Rose, Bud, and Thorn

Rose: The reminder of what should be most important in our lives and the revelation that too often that which was negative or stressful was not nearly as important as we thought. Bud: Living life and taking time to sincerely enjoy what I'd taken for granted far too often for far too long. Thorn: Time away from friends and family, and the guilt that came from realizing that too often priorities wer...

Rose: I got married! We were able to have our wedding (mostly) as planned. It was almost canceled multiple times but it wasn't and everything was absolutely perfect! Bud:  I will be the Matron of Honor in two of my best friends weddings in 2021. Thorn: COVID-19, I miss seeing my family who lives all over the country. Many of my family members were unable to attend my wedding. At least they wer...

Rose: My niece, Charlotte, was born healthy and happy on September 18, 2020.  No matter how dark the situation, the sun will always shine after, and she is most definitely the sunshine after the darkness of a Covid-19 year.  There is nothing like a baby to remind the world that life always goes on. Bud: I'm hoping that my elderly parents will receive the vaccine soon.  All I really want to do is hu...

Rose: Those closest to me stayed healthy and safe during the 2020 year! Bud: I am looking forward to moments of laughter as we progress through this year.  Maybe something new and exciting will occur - fingers crossed! Thorn: Not getting to see my friends, family, students, and colleagues became my thorn of 2020.  It broke my heart that I couldn't spend time with my family out of state.  Howeve...

Rose: I always say that I have 1400 + kids in my NAI Family, but my husband and I made an exciting decision to pursue adoption to grow our personal family. We are anxious about the steps to follow, but confident in the process and know that "Baby Ewing" is out there waiting for us...and they will be a Tiger for life! Bud: I am looking forward to learning from 2020, prioritizing the important thin...

Rose: I got some time to remodel my room. Bud: Tournaments reopening and traveling. Thorn: Shutting down my gym and club.

Rose: Getting to be with my friends before lockdowns, becoming close with my best friends, watching my niece grow up. Bud: Hopefully there will be some sort of normalcy, and people will start to take the pandemic seriously. Thorn: Watching people still go out, party, and be reckless while I’ve not hung out with my friends inside since March of 2020....

Rose: Becoming close with my family; with my brother being sent home from college and my dad being sent home from work at the start of the pandemic, 2020 allowed for us to be together as a family for longer than two months at a time for the first time in a while.  We watched family movies and brought back the family game night, it was a lot of fun! Bud: Getting a chance to travel again; when I get...

Rose: My family and I got a lake house before the lockdown. The lake house has been my escape place through this hectic time. I love doing activities there such as water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, etc. with my family. Volunteering has also helped me get through this pandemic too. Bud: I can't wait to travel again and for summer to be here. I hope everything works out with the vaccine, so we can go...

Rose: My rose was getting to spend quality time with my family. Bud: My bud is being able to go back to school and see friends. Thorn: My thorn was not being able to play volleyball.

Rose: Togetherness!  I enjoyed being able to spend time enjoying time with my husband, Kyle, and my 3-year-old daughters, Adelaide and Hazel.  Working from home meant less time commuting for my husband and more time to enjoy the silliness of 3-year-olds.  It's not often that you get so much time to just BE - so I did not take that for granted! Bud: Like most people, I am hopeful that normal c...

Rose: My rose for 2020 was the chance to have more free time and explore some activities and hobbies that I would not have without the pandemic. This allowed me to learn more about myself, how I work, and what I like. Bud: I'm looking forward to what I am going to be able to learn from my School Board Representative position and my Fellowship with the World Affairs Council. I am so excited to s...

Rose: Learning a lot more technology. Bud: I can not wait to travel again. Thorn: Being isolated in my house alone for so long.