2020 - What a Year!
Greetings, friends and family and happy new year!
What did we do last year? Stayed home A LOT! We spent a lot of time on Zoom. I'm sure most if not all of you can relate.
Tartan worked from home more often than not and Aidan was off work when the YMCA was closed for an extended time. Kayleigh and Abigail had to finish biology and anatomy, respectively, through Zoom. Kyrie was able to graduate from UT Dallas, though with no graduation ceremony, and Abigail graduated from high school with a drive-by parade-style graduation. Tartan Alex had an extended break from teaching school in Japan, but they eventually started meeting in person again. He's very much an introvert so he felt well-prepared for staying at home and social distancing. Masks are also much more common and not as big a deal in Japan as they have been here. He is staying on for another year of teaching English in Mito. Kyrie thankfully was able to get a job as production assistant for an animated adaptation of the children's book High in the Clouds by Paul McCartney (Netflix/Gaumont).
Kayleigh and Abigail tried teaching and participating in dance classes over Zoom in the spring, but classes were back to meeting in-person in the fall. Though they both came down with bad colds in December, we have managed to stay COVID-free. They performed at Christmas services at churches here and in Grapevine.
Tartan and I celebrated our 30th anniversary in a very low-key style. We rented a tiny cabin at "The Getaway" north of Houston for a few days and then spent a week camping at Davis Mountains State Park in west Texas, hiking, geocaching, and just being away from it all.
We did not make it out to the Renaissance Festival or make a big family trip at the end of the year. We did learn how to play Among Us with our kids online and I (Naomi) had several Zoom calls with my siblings and dad which is something we hadn't ever thought to do before.
Here are a few notable scenes from 2020:
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Abi's graduation parade  |
Sisters  |
Pumpkin patch  |
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Aidan is 21  |
30th anniversary trip  |
Naomi & her dad (just before COVID)  |
We know that this past year has been a difficult one for many of our friends. Some have lost loved ones, others have lost jobs, and in a great many respects life has looked very different than in previous years. And yet, we continue to adapt and persevere.
We wish all of you and your families a better, and a blessed, 2021. We know the upcoming year will have its challenges, but our prayer is that we will all approach the new year with hope, patience, and grace. May the love and peace of God be with you this year!
The Colliers
