January 2015 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A new year with new adventures! It's always hard to let go of Christmas break, but it helps to fit in some January fun. In addition to school, church and sports, a spontaneous tubing trip for Jacob definitely fits into the fun category. For some, shoveling snow would be considered fun as well (definitely not if you live in Montana, Wisconsin or upstate New York, but for us Marylanders it qualifies ;) A successful Klondike Derby and a day volunteering at the Bishop's Storehouse rounded out the month's fun nicely. And we took the plunge and had solar panels installed!

December 2014

It was a very good, very full month! So heartwarming to receive holiday greetings from loved ones around the globe, and sweet to have extra time with family and friends. Here is a photo summary:

Court of Honor - Star Scout Award

Marc's birthday with our special guests, the missionaries

We took in a holiday concert at the Washington D.C. LDS Temple and the kids found their photo ornaments on one of the trees

Piano recital for Megan's students

Christmas Eve

Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, MA

New Year's Eve in New York City

 

 

 

Merry Christmas 2014!

Our hearts are full! There are so many blessings all around us, and when we ponder with grateful hearts we feel the joy that comes from knowing that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. At this blessed time of year, we are reminded that He is the Gift!

We hope that this Christmas season finds you all well and our wish is that you will each feel love and peace to the extent that you are truly happy.

For this year's puzzle, we each provided a few words or phrases representing important facets of our year. Here is the solution, and below are a few explanations:

• Advanced Music Studies - Megan set her goal early in the year, while still a Sophomore, to focus her studies on music, specializing in film scoring. She applied, auditioned and was accepted into a college level music program about 20 minutes north of us.
• Basketball - Jacob continues to enjoy the sport, playing on recreation league teams and church teams, and playing informally with friends at our local park or in our driveway.
• Church Choir Pianist - Megan was asked to play piano for our church choir and is thoroughly enjoying the experience.
• Counseling - As Bishop, Marc notices that one of his main rolls is counseling members. This allows him to develop relationships and feel our Savior's love for those he meets with. It is one of his favorite things about being a bishop.
• Diffusion - Marc published a paper in Physical Review Letters (a top physics journal) this year where he proposed an explanation for the basic molecular motions that lead to diffusion. 
• Distance Running - Both Marc and Megan are avid distance runners. They routinely run several miles most days and compete together in local races. Megan runs on the school Cross Country and Track teams, and was the fastest female runner at a local "Run/Walk for Shelter" charity race. Marc has been inspired by Megan's running and has begun running longer distances. 
• First Car - In order to attend the AMS (music) program across town, Megan needed transportation. So, she worked to get her driver's license and took on additional piano students to help pay for a car. She is happy with her silver 2006 Scion xA and new found freedom.
• Food - This was Jacob's word. It makes sense considering the 6+ inches he's grown this year!
• Football - Jacob decided to try playing football this Fall and had a lot of fun, plus discovered that he could play pretty well. 
• Microscopy - Marc published two papers in Nature journals this year (Nature Photonics and Nature Communications) on label-free microscopy. Both are in the top 3% of online attention for articles published in the same timeframe.
• Organizer - Following my retirement last Spring I began literally getting our house in order. I've been reorganizing my time and our home, plus working hard to keep our family schedules organized.
• Piano Teacher - Megan now has five piano students, including her brother. She is an excellent teacher and absolutely loves her students. Her teaching income pays for gas to and from her music program each school day, plus she is saving for college.
• Retiree - I retired from my work at Jacob's middle school last Spring. It's been quite an adjustment, but very good for our family.
• Scouting - Jacob continues to advance through Boy Scout ranks and is currently a Star Scout.
• Sunday School Teacher - I was released from my Young Women's calling at church and called as teacher for the course 14-15 Sunday School class. This is the BEST calling ever as I have amazing students who teach me much more than I ever teach them.
• Volunteer - With my retirement, I've gone back to my first roll with the school system. My official title is "volunteer" and I love it. I help with the Athletic Boosters and spend time most weeks at the middle school helping out in the media center or with their technology needs. I get to set my own hours and I have a premium (visitor) parking space :)

Fall Fun!

We enjoyed the beauty and wonderful freshly harvested foods this Fall, and took in a special concert featuring Lady M. There was also time with friends as well as some fun family activities and birthdays. Here are a few photo highlights:

Family selfie at the temple

 Church barn dance with friends

Apple picking!

Photo opportunity right before AMS concert

J's 14th birthday and first church dance!

A wonderful Thanksgiving day with our amazing missionaries!

 Fall basketball time

M's 17th birthday!

Recognitions!

Lady M was the first female to cross the finish line at the Run/Walk for Shelter and she earned a 3rd place medal in her final Cross Country race of the season. She was also inducted into the National Honor Society. Marc and I had the privilege of walking J out onto the field as they honored the 8th grade football players on the high school's new turf field.

Fall 2014 Sports Season

Even before school starts, the training begins! J decided to try football this year and M once again ran the distance (over and over and over again) in Cross Country. J (#28) played defensive end and wide receiver, and his coach was impressed with his hard work and confidence. M worked extremely hard all summer and developed a real love for running. She ran a good season, earning her varsity pin.