It was another year to remember. Challenging. Emotional. Up and down.
It started off normal enough. Which is saying something, considering 2+ years of ongoing pandemic at the time. January brought much cold weather and snow, but the kids of course enjoyed this. Andy and Liam also both played basketball for the first time, and after years of watching soccer whilst being blasted with arctic winds on the sidelines, mom and dad started to love this indoor sport.
In April, life took a turn as we started shopping for a home closer to Mary Lou and Don, and closer to the kids’ school. By mid-May we had ourselves a mid-century home in need of a large renovation. It is in a fantastic location, but even as we write this Christmas update, we haven't moved and we’ve yet to start work…
As summer was upon us, we were able to enjoy the new home’s pool while we started meeting with contractors and Marshall's architect friend, Christopher. But if you recall, supply chain delays were rampant, and builders were over-booked. All things considered, by mid-July we were moving quickly toward construction, but then double disaster struck. In one weekend, Aimee took a tumble on her mountain bike, suffering a concussion, a gash on her forehead and other abrasions. And then two days later, Don suffered a mysterious illness that took the wind out of our sails. His condition quickly degraded, and within 3 weeks Don was gone. It was a gut-wrenching time for us all, and we are still grieving.
For a minute, we put the new home back on the market. But then through prayer, we changed our minds and got back to work. As of this writing, it is still uncertain whether we’ll be sending out “We’ve Moved” notices in the coming year. But we’re holding to the idea loosely and hoping for the best.
A couple weeks after the funeral, we were able to return to Beaver Lake once again with the Andersen’s. It was a much needed distraction, and enjoyable as ever. Thank you to Darrin and Jill and their kids for their generosity!
Back at home, school was well underway. Andy had worked hard all summer and earned himself a starting spot as left back on the varsity soccer team. Liam and a couple of his sixth grade buddies anchored the Middle School team. Both Andy and Liam played alongside Ukrainian refugees who made a huge impact on the teams. The varsity team won regionals but lost a heartbreaker in the state tournament to a local rival.
In October, Impact Foundation held their annual staff retreat, this time in Bermuda. Despite our determination to redeem the disaster that was Puerto Vallarta in 2021, Aimee went without Marshall this time. But the team was blessed to be able to gather amidst such beauty, and with great weather too. Remember they rarely see each other as they are spread all over the country.
A week later, all of us Minnich’s made the trek to West Point to watch the Black Knights defeat Colgate. Andre did not get to play due to concussion protocol, but it was great to see him anyway, and it was a fantastic time to see the fall foliage of West Point. As of this writing, Andre has been cleared to enter the NFL draft next spring. Aimee and Reagan and Mary Lou also stayed a couple days longer in NYC to see Lion King on Broadway.
November brought the Jimmy-and-Kat wedding in Topeka, and then a couple weeks later we Minnich’s went back to Florida for Thanksgiving. It was bittersweet, being there without Don, but once again the warmer weather and sunshine was rejuvenating. And, we finally baptized Reagan! (the boys were baptized in the Pacific off of Mission Beach, San Diego in 2017)
We would be remiss not to mention that our dog Sally grew up in 2022 and is now a 65 lb lovable adult puppy. She is often the highlight of our days, as evidenced by how she populates our photos from the year!
Challenging. Emotional. Up and down. 2022 had it all. Join us in noticing and thanking God for the many blessings in our lives.
-Marshall, Aimee, Andy, Liam & Reagan
P.S. Join us also in remembering Don
