2010: A Year In Review

Here is a review of 2010, Skidmore style. I searched through my pictures to find some of the best, and this is what I came up with. There are a few months without pictures.....this is due to me not being very faithful in picking up my camera. 

January:
This just so happens to be one of those months without pictures! There are no family birthdays and no special holidays, therefore I didn't take any pictures....not one!
Well, even if there was no reason for me to pull out my camera, important decisions were made this month. In January I decided, on the advice of my doctors and parents, to start weening myself off my medicine. Great way to start 2010!

February:

In February, our Thursday Sister's Bible study held a 'dress night'. It was a total girly night, filled with trying on lots and lots of pretty dresses. My wonderful Mother had a love-themed study prepared for us, in honor of valentines day. In this picture we are both wearing on Mother's wedding dress!

 March:

Please don't let this picture worry you! :) I celebrated my 21st birthday shopping in a nearby city with my Grandfather and Mother. Later that evening we met up with the rest of my family for dinner at my favorite restaurant! This picture was taken as a joke for my 21st birthday, with a bottle of ROOT BEER! I promise!

I do believe March is also the month (please correct me if I'm wrong, Wray) that my brother purchased his new motorcycle!

 April:

On Maundy Thursday, my Mom organized a Bible Marathon. A group of about 15 people met at our house, and read through the 4 gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We ended the event, that lasted until about 4:30am, by taking Holy Communion. It was a great way to start the Easter Weekend, and everyone agreed that is should become a yearly tradition. My mom always had the greatest ideas!

My Niece and Nephews received this little John Deer Gator as a Easter gift from our Grandfather. Not really a significant event, but I love this picture and had to include it :)

May:

On May 30th, at 7:26am, my Sister and her husband welcomed their 4th child into the world! Leanna Rose has been such a special blessing for our entire family.

 June:

There are many pictures from June on my computer, but I thought this one pretty much summed up the 'going-ons' around here. This little girl was so happy to have a baby sister, and it was hard to convince her to not hold her 24/7 :)

July:

On July 17th, My Mom's side of the family held its annual family reunion at a local State Park. My mom's cousin was serving over seas at the time, hence the patriotic theme and "We Miss You" sign.

August and September:
August started out just like any other month, but sent my family for a horrifying ride when on the morning of the 8th, at approximately 7:50am, my Mom suffered a really bad stroke while getting ready for church. At first it appeared as though she may pull through when the tests in the ER started coming back with a little hope attached. However, a little over 24 hours later, my family and our two pastors stood around her bed saying our goodbyes. Mom joined Jesus in Heaven on 8/9/10 at 1:21pm.

When I think about those two days, some parts are still so vivid; almost like it just happened yesterday. I remember laying my head down on her chest, and collapsing into the chair behind me when I heard her final heart beat. I remember my brother helping we walk back to the waiting room after we left Mom's room for the last time, and the sympathetic glances from the nurses in the hall ways. I remember the first phone call I made to my cousin, Sarah, letting her know that Mom's battle was over. I remember the hospital chaplain who, in those few hours right after mom's death, sat with me on the hospital floor helping me work through initial trauma of it all. She was an elderly lady and by the time we were done I had to help her up off the floor because she had sat there with me so long.

The next month and a half all seem like a blur. After the few days of Mom's viewing and funeral my mind goes totally blank. I can't tell you what I did to occupy my time in August, and September is worse. They are like blank pages in the year of 2010.


October:

In October, 11 members from my family went to the Outer Banks for vacation. We had considered cancelling the trip, but after thinking about it, we realized that Mom would have wanted us to go. We had a great week, and it ended up being just what we needed. Time away from home and familiar things was very therapeutic. 

November:

Our Thursday Sisters Bible Study celebrated its One year anniversary! This is a Bible Study that my Mom and I started, and it ended up being a very special evening.

We spent Thanksgiving at my cousins apartment, and it was so nice to be around family. I've realized that when you lose someone so close to you, the best medicine is family! The beautiful lady in the middle is my Grandma Carol. She and my sister are the closest things I have to a Mom. She is such a special lady!

The day after Thanksgiving, my cousin Sarah and I layed around in our PJs watching a marathon of What Not To Wear, and laughing at all our crazy friend who were Black Friday shopping :) The following day we went to a city about an hour from my house and spent the day Christmas shopping.....minus all the black friday craziness :)

That week was the start of advent, and I tried to make it as normal as possible for my family. I don't think I succeeded as well as I had hoped, but was happy that I got it as far as I did without Mom.

December:

We also tried to keep Christmas as normal as possible, and I think we did a pretty good job. However, it was obviously not quite the same, and I think we all felt Mom's absence. Theres just something about a mother's touch that makes life more special.

We celebrated New Years with a party at our house. My brother and I had some friends over, and we spent the evening having fun, goofing off, and eating :)

This is some of the 'fun' I mentioned above. Wray and Luke are dancing to the party music.....there are some videos of this, but I thought I'd spare you :)

 2011:
So, what does 2011 look like for my household? Craziness, I'm sure. After Mom passed away, we went from being a family living together, to three adults headed in three totally different directions. Nothing has been  decided for sure yet, so I'll save details for a later post, but know that some major changes will be taking place in this Skidmore family in 2011.


Blessings to you all for the coming year! May you remember to turn your heart to Jesus and savor every moment you have with family......our time in this life is not guaranteed.