Dear Family and Friends,
We hope this annual Christmas letter finds you doing well, physically and mentally,…one of the most important things in 2020. This year has been a unique year and not what we expected at all. It has been hard ─ and downright scary at times ─ and it challenged all of us in the way we think and operate. And while it temporarily disturbed my views on humanity, it also taught us to be more patient, to love one another for who we are and to stand united against all the unfairness, hate and disasters the world has seen this year. May every one of you know that you are loved and missed dearly!
There were many days in 2020 that felt too hard to comprehend and to see the good that this year brought. From too many fires on the West Coast, to the continuation of unnecessary police violence and the resulting protests, the racism and divide our country experienced, the Tornado that came flying thru Nashville right before Covid hit, the multiple hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast States, a faltering economy, a heated election year and on top of that the consequences the Coronavirus brought with it.
While Covid-19 affected three of us directly in March/ April and had me in its grip for 4+ weeks, I’m grateful to have escaped it with only minor long-term effects. Moreover, I am even more grateful that my family and friends, near and dear to my heart, have so far escaped this deadly virus.
But 2020 also had its good sides: While the year started off hectic with lots of work, school assignments and Elliot’s first basketball season with Derrick as the team’s coach, these two had a great time practicing and playing together. Even though Elliot was the youngest on his team, he also was one of the three superstars and the one that played with the most heart. It was a great season for them and Derrick led his team to a 10-0 win. In February, Elliot and I went to our first Mother-Son Dance and the next evening, Derrick took Amelia to their first Father-Daughter Dance. Two nights of dancing and spending some quality time together are priceless memories. We also welcomed a new member to the family in May: a kitten named Ella. She rounds out our pet circus and is a joy to have around.
During the pandemic, as a family, we went on countless walks thru our neighborhood and the local park and visited the zoo every few weeks. The hot summer days, we spent mostly at our local YMCA pool, which adhered to all the safety measurements and was astoundingly empty on most days. Both children attended safely one week of summer camp: Elliot and three other boys from his K class went each day to his teacher’s big property and had a blast together while Amelia attended her annual art camp and loved using her creativity to make things. Derrick worked tirelessly on fixing up the backyard by lugging in tons and tons of dirt to flatten out the terrain while I focused on my vegetable garden and indoor decorating. The boys played lots of tennis while the girls worked on their endurance. Amelia now runs easily a mile and I go running 4-6 times a week to get some me-time and keep my sanity. I completed my first ever half marathon (virtually) in October and I am very satisfied with the result of accomplishing it on my own, no racing atmosphere, in 1:44:44. Next to his regular job, Derrick also works on his contracting license with the government (lots of studying and test taking at night) to provide him with future job opportunities. Derrick and I also celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary with a backyard DIY photoshoot in the wedding attire and a lovely home cooked family meal. It was delightful and perfect!
As part of a cost saving initiative, my company furloughed me to part-time back in April and while it was not what I wanted, it did work out well for our family as I had enough time to work with the children on some homework assignments, play together, go to the pool and be there for them. It allowed me to be focus on my mom role during a time where we are all stuck at home. Since September, I am back to my full-time status and while working from home provides us more flexibility (next to staying safe), it makes it harder to distinguish between working hours and home life as work is only a step away.
While we wished for more time together, we never expected in March, when the first lockdowns began, that we would be all home together, 24/7, for the remainder of the year. For over 9 months now, all four of us have been working/ schooling from home and while some days are harder than others, we make it work. The children adapted well to their virtual schooling even though it was quite an adjustment and a huge learning curve for all of us in the beginning. I am so proud of how well our children adjusted to not going to school, not playing with their friends, spending all summer at home instead of going from camp to camp or being on vacations and wearing a mask without complaining. While this year has been hard on us, it must have been even harder on our children and we often forget that. Amelia and Elliot truly embraced this new situation and they are lucky to have each other as playmates and best friends.
Due to the pandemic, we were not able to travel to Germany this year as we had planned, which was quite upsetting as I missed being by my father’s side as he got married to his wonderful bride. We did go for one day to Atlanta to get our German passport renewed and also spent a couple of nights in a cabin during fall break to get away from the routines we have fallen in to and to see something new. The getaway felt refreshing as we spent hours outdoor hiking, fishing, and kayaking all while staying away from other people.
This year has brought the four of us closer together and we enjoy spending so much time together as a family. We are looking forward to the holidays, some holiday cheer and joy, and praying that 2021 will bring back some normalcy to all of our lives.
May the magic of the Christmas season fill your home with joy and peace. Sending lots of love to your family, and looking forward to the day we can see you again. Take care of yourselves and stay safe!
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