2020 - 12 Months of Unexpected Events

 New Year's Day is always a time of reflection for me, and the past 12 months definitely warrant some time to reflect. 2020 will be a year to remember and a year that was so unexpected! A year full of endless possibilities and celebrations turned into a year full of unknowns and question marks.

2020

12 months ago I was standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon so excited for the year ahead. So many exciting things were happening in 2020 and we were ready to embrace the busyness and excitement. Little did we know that our plans would change and we would be embracing safety, social distancing, virtual learning, face masks and staying at home.

As I reflect back on the last 12 months, it's been different and challenging at times. There have also been many moments of joy and excitement. Read along as I chronicle the 12 months of 2020 with the Rahns!

January

January started with what we do best, travel. We started the year at the Grand Canyon and traveled through Arizona for another few days.  Our thoughts during this time included being excited about this trip and looking forward to our next big trip in June to Paris for 10 days.

February

February was probably the most normal month of 2020. We started the month with a visit to Eagle Bank Arena for Paw Patrol Live with Leo. A fun time was had by all and Katie enjoyed imagining herself there for all of the GMU basketball games and events that would be happening there come August!

It was in February that Katie was invited to Capital Hill to participate in the DiscoverE Girls in Engineering Day. A highlight was meeting our congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. This was the first big event of the rest of Katie's senior year. A semester full of one event or activity after another. It looked exhausting to us and we couldn't wait for her to have all of the fun that laid ahead from February to June. 

March

March was the beginning of the unknown. March 3 Katie left for Hungary with 17 classmates and 3 teachers. They were flying into this "Coronavirus thing" and it hopefully wouldn't be that bad. It was only in Europe and we had no big fear that it would come to the United States. 

We heard it was in the US now and maybe we should get some toilet paper and paper towels...why? I had no idea, but I followed what the masses were doing.

Katie is still in Europe and we now have a global pandemic! Hmmmm....luckily they were changing their travel plans and were due home on March 12. 

Katie leaves Budapest in 6 hours and Trump announces travel from Europe is going to be suspended. Coronavirus was in the US now, hopefully not that big of a deal. Let's just get Katie home!

March 12 - we wake up to a 5:00 am phone call. Katie was in Germany for a 5 hour layover...was something wrong with her? Nope...Wayde was letting us know that school was closed for the next 2 weeks. What? Why? Let's just get Katie home on US soil and in my car...quick!!

She arrived! Now to quarantine for 2 weeks because she was coming in from Europe. We still don't fully understand this Coronavirus, and it appears to be pretty bad. Things are getting a little scary.

Carleigh turned 20 in March. We were in a stay at home order and we had no idea how contagious Covid was. Her celebration with friends was canceled. The concert she was going to on her birthday weekend canceled. And her family party turned into a Zoom call.

At the end of March, all educators in LCPS were introduced to Google Meet. This would be our new classrooms for the foreseeable future. We had no idea how long that time would last.

April

April brought an announcement that school would remain virtual for the rest of the year. The term Distance Learning became a household phrase and would become something that we would all have to get comfortable with, but only until June.

This was also the month when a stay at home order was issued and we were encouraged to not travel beyond our homes and neccessary errands. We all became very adept at Zoom and family "conference calls." 

Leo and Uncle Don began having story time calls and playing games.

The West side of the family began themed happy hours - Hats and Jokes was the first.

With the shortage of TP, wipes and other various items - we resorted to bartering for what we needed!

Face masks? Those are for hospitals. They said we should wear them, so we found a few winter scarves to wrap around our mouth and nose.

Easter was a quiet celebration this year. No big family get togethers.

Carleigh found creative ways to relax and try to find joy in being home instead of in her apartment at UMW with her friends,finishing her sophomore year of college.

Another Uncle Don and Leo challenge surfaced - Leo would send a picture and Uncle Don would have to recreate it!

May

May started quietly as we began to increase our bubble to safely include a few other family members. 

This was also the month that we had to say goodbye to Junior. He had been with us for about 9 years and it was a tough goodbye, especially during this time.

2 weeks later, a facebook post appeared....

Sonny came to visit on Mother's Day and didn't leave. He quickly became a welcome addition to fill the hole in our family that was left from Junior.

Mother's Day was a little different this year. We had a quiet celebration at home and a quick visit with my mom.

lots of neighborhood walks

June

June was Katie's month. So many events planned and all of them cancelled. Luckily, at the last minute they decided to have a socially distanced in-person graduation ceremony. It was different and still very special.

We managed to have a small get together to celebrate Katie!

Our first big outdoor adventure and we ventured to a local brewery and met up with some friends.

Katie turned 18 in June and though she didn't have the second semester she expected, and had to cancel her graduation trip to Paris, she remained optimistic that fall would arrive and she'd be off to a great new start at GMU.

July

In July we did find a way to escape to Emerald Isle, North Carolina for a week. We secluded ourselves in a cute, little beach house and didn't venture anywhere. We enjoyed a lot of beach time and more togetherness in a different location.

August

August would be the beginning of our "Empty Nest," and for how long was the question?

Carleigh was able to find a cute off-campus apartment and move in with 2 friends. Off-campus means that she could go down to Fredericksburg before the campus officially opened. She was free!!!

Katie moved into her dorm at GMU - a double room, turned into a single room. She would make a few friends and have all of her classes virtual. First semester of college live from her dorm room.

The empty nest has begun!

September

The new school year started and so did virtual meetings and distance learning!

My friends, colleagues and team. The last time we were together in the same room was February, 2020.

Sonny helps Don teach!

We had a nice empty nest adventure and went canoeing for the morning. It was a great little getaway for a few hours!

A socially distant visit to Fredericksburg

Mom turns 75 and a small family celebration.

October

October came and we were beginning to realize that distance learning, face masks, 6 feet apart, no hugs and no traveling was not ending any time soon.

Family face time calls became the norm and we found ways to make them fun.

Sonny definitely enjoyed having someone around all of the time and loved his perch in Carleigh's window.

still helping Don teach

At the end of October, Don and I finally took a two night trip to Shenandoah National Park. This trip was twice canceled, twice rescheduled due to Covid and finally happened in October.

Halloween weekend came and was very different from previous years!

November

November started with the much anticipated election day. This was the first major election that the girls were able to participate in.

Thanksgiving was a time to double check everyone's health and make adjustments to how we celebrated. Bubba stayed in Pennsylvania and Chrissy joined us on Zoom from her apartment.

Definitely a different year.

December

The holiday season is always a highlight for us - so many fun things happening and events and traditions. This year was a lot different than we would have predicted and we found ways to still get together and share and love.

a snowstorm helped bring some joy to the season!

January, 2021

This New Year's day was a lot different than the one we celebrated 12 months ago. 

Though it is different and we are still in this place of unknowns, I truly believe there is light at the end of this tunnel. I feel blessed that my family is healthy, Don and I are all able to continue with our jobs and the girls can continue their classes. We miss traveling and know that we'll have that opportunity again...hopefully this summer. 

As we move into 2021, I am going to embrace the same word that I've been using the past year. I am going to remain OPTIMISTIC that things will turn around and we will all be hugging, enjoy eating in restaurants and gathering together soon. What does soon look like? I wish I knew, and until "soon" arrives, I'll remain vigilant, wash my hands, wear my mask and maintain my 6 ft distance.

Here's to 2021 and hopes that the Rahns can continue find ways to celebrate Seldom a Dull Moment!