Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that it is now 2010; Andy has his 10-year high school class reunion this May!
This past year has been one full of celebrations. Andy’s paternal grandparents, Jim & Norma Walker, both turned 75. Mary’s maternal grandmother, Charline Rodgers, had a large party for her 80th birthday. Andy’s parents had a party for their 30th anniversary in which they renewed their vows during a ceremony at their ranch in May.
Mary has been feeling better this year. The doctors changed her medicines at the beginning of the spring. With the improvement from the altered doses, Mary has been able to slowly build up her stamina and strength. In addition to keeping the house running and Andy well fed, she has been able to do a little bit of tutoring this fall and winter.
The effort required for graduate school has ramped up Andy. He has to sequester himself away for a few hours each day to work on homework or research – even when traveling for work. As it turns out, hotel rooms make very quiet study halls. Andy will continue his research this spring and hopes to defend his thesis by the end of 2010. Since he has a few remaining courses, graduation will be around the end of 2011.
We had several short trips this year. When Andy went to South Dakota for some training, Mary visited a friend in Austin. At the end of the summer, we went down to Corpus Christi for a friend’s college graduation. Mary was able to show Andy around her college campus and visit with several of her friends who still live there. On our way home, we stopped off in San Antonio and Austin to say hi to family and friends. Thanksgiving was our major trip for the year. We drove a U-haul trailer to North Carolina where Mary’s sister, Meg lives. In addition to celebrating the holiday, we played with our niece and nephews, Teresa, William, and Peter, put up Christmas decorations, and sorted through Mary’s mother’s stuff.
For our fourth anniversary we went to a New Year’s Eve dance. The night was going great until Andy’s shoe flipped up one of Mary’s toenails. We headed home early but missed the ball drop since we were trying to get a nice picture while all dressed up.
We hope to simplify our lives this year by finishing some major projects, like Andy’s research and thesis and sorting through Mary’s mother’s things. We plan to enrich our minds through education, both at school and on our own and enrich our lives by making more time to spend with each other and with those we love.
Many blessings in 2010,
Andy & Mary
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