Stark Christmas Newsletter 2017
Instead of doing Christmas cards this year (because, pricy!), I will be writing our yearly update right here for your reading fun.
It's been another year in sunny Idaho! Some of you might think I mean that sarcastically, but this year was actually quite sunny and warm. Maybe that's because I spent many weeks throughout the year in California visiting family, but I'm pretty sure Idaho was sunny, too.
I guess I'll break this down by person, though there aren't many of us.
Laurel
It's really hard to write down my achievements this year because they are pretty basic. Maybe if they are in list for they will appear more impressive:
1) I successfully took care of another human being for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! And we lived! Huzzah!
2) I started seriously working on a novel. I've been flip-flopping back and forth between multiple projects and finally committed to one earlier this year. The first draft is about half-way complete and going strong. Finally, I feel like I'm on the right track to finishing something special. Maybe. I'm pretty insecure about my abilities, but Mike can tell you I've become extremely dedicated to this project and will definitely see it through.
I decided about a month ago that I will be ending my time with LuLaRoe. I still love the clothes and will still personally buy it and wear it a ton, but the inventory just take up too much room in our home. I just don't feel like I can really give it my all and my heart isn't in sales. I would rather shop than sell. :)
As a stay at home mom, I do find it hard to grow personally and find time to develop new skills. There are some moms out there who are rockstars and do huge amazing creative projects while also keeping little humans alive. I don't know how they do it. I find it difficult to just keep the dishes done or to fold laundry while simultaneously keeping Nova fed and happy. Mike knows how overwhelmed I feel sometimes, and when I feel overwhelmed I tend to shut down and ignore all the things that need to get done. It's a vicious cycle, things need to get done, I get overwhelmed, they don't get done, things pile up, I get overwhelmed, things still get ignored....rinse and repeat.
Sometimes I worry about what it would be like if we did have another kid. Would I just implode? Or would I rise to the occasion and become the supermom I've always wanted to be? I guess we won't know until that day comes.
By the way, I don't get overwhelmed with Nova, just all the other stuff. I'm not a housework person, my mom can attest to that, and I feel like it's all on my shoulders. That's probably not completely true, but it's how it feels sometimes. I think that since Mike goes to school and works, he shouldn't have to also be responsible for all the housework, too. Of course he does laundry and dishes and cleans, but I think since I stay home with Nova I should be the main one to keep the house livable. If things were reversed, it would be Mike's main responsibility. I remember what it was like coming home from a long day at work or from a long day at school and just wanting to collapse. I want Mike to concentrate on schoolwork and staying healthy. And taking out the trash because let's be honest, that's gross. I clean the toilets, so he takes out the trash. Each of us gets a gross job. Adulting! But there ya go, housework = yuck.
Let's move on...
Nova
This awesome kid has had a great year. Together, we travelled to California three times and she got to ride on an airplane for the first time. She's now a total airplane pro and she's such a great kid to travel with.We drove to California in September for Nova's big birthday celebration- she turned 4- and she was such a trooper.
We went to Disneyland with my parents and had a truly MAGICAL time. I recommend going to Disneyland with a four-year-old at least once in your life because it makes everything a million times better. Seeing her meet the princesses and characters brought tears to my eyes because she was so star-struck and overjoyed. When you go to Disneyland as an adult, it becomes all about hitting the best rides as quickly and efficiently as possible. But when you go with a kid, everything slows down and becomes sparkly and you stop to appreciate all the little details.
Nova is happy to be fostering a kitty from school, Sunny, for the winter. He's an older cat and really shouldn't be outside when it's snowy and below freezing. I know he's grateful for a warm place to stay. He's super friendly and will steal food right out of your hand. Seriously. He took Nova's roll the other day.
So for Nova, it's be a great year.
Mike
Mike's been doing school and work. It's funny when people ask him what he's doing, because it's pretty boring right now. The answers are the same and will be for a little while longer: he's doing work and school.
As a reminder, Mike is working on his Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering. He's had some hiccups- the kind that only Mike can have- but he will finish someday. People always ask how much longer he has and it's hard to tell. It depends if he gets the classes when he needs them, it depends if we get financial aid like we are supposed to, it depends if life continues normally...but we hope for Mike to be done in 1.5-2 years, sooner if he goes three semesters a year instead of just two.
Hopefully he will be done while Nova is 5 years old. That was our original plan, but then his computer decided to die at the end of a semester and he couldn't make up any of his work in time for finals and had to repeat a semester. Before that, he used his macbook and then learned at the end of the semester that his teacher hadn't been getting ANY of his work (everything is done through a computer program and then submitted online, apparently it is not compatible with macbooks but the teacher didn't know until after finals) and so he had to repeat that semester, too. So we basically wasted two semesters, a whole year. It's extremely frustrating and these things seem to happen ONLY to Mike. He works so hard and is always pushed down. Most people would give up, but not Mike. Sure, I get really discouraged sometimes and feel like we're never going to live a normal life...sometimes I stay up at night worrying about money (okay, most nights), but I have to believe it's worth it. I have to.
[insert encouraging words here]
Mike didn't get to come on many of our California adventures, but he got to come to Disneyland.
All the other times, he either had school or work. Poor guy. But I'm very grateful for his job. Right now he works the front desk at Massage Envy (which is within walking distance from our home). They treat him really well and he's been there for over a year, now. I don't know what we would do without that job.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday Mike got really sick. His tooth became infected (we have no idea how or why) and started to make his cheek swell to an alarming size. Eventually, we knew he had to go to the dentist even though he doesn't have dental insurance (side note: it's completely stupid BYU-Idaho provides health insurance but does NOT include dental). He went the Saturday after Thanksgiving because that's when a dental office was finally open and had the tooth pulled- ouch! They gave him antibiotics and pain meds and he rested for the next three days. It was bad. It's been two weeks and he's finally starting to feel better. We're very grateful for Mike's mom who help us pay for the procedure and probably saved Mike's life...honestly.
Well...that's everything. A relatively normal and boring year, but that's life!
Thanks for reading!
The Stark Family
Great letter Sissy! You guys have had quite the year despite the challenges. I admire yours and Mike's perseverance in reaching your goals and staying true to your faith. Love you guys tons and can't wait to be together soon!!
ReplyDelete