Big Moments of 2015

A tradition that I started with my last blog, Out Here in Pinon, was that I would at some point reflect upon the last year and talk about the moments that were really big and important to our family.  The best time to do this of course is January but there are a few years, like this year, that it doesn't happen for awhile.

January

We had decided to look for jobs outside of Pinon late December due to health concerns that we had for our youngest boy.  It did not make sense for us to be living so far away from medical care.  We started applying for jobs all over the nation and we got a nibble in Memphis, Tennessee from a company called Green Dot.

February

Pamela and I traveled to Memphis for the first time.  We stayed on Beale Street.  Since the city was mostly shut down due to weather we were not able to do any actual interviewing but we were able to have a great time on Beale even though it was too cold and icy for the locals.  Pamela and I had some good laughs at how the people in the city could not deal with winter weather.

March

I took my Education Professions students to the state competition and conference where we had a great time and learned a lot.  JD Begay qualified for Nationals for the second year in a row!

Xander was put on an IEP and started preschool.  I loved being able to walk him to his classroom every morning and getting to see him interact with other children his age.

Pamela got her new job for Green Dot Public Schools during this month.

April

JD Begay, her mother, and I all traveled to Washington DC for the national competition!  It was such a great experience for all of us.  Pamela and I are still so proud of her!

I was hired as an ESL teacher for Treadwell Elementary School in Memphis.  I was very excited to be doing something extremely different from anything I had previously done in my career.

May

Pamela was among many of the staff members who were honored by the 8th graders during their promotional ceremony.  It was a very special and inspirational moment.  She truly impacted that community for the better.  I am so proud to be her husband and to have gotten the opportunity to see the love that her students have for her.

Xander and his classmates went on a field trip.  It was a lot of fun!  We went to the Navajo Nation Zoo.

June

With the school year over we packed up our belongings and headed out for Memphis full of excitement and enthusiasm for our next big adventure!  The road trip was full of challenges but we made it!

July

I was miserable during this month due to the humidity, I often remarked that I was a prisoner inside my own body.  I was also very bored.  I wanted to do many things but did not have the energy due to the heat.  I couldn't wait to get back to work.

August

The new school year started and Pamela got off to a great start with her students and parents.  My school year started off slow because I needed to gather data and identify my students.

Xander joined a new preschool class.  He became an Owlet at Chimney Rock Elementary.  The staff there have truly helped him a ton.  He has grown so much as a result of their work.  We are truly grateful for his progression.

October

Our family took a vacation during the Fall Break.  We had a blast in Florida.  Xander loved Sea World so much that for days that was almost the only thing he ever said.  The boys enjoyed the water park and the beach.  Xander also really liked the plane museum that we went to.

November

We met my parents for Thanksgiving in East Tennessee.  We had a great time with them and made some good memories.  Pamela and my father continued their feud over who would pay for what.  After Thanksgiving we went shopping for Black Friday and then celebrated an early Christmas with the boys.

December

Pamela went to Dallas for the job fair that would again change our lives.  We also had our first and last Christmas in Memphis.

2016 - Texas here we come.  Our story will continue in Outlaws of Gun Barrel City @blogspot.com