It's 2022 already! Some things have changed and some have stayed the same. COVID has continued to be a part of all of our lives, and in December we found our household with a couple of positive tests and having to self-quarantine during the week leading up to Christmas. Fortunately, no one got really sick (all of us had at least the first two vaccine shots) and the two of us that had our booster shot experienced a few mild symptoms but never actually tested positive. So, even though it was right at the end of the year, we're ticking off the "got COVID" box on our 2021 Bingo cards.
A brief update on each of the kids:
Tartan Alex continued to teach English to elementary students in Mito, Japan, but at new schools. They have a policy of moving teachers every three years. Fortunately, the schools were still close enough to his apartment that he didn't have to move. He has signed on for a fifth year, so Tartan and I are hoping to have another chance to visit him there. In the photo above, he is holding THE Olympic torch for the 2020 games when it made an appearance at one of the schools where he teaches.
Kyrie got a promotion to story coordinator for the Netflix animated production of High in the Clouds. We are thankful that once everyone got vaccinated, she and Nick (her boyfriend) were able to visit us without having to worry about masks. They joined us for Thanksgiving, and we were even able to enjoy the Renaissance Festival again. Because of the aforementioned quarantine, we did have to celebrate "second Christmas" with Kyrie and Nick in January. Nick and Kyrie's personalities complement each other very well. They have been together for over a year now and are a sweet couple.
Aidan had an exciting year as he was able to finally make his big Alaska driving trip. Up to just a few days before his planned departure, he was not certain he'd be able to get across the Canadian border, but fortunately, with a negative COVID test, he was. He made the 8000+ mile round trip beginning around the end of August and wrapping up in the middle of October. His route took him through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona, camping all along the way. He made many stops, notably in Yellowstone, Edmonton, Anchorage, Homer, Seward, Vancouver, Yosemite, Mojave National Preserve and the Grand Canyon. He made it back safe and sound, though the 2002 Sequoia returned quite travel-worn. I (Naomi) am glad for my new 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, because Aidan has become quite attached to the Sequoia, even nicknaming it "Sakuya" (only Touhou Project fans will likely appreciate this).
Abigail spent the year teaching dance (modern, ballet, pointe and tap) and dancing with the company at Magnify. She went on a mission trip with Open Sky Arts Collective to Parkersburg, West Virginia to minister to kids in a very poor and drug-ridden area. She reconnected with some kids she had seen a couple of years ago, met new ones, and sadly missed some who had moved away or in some cases were simply "gone", and she couldn't find out what had happened to them. On a different note, it has been a joy to see the relationship between her and her boyfriend, Gilbert, grow over the past year. Gilbert is a godly young man, and he also provides a "firm foundation" for the lifts and stunts that the girls do in the dance company.
Kayleigh finished up her sophomore year and began her junior year, so she has started taking dual credit classes at Lone Star Community College. She has also been taking dance classes at Magnify, a couple of them taught by her sister, and below is the modern piece she was in, which was choreographed by Abigail. (The full piece is nearly six minutes long, so this is only a portion. She starts on the front left of the video.) This past year, Kayleigh was also an advanced dancer for the National Youth Theater production of Newsies, in April. It was her first theater production and she was specifically sought out for her tap dancing expertise. After watching her tap solo, there's no question: Kayleigh is definitely the King of New York!
Tartan and I are doing well and continue to do the things we have been doing. Tartan works at ExxonMobil as the subject matter expert for all things related to Well data. He continues to lead as an elder at our church home, Creekside, and also has been playing bass guitar with the worship team on Sunday mornings. I (Naomi) oversee Kayleigh's schooling, keep the house running, help out with various things at our church, and am the treasurer for our homeschool group, Homewood.
We went camping almost every month this past year and it was a lot of fun experiencing different parks around the state. For our anniversary in August we spent time at Big Bend Ranch State Park: camping and hiking in the desert heat, driving 4-wheel track roads until the wisdom of our years told us to turn back, and just enjoying spending time together. We plan to do more camping this year as well.
Though there have been many happy circumstances and we certainly appreciate all the blessings we have received, there are still things that weigh on our hearts. For one, January 2022 marks ten years since we last saw Aimee. To us she remains three when she could have been a firecracker of a thirteen-year-old, which I can't help but think she would have been. We miss her still. And, this year also marks the passing of my (Naomi's) dad at the end of January. He has been my earthly father for over fifty years and I am still absorbing what his loss means to me. Your prayers for my family are appreciated.
