I finished last year’s Christmas letter with our goal for 2013 being to “Live The Dash”, after reading an inspiring book with the quote: “You get to choose how you spend that little dash of time between the two dates of your earthly existence. Are you living the dash? Knowing fully who you are and why you’re here? Or dashing to live?” This became a quote we lived when we left our lives behind and went to the USA on a family holiday, and was brought home to me again when we said goodbye to one of the biggest influences in my life, my Nan, in October.
Our big trip consisted of the 8 of us travelling for 8 weeks, touring both east and west coasts and Texas in between, both Universal Studios and Disney theme parks, in cars, planes and RV motor homes – sampling 32 states in 52 days. It was GREAT. We not only survived, but thrived, making the most of every day, and treating it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as we realise it may not be possible for everyone to take that many weeks out altogether to travel extensively again. Jarrod and I both kept blogs, and Jarrod also put some compilation videos on YouTube under the name “Keepingupwithj0neses”. Unfortunately, we tried to fit so much in, and the country offers so much to visit, that we probably did dash around as we lived the Dash…
The plane landed back in Sydney at 6.30am on a Saturday in July, and from the time we arrived home, we were off and running! Abi had netball photos to get to, and Ross, Jarrod and Tim had tickets to the Manchester United soccer match that night. Everyone returned to school and their normal weekly activities straight away, so I kept my watch on LA time for another 8 weeks until I too had to accept the holiday was over! Apart from our trip, everyone has continued this year with the same activities and sports and interests – including soccer, golf, netball, softball, tennis and dancing; and music lessons in piano (J&T), trumpet (T), flute (A) and percussion (J). Ross and I have also continued with our regular activities, the most common one still being taxiing children to their activities… We did however find more regular opportunities for coffee, and brunch at Cronulla, as Belle went to preschool two days per week this year.
Belle loves preschool and her other activities, but is VERY keen to get to big school. She is very observant, knows what all her siblings are doing at any point in time, and loves to retell memories of our trip. Her highlight was meeting Princess Belle at Disneyland. Her loving big sister Abi is very keen to start year 6, especially now she has learned she will be a member of the Student Parliament. She will apply the experience she has gained bossing younger siblings around at home and apply it to the student body at school. Abi thought her trip highlight was the theme parks until we reached Niagara Falls, which became her new favourite place.
The boys all enjoyed another year. Tim settled in well at high school, and was the only Year 7 boy on the SRC. He has (finally!) discovered a love of reading which we are very happy about. His highlight was Dallas, Texas, and the story of JFK. Zac enjoys life and being social (not homework so much), and loved Boston and New York the most. He more than any of the others is constantly making plans and suggestions for more travel! Sam decided before we left home that Washington DC and New York were going to be his favourite places, and did not waiver from that. We do think with his love of acting though he could have a career as a performer at Disneyland in the future. And Jarrod has had a great year, a student leader at school, he has continued to have success in music, debating and public speaking competitions. His school band is touring the US in December, including performing at Disneyland, so we told him if he raised half the cost of the trip, we would meet it and allow him to go. So Jarrod taught himself to play guitar and spent time in the school holidays busking at Cronulla, mowing lawns, and recently found part-time work two afternoons a week at a website design company. He fell only $300 short of his target, so will make it up getting back to work once he returns. (He has just found out he is Dux of Yr9 so is suddenly negotiating to reduce that outstanding debt as a reward for his study!!) His highlight of our trip was all the National Parks, so he is looking forward to returning and revisiting the Grand Canyon.
So many highlights this year, at home and in the US, including both our grandmothers turning 90. They have both been very significant and influential in our lives. Sadly for us, my Nan passed away a month after her birthday, but I am not only thankful for her life but also the opportunity to reflect on her life. She was right to the end a definition of “grace-filled” for me, and leaves us a legacy of grace, faith and love. I found some of Nan’s old Christmas letters amongst my mum’s belongings, and noticed in 1994 and 1996 she quoted lines from favourite hymns: “God holds the key of all unknown, and I am glad”, and “trust where we cannot see”. In 2014, we intend to continue to apply the life lessons she taught us.
May your Christmas and new year be blessed with peace, love and joy.
