This has been a very eventful year, but aren't they all? I am grateful for all the blessings in my full life. God has been very good to me, as undeserving as I am.
As always, the year starts off with my anniversary, 2010 was 23 years. I can't exactly tell you what attracted me to my husband initially, but I knew he was a good man. After nearly 24 years, he is still a keeper. He joined me on the running trail this year. He doesn't do many long runs, but we have enjoyed comparing notes on the training. He ran the River Run (Ortega and Gate) and the 5K at my annual Marine Corps HM. He is determined not to be a typical American with a waist larger than his chest. He continues teaching his Spanish Singles class and has preached on a couple of occasions.
I am completing my second full year of running. February was the Ortega River Run. I had upper respiratory issues for 2 weeks before the race, I finished with a PR and threw up at the end of the race. The week of the Gate I had a stomach virus and was throwing up for two days, I managed to finish that one 2 minutes ahead of the year before. I didn't run again until the HM in October. 2 weeks before the race I got a blister on my foot that got severely infected and was still a wound during the race. I had to stop and stretch several times in the race but still finished slightly ahead of last year. I ended the year with my first 5K...I now know that I don't like that distance. I think it is because it is because I don't like speed work. I began teaching at Paxon High School. It has been an adventure for 2 reasons, I started after the school year did and I have been out of teaching for 11 years (except for teaching my own kids).
Briana is finishing her AA this year. She has done exceptionally well, even making a B in Calculus. She has applied to Liberty and UNF. She has taken up Yoga with me and is really enjoying it.
Andrea completed her HS tennis career with a final trip to the state tournament. Her first opponent lost only one match in the tournament, the final. It was a disappointment for her. She is currently midway through her first year playing tennis at FSCJ. She will finish her AA there and has already been accepted at Flagler where she will play tennis next year. The boyfriend is still around.
Joanna began dual enrollment this year. She is doing well. She now has a truck and an appointment to get her license. She has a goal of having her AA when she graduates from High School.
Krista will begin her High School tennis career this year at Ed. White. She is in 9th grade with alot of great potential. She, too, has an appointment to get her learners permit. This is the last one Dad gets to teach. I am so glad Jimmy does such a great job with teaching the girls to drive. I know I couldn't do it nearly as well as he does.
One of the biggest events of the year for us was going to Washington DC for the Restoring Honor Rally. We had never been to DC and even thought it was a whirlwind trip, it was quite memorable in many ways. We planned to return at the end of the year, but had some unexpected expenses and decided not to. We do look forward to visiting our nation's capital again.
We hope you have had a wonderful Christmas season and wish you many blessings in the new year.
