will have math and physics for certain, still deciding on the 3rd
area of concentration (leaning toward history I think); then Chemistry and
well, not really sure what else will round it out, except I know German remains
a main subject. These are hard
decisions, because everything in science and engineering interests him and he
can’t just do science.
MJ has found a passion in drawing. She works very hard to improve her skills and
sometimes loses sleep to work on shading.
School is not as interesting at the moment, not good in Mom’s book, but
I have to remember she is only just turning 13 and still figuring out her
passion. Still says she wants to be a
NeuroSurgeon, but every once in awhile will mention psychiatry. MJ has also found a great deal of enjoyment
in tennis and has increased her playing time to two times a week and is willing
to think about some tournaments this coming spring. We need to spend more time in France so she
can improve her French and feel confident in her language skills. It is interesting watching the difference of
the boys vs girl in the adolescent stage – the boys have become more confident
in who they are, while MJ is still figuring it all out. I have a great confidence that by the time
she is 16 she will be a real force to
reckon with though.
Mayland continues to volunteer at the hospital running the
GME program. Picked up the position of
interim director for the hospital in CME (Continuing medical education which
is for physicians) while they did a search.
Fortunately, that responsibility will be short lived as being a director
for 2 programs, Mom to 3 (4 if you count Tatzie our dog); and wife of a
deployed soldier can feel a bit overwhelming at times.
The new year will bring more changes, challenges and
opportunities. Take time to appreciate
the people and world around you. Don’t
be a stranger, come and visit, please.
Love,
Peace and Happiness,
Sean, Mayland, Russell, Clark, and
MJ
PS
– Sean will be deployed through Feb. 2017 (possibly March)
If
you want to send a card / letter; please email me for the address
