Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas -

I love these 2020 Christmas cards. And for the first time in several years, I'm not sending anything out. I really don't have anything to say, and I have no sweet photos of this year's travels (well, I do, Hawaii with Jenna and kids was amazing, and difficult, and expensive, and memorable - that was 1 week pre-CoVid, which seems like a lifetime ago) - although Driggs, ID and the Grand Tetons are always stunning, Mt. Rushmore was nice, and Durango, CO, was beautiful, while Zion was too hot and too busy to even attempt. 

However, if I had sent out a card it would say, 

We made it - from head to toe (truly)! And while we met our out-of-pocket deductible way back in July and our HSA is empty, and we're facing a few more procedures in January, our health is good, our marriage is great, and our home is beautiful. We have healthy children and grandchildren; CoVid has affected us all in too many ways to count, yet our bounce-forward buttons still work. 

We've lost loved ones. We've been frustrated with the medical and political world, yet we've chosen to put what we can change as our priority, and what we can't change, well, we're learning to let it go. 

We missed our international trip to Portugal this spring, but we've put a few miles on our cars getting to know the world that's within a day's drive. We're planning next year's trip, and although it is state-side, we're grateful for extra vacation days, extra miles, and the opportunity to see what we've neglected to see, and Scott's doing a great job of gathering family history information to make this trip every bit as adventurous as an international one. 

We've enjoyed CoVid drive-bys to our children's homes - dropping off goodies that have some sort of  laughable CoVid message. We were able to be with a grand-daughter who was married and have an honored role in her ceremony.

We had the pleasure of hosting Ihor, from the Ukraine, stuck here in Utah for work because of CoVid, for several months, and this fall we've had Zach, from So Dakota, here attending BYU (but not wanting to socialize because of the virus); he'll be coming back in January. So even when we can't venture too far from home, the world has come to our doorstep, thank you Airbnb and the friendships we've made because of being hosts (although we're ending our tenure with them, there's always a spare bedroom - well, will be in May). 

We've learned to negotiate lawnmower noise with Webex home-office meetings, and I've gained a deeper appreciation for not only my work-space, but for the caregivers who put their lives on the line every single day. I'm grateful to have been able to be a small support to them, as well as for Scott's support of me. 

My 2020 motto, Be The Change, has hung on our front porch as our public statement, although I've learned that being this change comes from within and then outward to my home, my world. 

We've laughed, we've loved, we've argued, we've yelled, we've painted and played, and restored a 1962 Grand Prix - the life we have far surpasses our dreams - guess this year has been just fine after-all!  

Merry Christmas to all - Ronda & Scott