Looking back on 2010

Once again, we pause and take a few minutes to look back on this past year and marvel at its goodness.  Undoubtedly, 2010 was a year full of unknowns and surprises for us, but it also was a year abundantly rich with blessings and favor.  I find myself too often caught up in focusing on the surprises and the unknowns and fail to sit in the goodness of the gifts that each day brings.  As I've thought back over each month of this last year, I'm reminded again and again of what a great year it has been.  So, with that in mind, here are some of our most memorable moments from two-thousand-and-ten.

We started the year with a bang by attending the Rose Bowl National Championship football game in Pasadena, starring the Texas Longhorns and Alabama Tide.  This was an unforgettable experience for many reasons and one we're sure to never forget. Sadly, "our team" lost and that left us with only one choice:  to become Red Raiders.

In February Calli was drawing up plans for the lavender nursery that the sweet little girl we were expecting would soon be abiding in.  And then, we went to our 20 week gender appointment and received the shocking (but oh-so-wonderful) news that we were actually going to have a son.

March and April were full of engineering courses for Dylan as he continued his studies at The University of Texas at Austin.  We enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Central Coast, the beautiful central Texas wildflowers and lots of pregnancy cravings (like cheeseburgers and enchiladas) during these months. 

May brought the completion of the semester for Dylan and also the news that funding at UT would not happen for us in 2011.  This was probably one of the hardest months of the year for us as we were left with a really huge decision to make (really fast) that ultimately ended in our choice to move to Lubbock.  We also chose a name for our sweet baby in May and held on tight to God's promise to always being with us, even in the midst of uncertainty and surprises.

In early June, a team of engineers (that Dylan was a part of) took off for Petriensa, Ghana and successfully implemented a water treatment system they designed for a small school in the community.  Dylan stayed state-side in anticipation for the the last day of June, which changed our lives forever.  Samuel Carl entered the world at 5:36pm on June 30th.  And we are the proudest parents you'll ever meet.  Along with Sam's homecoming, we also enjoyed a month full of visits from our family.

July was a whirlwind of enjoying our new boy, celebrating three years of marriage, packing our up home, and mentally, emotionally, and physically preparing for another move.

In August we moved to a little town called Lubbock, Texas (Calli's home town) and Dylan jumped full force in to the environmental engineering program at Texas Tech.  He was given a research position working with NASA and recycled pee (more on this soon).

The last few months of the year brought lots of firsts for our family.  We spent Labor Day in Orange County with the Christenson family and saw many old friends.  Samuel met the ocean for the first time and also his California aunties and uncles.

October was full of all things Lubbock, including Texas Tech football, lots of time with the Adams family, eating way, way too much red meat, and Sam's first costume.

In November we celebrated Aunt Lindsey getting married with family in Central Texas and Sam wore his first suit.

We were happy to welcome December and all its festivities, including lots of time with family and Samuel's first trip to the Central Coast to finish the year.  Dylan completed his first semester at TTU and could not be happier in his program.

Although we have great anticipation for what is to come in 2011, we find ourselves very thankful and content with what 2010 brought.  We say good-bye to this last year and welcome, gladly and with open hearts, two-thousand-and-eleven.


Happy New Year to you and yours!