Some 2020 Highlights

2020 wasn't so shockingly different (or difficult) for our family. With no health concerns, no job loss or increased financial strain, and only a short spell really of school disruption (followed by a few other short spells here and there for various of our older kids), we drifted through the months about as cushioned as a family might hope to be during a year like this. I think too, the sheer amount of people around here made us feel things a bit less keenly: even during schools closed and quarantines in place, there was just such a typical flow of activity and people around here that we didn't feel the isolation that many have had to deal with. Oh we missed family gatherings and our church congregation, trying to do school in the spring with different agendas for every kid was exhausting, we were disappointed about the missing social aspect of Daisy's first year of college, we're sad to speak to everyone through face masks, and the political climate of the year (and division among loved ones over it all) was upsetting and discouraging. But it was still a year, for us, of many things feeling ordinary and of many things being ... much much better than ordinary!

A few highlights:

We got two pygmy goats for a spell. The kids were home (thanks to Covid) to hold and bottle feed them every day. And, when the goats got too rambunctious for our yard, they spent a few months in Mike's parents' backyard in a large enclosure Mike built. The kids loved going over to continue feeding them and those backyard stops gave them a way to regularly see their grandparents without putting those grandparents at too much risk.

Perhaps the greatest thing of 2020 was that we got to have all ten of our kids unexpectedly together again! 2020 was supposed to be the year we wouldn't see Abe at all. But suddenly, and unexpectedly, he was being sent home! (He wrote about the shocking development here.) While, when we initially heard the news, we all felt heartsick about Abe leaving El Salvador, ... we couldn't STAY heartsick! We got to have him back! General Conference and Easter and a decent chunk of summer had us all together again. It was such a happy time. And, already, I feel unfairly blessed that I will get to experience that airport pick up TWICE! It was in that category of life's very happiest moments -- one that you can't play up too much because it's JUST THAT WONDERFUL.

Abe and goats combined for a happy Easter together as a family. And we had all the other usual happy holidays as well. (Some Christmas Eve, Halloween and Thanksgiving pictured here along with the Easter. I love Halloween queen Mette: sitting there dispassionately considering who to behead next.)

There were big Sunday dinners and outings with just the kids (who can do that sort of thing even without their parents these days!) -- hikes for the girls, Abe taking all his siblings rock climbing, etc.

And there were trips to Bear Lake, and Willard Bay, and The Farm.

After nearly three months at home Abe was sent back into the mission field -- this time to Las Vegas, Nevada. I mentioned the two marvelous homecomings I'll get to experience, of course, that means I also had to experience two heart wrenching goodbyes. But! He's gotten to experience two completely different missions -- all the while finding ties by connecting with people from El Salvador in Vegas -- and he's been so happy and shared so many great things, that I can't be anything but grateful for these two years for him.

Daisy graduated from high school (without any real despairing over the Covid circumstances that robbed her of much of the end of year celebrating) and headed off to BYU on a scholarship. (One could argue that that last point wasn't exactly a happy development of 2020! We miss having her here! But we are proud of her and it is always rewarding to see your kids grow in independence and adapt and thrive.)

We got outdoor lights. :)

And these truck-bed seats.

The kids (and Mike) had a splendid trip at a not-at-all crowded (Covid restrictions) Lagoon. The first time for many of them (and years since last being there for the rest).

The kids got to return to school in the fall. (Something not everyone, even within our own state, was able to do).

Mike and I got to escape TWO times for a night or two away with just the two of us (actually, now that I type that I realize that one of these vacations was technically 2021, but, since it was meant to celebrate our 2020 anniversary, I'll count it here anyway). 

We got to experience this little spriteling as a one-year-old. Completely ours. With limited time in church, no nursery, very few family gatherings, and only her older siblings ever tending her, this year was spent just being the beloved littlest person in this family with the outside world fairly unknown to her. (Loss for the outside world!)

There were a million other good things of course. Some I'll likely remember just as soon as I push "publish". And others that simply weren't photographed -- Goldie getting her driver's license (I was greatly looking forward to that once our other two driver's [Abe and Daisy] were no longer available) for example. Hans turned 3 (early in 2020, he's just turned 4 now), Starling turned 1, Daisy turned 18, Penny turned 13, Goldie turned 16, Summer turned 6, Mette turned 5, Anders turned 9, Jesse turned 12 and Abe turned 20. And many other good things well worth celebrating.