My 10 Favorite Memories from 2019

Can this also double as our year-end Christmas letter? I’m thinking it can.

I’m going to do these in order of the year and my memory. Most things that happened have been forgotten, of course. But here are 10 happy memories.

#1. The snowed out promotion ceremony

All set for a stressful day at the Pentagon, when SURPRISE, snow buried D.C., and we got to have Alan’s promotion ceremony in the comfort and relaxation of our own home–in the basement, in fact.

I had worked so hard to find all the boys fancy outfits for that day, so I made them wear them anyhow. My friend, and next-door-neighbor Stacie, helped me map out a last minute catering plan, and cooked half of it herself. See, the plan was for a Pentagon restaurant to cater the event. Instead, Stacie and I pooled our resources and had more than enough delicious things to eat.

#2. The BIG announcement I was completely unprepared for

Believe it or not, this one was on the exact same day as the promotion. Or maybe it was the day after it. I’m not sure. Alan’s parents were in town, so Alan decided to take me out for a date night. I suspected nothing. Alan said we could do whatever I wanted, and I wanted to go for a walk in the snow. Alan agreed. I have no idea why I wasn’t suspicious. Most people (other than myself) hate going walking in the snow, and yet he acted like this was exactly the best idea.

We’re walking along a path on Fort Belvoir, and Alan says, “I need to tell you something. My branch manager called me last Thursday, and he told me that he couldn’t tell me anything more but that I’m less than 100 days out from a PCS move.”

No worries. Alan was clearly joking. Such a kidder he is.

But alas, this was no joke. One year after we pulled in to Virginia, we were to pull right back out and move on to the next duty station.

I tried to be cool about it, at least I hope I did, but honestly I was fairly depressed until late March when they finally told us where we were going. Being left hanging in the dark does not sit well with me.

Okay, I do realize I said these were the 10 best memories, but that moment is forever etched in my brain, it came so out of the blue that it goes on the list, whether it was a very happy moment or not. If we learned noting at all from the Disney movie Inside Out, it’s that the blue memories can be equally important as the golden yellow ones.

#3. Being in Hayfield again

This wasn’t just one moment. It was all the moments. I loved sitting with my friends everyday at the “boy mom” table, waiting for our children to get out of school. Walking the neighborhood, stopping to say hello to half a dozen people each time, having coffee with Amy, laughing at Monica’s jokes, cul-de-sac parties by Amy and Betsy’s, having the cops called on us for shooting off fireworks on a non-holiday (so much fun), bonfires at Kevin and Mary Kay’s, and Stacie always helping me with missing ingredients, dog decisions, and life in general. We were all so actively involved in one another’s lives, and that’s what makes Hayfield so fun.

#4. Watching our boys play sports and feel successful

Coach pitch league is just adorable, so watching John David play was a ball. He even turned out to be a much more skilled baseball player than I expected. Daniel made all-star for the first time. He was beyond excited about that. Our oldest continues to excel in basketball, and Caleb gave lacrosse a go. He can almost officially say he’s tried every team sport. I just enjoy watching them try these things out.

#5. The First Truly Fun Beach Trip in About 14 Years

Our youngest child is 6 now. No one needs swim diapers. Only the youngest needs a float, and only two of them constantly ask us to adjust their goggles.

At the beach, they all have better sense than to take off running in the wrong direction. Everyone pretty much stays together. No one fights the sunscreen process. Two of them are now taller and stronger than me and therefore can carry more things.

Basically, everything that used to be SO MUCH WORK for like 30 minutes of sort-of fun, is not bad now. We have turned a serious corner. Everyone got in the water this year too. We had a legitimately wonderful time.

#6. Whole Family Headbanz

While we were at the beach, we had to fill all the middle, super strong-sun hours of the day with indoor activities. Why? Well, because we are pale, and sunburn hurts and is dangerous.

There are not many games, almost zero in fact, that you can find that all 6 of us will want to play. I mean really it’s just that there aren’t many games that Alan and our oldest son will play. The rest of us love the games.

We struck gold with Headbandz. Tons of laughs. Highly recommend.

#7. That afternoon at Gunpowder Falls State Park, Jerusalem Mill Village

I’m sort of a state park addict. I love nature and hiking and walking and seeing historical landmarks. It makes me very happy, so there’s that to begin with. Our children, on the other hand, are often reluctant to go on our excursions. It’s as though touring the entire country from birth to now has worn out their need for adventure. Huh.

That day we discovered that they actually get excited to go if, and only if, we let the dog come too.

Rosie came too, and we had a truly happy day exploring an old Quaker village with a covered bridge and a lovely little waterfall and a short hike.

#8. Our first day in Sunday School here

Sometimes it takes us f-o-r-e-v-e-r to decide on a church to call our own at a new place. Don’t even get me started on this topic. But when we set foot into this Sunday school this time, we were in for a ride.

Usually, our class is full of cookie cutter military families, people exactly like us. Hey, I’m not knocking that. I think being like us is a good thing, obviously. We like who we are.

This class has a few veterans, but no active duty members. And oh my goodness– this crowd was hilarious. They poked fun at each other, they laughed, my face hurt from smiling so much, and then at the end of the class, they all go around person by person and say their current prayer need. It was all so very personal and fun. Almost relaxing, except the teacher might pick on you next, so you stay awake for sure.

We left class, and I said, “Well, that was different…”

Alan said emphatically, “Yeah. It was… it was.. different, and the people were different…”

“Yeah, and yet I enjoyed it.”

“Yeah!”

“Well, I’m glad we agree.”

So we’ve been going to this class ever since.

#9. Seeing my cousin Amber

Long years went by where I didn’t see Amber at all. Usually, when we do see each other, it’s because someone has died, and we are both there for the funeral. I got to see Amber 2 years ago when her mother was in the hospital and then again last year for her mother’s funeral.

It was a breath of fresh air to have Amber visit us this year, and no one had to die. We toured D.C. and New York City, and we had a ball. There’s an extra something special about people you shared your childhood with.

#10. Quiet Thanksgiving at home where I got to make all the food

I had not gotten to cook our Thanksgiving lunch since 2013, and odd as it may sound, it’s something I have been wanting to do. When I cook it myself, I get to make only dishes we eat as a family, the way that they were made when I was a child. That means the cranberry sauce is as it should be, from a CAN. There is dressing, not stuffing. No one has to eat green bean casserole or turkey gravy because I don’t like it, and no one else asked for it. The children don’t spend the morning protesting about leaving their house, and we can all pass out after dinner and not speak to each other for the rest of the day. It’s a beautiful thing, and it made me soooooo happy.

That’s all, folks. What are your best memories from 2019?