December 09

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December 2009

We have had another busy few years.

Last year, The Collar accepted a call to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, Washington. In July, we moved from Richmond, Kentucky . We were able to visit Kate’s family in the Kansas City area on our way to Walla Walla. It was a long trip, and we learned a few things: the West is a beautiful place (even better than Kate remembered from a family vacation in 1976), the boys get along surp

risingly well in the car, travelling with a zoo is tricky, and Twin Falls, Idaho is a favorite place to visit.

Once we settled into our new home in Walla Walla, we began to explore our new home. Walla Walla may be small, but there is a lot to do. Between wineries and outdoor activities, we are constantly busy. When school started, our new lives began in earnest. Last year, Game Boy began middle school. He began to play the trumpet and made a lot of new friends. Wiz began second grade at his new school. Both did well, and are continuing

to do so. We also experienced an unusual winter for Walla Walla. There was a lot of snow. For the first time, the boys were in a snowfall that they remembered that was more than an inch deep!

This year has been one of beginnings and endings.We sold the old house in Kentucky. The Collar continued in his ministry at St. Paul’s. Kate has stopped teaching online and has begun a new job as manager of a food bank. Game Boy has started jazz band and played basketball (where did we go wrong? :D) and is a generally busy seventh grader. Wiz has begun to play piano and is enjoying third grade.

The Collar's Parents parents visited in June. We had a wonderful time. All of us went to the Olympic peninsula together (Sequim) and saw glaciers, Pacific beach, and Hoh Rainforest. We also saw a Mariner’s game, and Game Boy was able to see his favorite player play again (Ken Griffey, Jr.). It was an amazing trip. The boys want to go again.

In July, we went to Kansas City for Kate’s parents’ 40^th anniversary. We saw a lot of family that we don’t often see. It was wonderful. We stayed at Kate’s sister Maggie’s home and the boys had a wonderful time playing with the cousins. On our way back, we spent a day at Rocky Mountain National Park and went to Shoshone Falls in Idaho..

Wiz has been doing relatively well this year. He finally saw a neurologist due to his severe headaches. He has been diagnosed with migraines that we are trying to control. Because of his symptoms, he has had an MRI of his brain and spinal cord. We did find a problem, but it’s not serious at this point, and it has nothing to do with his migraines. In the new year, he has an appointment with a neurosurgeon to discuss treatment options (which could range from nothing to watchful waiting to surgery) and he will have his annual bone marrow biopsy. We are grateful that he hasn’t had any severe illnesses this year.

We hope that everyone has a blessed Christmas season and has a wonderful new year.

Love from The Collar, Kate, Game Boy, and Wiz

P.S. Maybe next year Kate will have a tripod so she can be in pictures too.