Harmony Cove: Gift 31

Memories.

The kids wanted to make a "Year End Review" letter instead of doing the Reflections Jar all year. So here is my first attempt at that request.

YEAR END REVIEW-2018

On NYE 2017, I told Jake that 2018 was going to be a BIG year for the Arnetts. Little did I know how accurate I would be.

The first thing the kids want me to include is we started 2018 with 2 dogs, a dog and a puppy to be exact.

Then on January 12, I became aware of BOTH my kids started to have physical signs of puberty.

In February, Owen participated in the Reality U put on by his school. Each 8th grade student finds out what is involved in living an adult life. From the experience, the students were to do a report on where they wanted to go to college to begin this adult life. Owen informed us his dream school was WSU. But not Wichita State University, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. He had a powerpoint presentation that showed costs of out-of-state tuition, room and board, extra curricular activities, even outdoor activities that could be done for fun in Washington.

In March, Jake went to North Carolina to participate as an oral boards examiner for the ABA. This was a pivotal trip, as Jake was dealing with lots of stress from his job at the same time physicians at the exam were offering him alternative opportunities. When he returned we had a serious talk about the locations we would think about. By the end of the 2 weeks that followed, we had settled on the state of Washington.

The end of April had me and Jake interviewing for a job in Olympia and Spokane. The Olympia one offered Jake a position by the time we got back to Kansas on April 27, but we were waiting to hear from Spokane. Either way, it looked like that would be our new home state.

April 28 started less exciting, Jake's mom passed away. It was a blessing from God, we never told her we were thinking of moving and she wasn't in too much pain.

By the end of May, the kids were promoted from Middle School (Owen) and Elementary School (Allie), we held a memorial service for Joanie in Salina with family and friends, Jake and Owen went to Washington DC and NYC on an 8th grade trip.

June was just as eventful. We all took a trip to Spokane to go house hunting, we found the one we wanted and made an offer. The family went on a white water rafting trip down the Spokane River. Allie and I attended our last Re-Wired Middle School Camp for Newspring Church. Allie had a pool party with her friends for her half birthday. We encouraged Jake's dad to sell his house too and move to Spokane with us. I began the process of packing and purging all of our stuff.

July was more of the same, packing/house showing. The whole family went to Oklahoma to see the Baker's 4th Bash.

August had so many memories! We got the house in Spokane, still hadn't sold the Wichita home. The movers were delayed a few weeks. The kids and I were in a car accident, the day before we were to drive to Spokane. We moved and I got mostly unpacked before Jake joined us on the 26th! We sold the Wichita house. The kids got enrolled in new schools, Lewis and Clark High School (Owen) and Hutton Elementary (Allie).

September was less busy, but just as memorable.

October my sister came to visit. We are trying to convince her to move here next summer, I think it worked! First year for us not hosting the "Family Halloween Party", but we attended a party. It was just as fun. Especially since the Red Sox were playing in the World Series and the party was showing it on TV.

November we hosted Thanksgiving with my Uncle Dan and Aunt Di from Kennewick, WA. On Black Friday Weekend, I got to go and pick out new washer and dryer. We had been without a working washing machine for several weeks.