It is also the time when we catch you up with all the family tales and doings.
Except that this year we apparently weren't really supposed to be doing anything other than staying home and zooming, which although zooming sounds like it would be a fun physical activity, it actually is rather sedentary and horrid.
This meme pretty much sums up how crazy this world has gotten.
Let me reassure you, that we are most definitely NOT smoking weed, nor anything else. The family gathering part...I neither confirm nor deny.
Nonetheless, despite COVID, life goes on, and we tried to make it go on as well as possible while staying mentally and physically healthy.
We did go on a lot of hikes this year, including one memorable time when certain family members who shall remain nameless fell into the river while trying to cross over on a log. Then there was that other time when we narrowly escaped certain death when we barely missed (okay missed by like 50 yards) a giant tree falling right across the path in front of us on an extraordinarily windy day. We all learned that if a tree falls in a forest, and someone is around to hear it, it makes a LOUD sound.
In other news this year....
Not to brag or anything, (okay....braggadocio on) but she graduated with a 3.8 GPA and was the sole Academic All-Star Nominee for her school. She had been planning to attend college in the fall, but crazy covid conundrums prompted an 11th-hour college withdrawal, and we feel very blessed that she is now planning to matriculate at the Franciscan University of Steubenville beginning in January where she will study communications. In the meantime, she kept busy with a nanny job over the summer, then a brief stint working at a local Amish grocery store, and then another nanny job staying with family out of state in PA.
This year she turned 18, voted for the first time, and is basically just learning all about adulting as well as continuing to write and is almost finished with her 2nd novel. Yes, two novels and barely out of high school!
Greta turned 16 and is a sophomore. Not driving yet, but Mom is working up the courage to have her start driver's ed. More gray hairs coming soon to a mom's head near you. She still has PTSD from teaching Heidi to drive (no offense to Heidi). In the meantime, Greta is keeping busy with schoolwork and is fortunate to still be able to participate in things like American Heritage Girls, horseback riding lessons, volunteer work, youth group, and getting together a small group of friends to perform a short play about Esther (from the Bible), that she wrote. She still enjoys letting the creative juices flow while writing stories and this summer she took the initiative to study Italian and learned quite a bit. Buona Giornorta!
John turned 12 this year. He continues to enjoy playing chess (unfortunately, only virtually for most of this year). He also earned his blue belt in Tae Kwan Do, so we feel pretty protected around here. He knows all about weapons and things of that sort. John is a high-achiever at school and pretty much a math whiz and always gets everything right. It's kinda annoying, to be honest. Just kidding, we love John!
Elsa is 8 and learned to both read and ride a bike this year. She is very fortunate to be taking in-person ballet classes this fall and each class is the highlight of her week. She is also a member of American Heritage Girls. Drawing and art are two of her passions and she fills many pages with beautiful drawings each day. Recently, she learned the fine art of joke-telling, so frequently regales us with mirth and laughter.
Some of her favorite jokes are:
Why are sheep so annoying?
Because they are baaaaaad.
What does the ocean say?
Nothing, it just waves.
Why can't Elsa from Frozen fly a kite?
Because she will "Let it Go!"
Annika is 4 and desperately awaiting her 5th birthday when she will be able to do activities like American Heritage Girls and ballet. In the meantime, she and Elsa are BFFs, and Annika loves dancing, dolls, dress-up, and drawing. Oh, the drawing, these girls do!! Between her and Elsa, we are probably single-handedly destroying a forest somewhere. Just kidding, they only draw on recycled, sustainable, fair-trade paper, hand-harvested by little elves from the magical regenerating forests of Nepal. Ahem.
In July, we sadly and suddenly lost one of our rabbits, Lilly. RIP, Lilly. Never fear, our menagerie is still going strong because, in August, we added in Moosie. So, in case you lost track, we have 2 cats, 2 dogs, and 2 rabbits. A very balanced and symmetrical fur family if I do say so myself.
Amelia celebrated her 29th birthday for the 14th time this year. This year she became an expert at stocking up on toilet paper when it can be found for decent prices. Don't hate me, but with 5 females living in one house...well, we girls need our toilet paper. Those little 4 packs don't even last a week around here.
She is also single-handedly keeping the vitamin companies in stock by building up a stash of anti-covid supplements, such as Vitamin D, Vitamin C, quercetin, garlic, zinc, and multi-vitamins. Also stockpiling more to send with Heidi to college, which she will probably not take, but a Mom can hope! Heidi, take your vitamins!
PSA: PLEASE take your Vitamin D. And lots of it! Did you know that 80% of all COVID patients are Vitamin D deficient? And, you can't get Vitamin D from the sun in the winter if you live in a Northern climate. And, sunscreen blocks Vitamin D. So, go get your levels checked or at least take Vitamin D3. It's cheap, easily available, and so important. (Legal Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor and the above statement is not medical advice, nor constitutes the practice of medicine. But you should still listen to it, because....science!)
Amelia continues to homeschool, work for Raterlabs, and occasionally helps moms as a La Leche League Leader. Not to mention caring for the pets and the kids. Notice how she mentioned the pets before the kids. Never fear, dear children, she loves you more than the pets, except when they behave better, that is. Also, occasionally sweeping, never dusting, but always there is laundry.
She also really enjoys taking horseback riding lessons with Greta (nice mother-daughter activity) and power walking away her stress and anxiety while pounding the pavement and putting the miles on her sneaks.
Ben continues to work as an attorney at Beers Mallers, practicing mainly in municipal law. With all that is going on in the world, his services have been highly in demand as there has been lots of governmenting going on. Too much governmenting if you ask me, but no one asked me. Too bad! In his free time, Ben still plays online chess and occasionally joins Amelia on walks.
In August, we were very happy to welcome a brother-in-law to the family and celebrated the nuptials of Kay-Marie (Amelia's sister) and Shannon. Although their wedding was a bit different due to COVID, it was a very happy and joyous celebration!
Speaking of marriage, Amelia and Ben will celebrate 20 years of matrimony this December. 20 years! I can't say it's always been wedded bliss, there have plenty of ups and downs, but mostly we still like each other, so it's all good.
Truth!
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We hope you are all healthy and happy and well and have abundant blessings in 2021. We miss our friends and family that are far away and love you all!
Love,
The Bentrups (Take note, I did not put any wayward apostrophes in there! Do I get a gold star?)
