As we look back on 2009, we feel blessed. That, in a nutshell, could be our holiday letter--not because this year has been easy, but because we have realized this year, more than ever, that the most important thing is to be grateful. And so, like one of our favorite prayers, in which we give each day back to God (some with more haste and irritation than others!), we give this year back and we say gracias a dios.
We have now spent 1 1/2 years in Central Texas and have filled this year with a lot of exploring of the Lone Star State. Trips to Big Bend National Park, the Gulf Coast and Enchanted Rock have inspired our love of natural Texas, a state that has less public green space than most, but is nonetheless rich in biodiversity.Here are a few glimpses of the wild beauty of Texas--yes, Texas. No matter where we live, we love to stay connected to the natural world and help our children do the same.
I continue to teach as an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work at Texas State University-San Marcos. I love teaching and am getting more adept at the research, grant writing and publishing aspects of academia as well. Still, my greatest accomplishment this year was being voted "Teacher of the Year" by the Organization of Student Social Workers. I think that's because I get my students out of the classroom and onto the ropes course! :) Here I am out on the ropes course "role-modeling" risk-taking (those of you who know me well, know I've been good at that my whole life!)
I miss direct practice social work in the community, and I am realizing how important it is in academia to use the resources I have to make a difference in the world. Recently, I have become active in a research project that is looking at ways of better supporting young people who have aged out of the foster care system succeed in college. I also continue my research on wilderness and adventure therapy and presented a paper at the 5th International Adventure Therapy Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland in September. Here I am at the top of Arthur's Seat, overlooking the city on a windy day!
Along with work, I've made sure to make time for things that feed my soul, like book club, live music in and around Austin, church, the Avon 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer and the all women's Sweet and Twisted Triathlon! Here I am at the finish line of the Avon Walk with Will and Mahalia! They were very proud of their mommy for walking 39 miles!
Billy has had a good year, adjusting to the highs and lows of the Texas public school system. He continues to challenge the status quo in a covert, but subversive way, challenging his students to find the deeper meaning in the literature they are reading and the world around them. He continues to play one part high school English teacher and one part cultural anthropologist, gathering unbelievable stories about his students who race stock cars or spend the summer at Christian girls hunting camp (as Dave Barry would say, "I am not making this up!"). In addition, to teaching English, Billy got to return to his experiential educator roots and is also teaching a leadership and team-building class this year and can be found gathering random objects from around the house, like tent poles and kids' toys, to play games with in his classroom!
Though he has been gone for a year, Billy was invited back to Denver this spring to speak at the graduation ceremony at his former high school (he and Ted Turner!). This, along with countless stories Billy shares with me in private, humble moments are a testimony to the kind of inspiring educator he is!(NOTE: This is the part of the letter Billy hates the most.)
Of course, all work and no play makes Billy a dull boy, so rest assured that this year has also been filled with ultimate frisbee summer league in Austin, bird watching, running and some creative writing endeavors as well. And after living with my mother (the whiskey drinker) for over 6 years, Billy has expanded his repertoire from cheap American shwill to the harder stuff. He can be seen here on our 10 year anniversary trip at the Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown, KY, tasting some of Kentucky's finest in the bourbon capital of the world.
That's right...Billy and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary this September with a trip to Kentucky. Random, to some; however, we went on a pilgrimage of sorts to the land of poet Wendell Berry and philosopher and theologian Thomas Merton. It was a magical trip, more like a couple's retreat (NOT like the movie), in which we looked back over our 10+ years together, celebrated and evaluated where we've been and where we want to go. We rediscovered, as Wendell Berry wrote, that "We are more together than we know, how else could we keep on discovering we are more together than we thought?" Here we are together at the Smith-Berry winery in Newcastle, KY.
Out of this union, the crazy little beings that we brought into this world, continue to amaze us and make us laugh. Mahalia is in 2nd grade and spent the year furiously wiggling her baby teeth loose, in order to hasten this important rite of passage.She loves school and is an adamant reader of Ivy and Bean and Judy Blume (don't worry-not the juicy adult stuff!). She claims her first love is science and is a bit of a naturalist, like her dad. Mahalia kept active this year in gymnastics and soccer, spanish classes, school plays and Brownies (yes, we'll be hitting you up for GS cookies very soon!). She also fell in love with surfing during our time on the Gulf coast! (Yes, she's a bit of a risk-taker, like her mom!)
Will, who we still refer to as Dubs, also had a busy year. He played soccer early on Saturday mornings too (did I mention I am not cut out to be a soccer mom?!), and he continued in his second year of pee wee hoops. Fortunately, his understanding of the flow of the game has improved to the point where we no longer need to yell "the other basket" at the top of our lungs. Will is in pre-K and will join his sister at our neighborhood public school next year. He is not quite as keen on school as Mahalia and would rather be running around with his light saber and Captain Rex helmet or riding his scooter in the back alley. Though not quite the risk taker his sister is, Will approaches things with both caution and tenacity, yet refuses to be outdone by Mahalia! He just learned how to ride his bike without training wheels and is feeling very proud of himself!
2009 has been filled with many other highs and lows. We had a wonderful family visit for Easter, took a special family trip to Colorado over the summer, and visited the Ozarks for Billy's 35th birthday. We were blessed with the birth of our niece, Najla Elena, but we were saddened by the loss of Billy' grandfather, Bill Lorenzo, and my grandmother, Jane Lynn. They were both blessed to live long, full lives and died surrounded by the love and respect of family and friends. Yet, life goes on...quite literally for us, as this fall also brought the surprise blessing of news that we are pregnant (oh, God, does this mean more youth soccer?!) with our third child, due July 5 (to be born on Texas soil-yeeeehah!)
As this news of our lives reaches you all, we hope it finds you healthy and happy, full of joy and wonder, and most of all grateful, as we are for the blessings in life that are so easy to take for granted. The world is a big place, but as we start 2010, let's celebrate the ways we are connected to one another. As Mahalia said about her new little brother or sister: "That baby is so lucky to be born into this big, beautiful world." Out of the mouth of babes... It's true. Remember: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh7D2g5v-Sg
