2009

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were ringing in the year 2000 with worries of the new millennium followed by the tragedy of 2001 and the fear we were recovering from as we rang in 2002. So here we are, preparing for 2009 and the inauguration of the United States first African American President and increasing fear over the state of our economy. It seems as the decade is almost to an end, the decade ’00 will be regarded as one of constant struggle. Personally I am looking forward to the next decade ’10 where I will be watching Kourtney graduate high school (Class of ’11) and begin the next phase of her life, College. I anticipate that I will have renewed sense of hope as she earns her degree and has the opportunity to make a difference in this world. Emily will be graduating in ’15 and for her I anticipate a world much different than the one we are in now. As for myself, I anticipate finishing this decade with my Associates degree in Business Administration (May ’09) and expect that by 2012 I will complete my Bachelors in Management. Nick is also planning on going back to school, so perhaps the decade ’10 will be one of continuing education for the Motterns.

Our Daughters

Both the girls are quite accomplished in school by staying on the honor roll and participating in various school activities. Kourtney is now in 10th grade. She attempted to run for class president this year, however lost by 3 votes to the president of last year’s class. She recovered fast from that disappointment and focused on her memberships to FFA (Future Farmers of America) Key Club (Volunteer Club) and Forensics (Speech/Public Speaking Club) and Planet (Save the Earth Club). She also has been busy going to physical therapy for her knee that she had surgery on this past year. That has been pretty intense for her, but she is doing well and has received clearance to begin the schools bowling league. Her physical therapy should wrap up some time in January and just in time for her to begin Softball training season. Nick and I cannot wait to see her on the field again this spring, and will not sit through a game without slightly holding our breath that we never have to go through another recovery from an injury of one our girls. Speaking of holding our breaths, Kourtney acquired her permit for driving. It is a good thing that Kourtney was blessed with such a calm, cool and collected father who has been very good at teaching her the rules of the road. Granted, Kourtney was driving stick shift at the age of 11, motoring around a Chevy Sprint on the Mottern’s property for quite a few years. From go-karts and four wheelers and “field beater” cars, she has gained a lot of experience in driving off road. Unfortunately, drivers education in school doesn’t teach them what the actual experience of driving on a paved surface is going to be like with other vehicles heading toward you. So Nick has taken on the job of “driving coach” and I have resolved myself as passenger since I am very clear on my tendency to overreact and do not want to shake Kourtney’s confidence as a driver. If you have any good tips for Kourtney, feel free to post a comment for her.

Emily is now in 6th grade. This was the year she went from Mahoning Cooper Elementary where several generations before her attended elementary school, to the Danville Area Middle School. I held my breath as she started this new school which combines 3 other elementary schools into one. Many children have a hard time making the transition, but Emily was ready. I am confident that her participation in Little League Softball made the transition much easier for her since it enabled her to get to know a lot of girls from the other elementary schools before she got to the Middle school. This was ideal for Kourtney as well, both for Middle school and High school. Emily is also focused on her religious education and is looking forward to receiving Confirmation in 2011.


The Year in Review

So, I managed to blog up until August, when Kourtney started her physical therapy and I began my Fall semester of college. This past fall was the most challenging semester yet, as I tackled Algebra again. Thank God for my dad, Bruce who tutored me through the class and helped me get a B in the class. I also thank God that my girls have MUCH better math skills than I do. I will begin 2009 tackling Statistics, big fun! Nick begins 2009 training for his certification in welding, which will make him more marketable should the economy turn around and offer more jobs. For now he starts his 16th year at Bloomsburg Carpet Industries. He has job security and the BCI has reassured it’s employees that they have not felt the effects of the slow economy as of yet…good news.

There has only been room left for the two other facets of our life, family and friends.
Mom (Becky), Dad (Bruce) and Dawn (sister) and Dave (brother-in-law) are all doing well. Dawn will begin 2009 starting school again, full time, to launch a new career in Ultrasound technology or something like that. Mom and Dad are making plans for a trip to Rome in celebration of Dad becoming Catholic. After 39 years of marriage, he finally has received the “calling” to join the Catholic church, thanks to a wonderful priest named Father Don. Mom is excited to finally have company to attend church weekly.

As for our friends, our circle of grows surrounding softball. This year, Nick decided to coach ASA softball and we became great friends with the Fritzs’. We now spend our available free time hanging out with the Drumheller and Fritz families. We all have daughters in and around the same ages which makes our get togethers a lot of fun. Nick was thrilled when Tony Fritz asked him to go on a Bear hunt this past November. Although they did not get a bear, Nick has several hours worth of stories to tell about the experience. It seems he and Tony have a tendency to create these great experiences to share with everyone, including the stories of taking their daughters out hunting as well. Yes, Emily has now found a “soul sister” in Tony’s younger daughter, Leslie. They are two peas in a pod when it comes to their shared interests.

For now, to end this, I will leave you with a quote from Ann Landers:
“ Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world. “

To all of you who took the time to read this..know “We love you.” “ We love you.”