CHRISTMAS 09

We have had another eventful year. It was another year filled with many trials and many triumphs, but God has continued to richly bless us.
We had great start to a year. Evan and I were both very busy at our jobs: Evan teaching band/general music and me at the Post Office. Evan spent his time as volunteer basketball coach and taking Band Students to Honor Bands and Concert Festivals. I was busy with work at the Kearny Post Office. I had the opportunity to be in charge of the Post Office for four weeks while my boss was on an assignment in a different office. It was a challenge but me and the Post Office were still standing at the end.
We had a rough start and end to March this year. At the beginning of March, we had to put my mom’s pug Spike, who had been living with us for eight months, to sleep. He had a freak accident and it was not repairable. We really miss him. After the heartache of putting down Spike, my parents had an opportunity to purchase a pug puppy. The man who owned the puppy had been given the pug as a gift for his birthday. He didn’t want a dog and he would sell it to them cheap. My parents and I purchased the puppy for Evan’s 29th birthday present. Evan was ecstatic. He named the new addition Winston Edward Thompson – Winston after Winston Churchill and Edward because we thought it sounded good. Winston has really livened up our lives. He is very loving.
Also in March we joined Kearny Southern Baptist Church. Evan filled in for the music minister in the summer and became the official music minister in September. It is a small but loving congregation. Our pastor and his wife are two dear, Godly people.
We ended March with a trip to the ER for Evan. In a freak accident Evan had been struck on the left side of the forehead by two composite wood posts. He seemed alright but a few days later he developed really serious concussion symptoms. He had his cat scanned (as my dad puts it) and x-rays to make sure there was no internal bleeding or fractures. Everything checked out fine. Evan still was not himself so we got a referral to see a neurologist. The neurologist said that Evan has Post Concussive Syndrome(PCS). The concussion has caused a problem with his short term memory. We are working on getting him better. It is a struggle but so far we are still getting through it.
We spent another great anniversary together to start off a busy summer. Evan had summer band and I had work, as usual, at the Post Office. Evan, his mom, and I went to New Mexico to visit and meet a sweet lady who was slipping away from this world. I was glad to have finally gotten to meet the woman I had heard so many good things about. I was excited to be able to visit the White Sands National Monument. Evan and my friend Deidre had talked about it several times and I had been wanting to go. I enjoyed the weekend and didn’t want to go back to work on Monday.
We were busy having fund-raisers to get money to send twelve 5th-8th graders to Four Seasons Music Camp. In the end we made enough money that all twelve students were able to go. We had a blast. It is always a long week for everyone but the end result is a concert on Saturday that leaves the audience in awe of what we did in a week.
All too soon school started and the cycle began again: Friday night football games, Saturday Marching Festivals, and Monday night Marching practice. It is the same routine all the way through the first week of November. It was a long Marching season this year, but it was a successful one. For the second year in a row, they earned an Excellent rating at the State Marching Festival. Evan did a great job getting through it with his PCS. I was unable to accompany them on most of the Saturday trips.
In early September, my boss got a promotion to the Oracle Post Office. It was a good move for her since she lived in Oracle. I had the opportunity to be Officer in Charge until they got another Postmaster into Kearny. I jumped at the chance. It has been a long, difficult three months. We are still short one person and our new Postmaster, who is a very sweet person, is not expected to come until after the first of the year. Needless to say this has been a rough Christmas holiday for my co-worker and me. We have been doing the job of three people while trying to not use overtime.
This year has gone by so fast and next year will begin with a blast. Evan and I are taking our first trip as a couple since our honeymoon. We are going to DISNEYLAND during the last week of the year. We will be there to ring in the New Year with Mickey and Minnie. We can’t wait! We love you all and hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.
May God bless you in the new year.

Christmas Letter Delayed

I have been working on our Christmas Letter the last few days. I have also been working about 10 hour days at work and am EXHAUSTED. I will have the letter up by the end of the weekend. Please check back in a few days. I am sorry for the delay. :)