Dear
Family and Friends,
Best
of the best for 2018: Russell graduated high school, Sean came home from
deployment, we have been extended to July 2020 so Clark can finish Das Abitur. Art Shurlock is in his 18th year
with the heart transplant. The sad of 2018: Sean is TDY (away from home) until
April; Mema Reilly (Sean’s Grandmother) passed away, and some of our closest
friends in Germany have left.
Sven
and Mindy continue to be the most constant members of our extended family here
in Germany; providing unconditional love and patience throughout the year. The residents and medical students who rotate
at LRMC also provide a rich tapestry of diversity in our lives and then we are
fortunate to have our tight knit Landstuhl hospital family, who are always here
for us.
Russell
is making his way in Colorado. Took a
job there as a camp counselor in June and is now delivering pizza and
sandwiches.
Clark
and MJ continue to have tennis, keeping me on the go 3-4 nights / days of the
week. Clark is in full swing for das
Abitur; ½ way through the 12th grade year – this time next year he
will be preparing to take the exams; think of this as high school diploma and
college entrance exams rolled into one.
The work is challenging, but he really enjoys learning. MJ works on her art regularly.
January,
Clark participated in a 10 day social work program through his school; where he
worked with severely handicapped children.
While it is not something he would want to pursue, it was very
eye-opening and helped him see just how much everyone contributes to
society. February offered a long weekend
and we finally made it to Athens Greece.
The sun and warmer temperatures were very welcomed. MJ also had her
school ski trip – a week of skiing in the Alps for the 8th
graders. Sean and I are still wishing we
had that curriculum when we were in school.
Her enjoyment of skiing is what led
us to spend our Christmas break in the
Alps, Austrian, the kids skied and Sean and Mayland played tennis and hiked. Spring break was spent in the Highlands of
Scotland.
We need to return to Scotland – there is so much to see and do. Plus, it was a major filming area for the Harry Potter movies, so you never know when you will stumble upon a spot that looks familiar only to realize it was a quidditch field or the tracks for the Hogwarts express. In May, Mayland went to Minnesota with her friend Mindy and had a chance to visit was some dear friends; Denise (college roommate) and Steven opened their home to her for the weekend. Mike Burns gave her a wonderful (and much needed) dose of NCAA gymnastics letting her hang out at the Minn. Gophers gym, and Dr. Lee and his wife Sam drove up to have an amazing Korean BBQ dinner together. The summer was packed: London and tours of the Harry Potter studios plus seeing the play: “The Cursed Child” then MJ took off for Baltimore to visit her friend Arianna. At the last-minute Arianna and her Mom Barbara decided to visit us here in Germany. Sean, Mayland and Clark returned to NJ for a weekend to say farewell to Sean’s Grandmother, Mema, in NJ. We need to find alternative ways of seeing family. Grandmother Crosson
came
in July for the WWI tour through France.
The tour guide was a British retired General – the amount of information
he has stored in his mind is truly mind-boggling. 10
Days of walking through the fields and going to the monuments to honor those
who fought from 1914 – 1918. Our tour
focused on the American’s who
 |
| Clark Translating the French from the guide |
We are blessed beyond measure and grateful for
the amazing life we are living. Our love
to one and all, may 2019 bring you more good memories and an opportunity to
reconnect with friends and family; to live without regrets. Just remember, no one has ever regretted not
working more, but some regret missing out on time with those they love.
Love,
Peace and Happiness,
Russell, Clark, and MJ
