2020...Whew! What a Year

Well, 2020 was quite the year. Some great stuff happened. And a pandemic happened. It certainly will be a year none of us will forget. Here are our highlights!

We took 19 camping trips which included 17 parks total and 9 new ones! (Despite a 2 months shut down)

It's official. I have obsessive camping disorder. Luckily, I have an ongoing support group.

It doesn't get much better than this! One of our favorite places-- Lake Bastrop S Shore trip in Feb. This weekend I also attended my "last" birth as a doula- I decided to retire for real this time. Until someone else important to me has a baby!

March 13, 2020 our world changed. It was announced officially- a state of emergency and a world pandemic. A virus exploded throughout the world causing some people to get very sick-- everything we took for granted was pulled out from under us. Masks became the "norm" along with lines to get into grocery stores, shortages of cleaning supplies and toilet paper. We all quarantined ourselves hoping it would go away in a couple of months. Little did we know what was ahead.

Luckily we could keep camping, it's probably the only thing that kept my sanity! In the meantime, AJ started working from home which was an easy transition. (His day is full of video calls/meetings anyway) I had to transition my classes from being in person to virtual-- I partnered with a colleague and friend and we started a new Childbirth Education business together. While it was an interesting adjustment, we figured out how to teach virtually and still provide fun and informative classes for our students! www.realdealbirth.com

When we couldn't go camping, we hosted driveway "happy hours" so we could still visit with friends and neighbors from a safe distance. We also started doing "happy hour" with friends on Zoom. Amazing how quickly this became the norm to socialize. I did start missing in person visits, hugs, live music, dancing, the piano bar...

Boudreaux traveled everywhere with us, including our beach trip in May. He's an amazing companion, loves to hike, swim, play with other dogs, and just loves life. He keeps us laughing (he's a huge dork) and keeps me walking! I'm in the best shape I've ever been in my life!

We got creative with "safe, socially distant" outdoor meetings so we could spend time with extended family outside of our household.

In June, AJ had a big birthday. We had rented a lake house on LBJ and I had planned a big celebration with friends and family! Well, it turned out to be a small celebration and a surprise Zoom party with friends and family. We still had a good time enjoying the water, beautiful trees and lake house life. Kelsey and Darren joined us for the weekend.

Nathan had to work, so he and Boudreaux came out to visit just for a day.

The rest of the summer looked pretty much like this any time we could get away! Since I wasn't teaching at the hospital on the weekends, we found ourselves more available than usual. We averaged 2-3 trips a month, hitting local lakes like Georgetown, Stillhouse Hollow, and Belton.

We rarely get to enjoy both kids together anymore-- everyone has their own schedule and life. But we did get 1 camping weekend with both Kelsey and Nathan together (to celebrate her birthday) locally at McKinney Falls-- a surprisingly HOT weekend for mid October.

So here it is, Christmas Eve 2020. I'm reflecting on how crazy this year has been, feeling grateful everyone in my immediate circle is healthy. Feeling an overwhelming sadness for the grief of those families who have lost loved ones. Seeing a light ahead as vaccinations are approved and started distribution. We have a long way to go before life is "normal" again-- and even when we aren't threatened with a massive health crisis, I wonder what "normal" will be. I know many of us will have a greater appreciation for the simple things- family & friends. A safe home, food, and a job. 

Looking forward to 2021 and a year filled with Hope, Health, and Happiness!