Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2000 by Jimmy & Sharla (Chittick) Trainor Hi Guys! Wow! We have finally gotten our acts together! Since school just got out, I feel like I can breathe again for the first time since the week before the wedding. I have been meaning to get this out to you forever. Jimmy and I would like to think that this would be the busiest year we will ever have. Is that the way all first years of marriage go? We never, in our wildest dreams, thought it would take us this long to get pictures and letters out! Our intention was to have them finished by Christmas; hence the enclosed picture indicates “Holiday Season.” Needless to say, this letter was supposed to be our 2000 New Year letter, but it has turned into a mid-2001 update. What the heck! Here goes the Trainor update: The year 2000 will forever be a memorable year for the Trainor family! Though we will remember it for the joy of our marriage, there were many other emotional landmarks that will always linger… In the spring of 2000, Sage began his last “semester” of preschool and loved every minute of it. He spent three half-days per week at “Miss Kimmie’s Adventure Club” and the other two half-days at North Idaho College’s preschool while Sharla worked. Also, in the spring of 2000, Sharla started her first full-time semester in January, teaching at North Idaho College, and also loved every minute of it. The semester was successful and has developed into the career of which she has always dreamed. She is now teaching a full load of history classes (World History and Native American History) and hopes to continue doing so well into the future. Jimmy’s company, Flytrap Productions, really took off this year. He has had the opportunity to express his creativity using computer software and building some of the most incredible web sites you have ever seen! You can check out his site at www.flytrapproductions.com! We are currently in the process of putting wedding photos up on a site too, so bookmark: www.flytrapproductions.com/wedding.html. It should be ready sometime this summer. In addition to work, Jimmy is also playing on three softball teams this year and looks forward to more fantasy football in the fall (Sharla loves competing in fantasy football also, and does quite well too—last season, she was in the top 1% in the nation!). We lost two of our greyhounds (Dolly and Joe) in February and March of 2000, family members to Jimmy for over eight years. Fancy was an only dog for the majority of the year, until we adopted a new greyhound, Dusty, in October. He has more energy than the other greyhounds, so it has taken a little adjustment on our part. March of 2000 was also memorable because of our engagement and the endless effort of planning a unique medieval wedding. We were emotionally overwhelmed by the number of loved ones who took time out of their busy summer schedules to join us for that blessed event. When the evening was over, we really felt we had not been able to have a meaningful conversation with any one person; yet, we were humbled by the idea that all of the people who meant so much to us were gathered in that one place just for us. Sage was equally as enthusiastic about the wedding. He would announce throughout the year, that he was getting married; he even invited people to the wedding at his own discretion. Since the wedding, he has felt more security and fulfillment than he has known his entire life. We are now a family and he exhibits an understanding of the many benefits that fact entails. He is now calling Jimmy “Daddy.” Prior to the wedding festivities of 2000, Grandma Chittick (GG) passed away. We were all filled with mixed emotions as we realized that the matriarch of our family was no longer here to lead the way. She had suffered the loss of her ability to read, walk, and speak, so we knew that her passing was a great relief. She was ready to join her husband and watch over us from a new world of peace. Grandma and Grandpa Monachello were able to attend the wedding; in fact, Grandpa was BEST MAN! Since that time, they have both suffered with their health. Grandpa passed away in January, 2001, and Grandma’s health is deteriorating. We will always cherish the wonderful Christmas of 2000, as it was with them, feasting, opening gifts, and sharing stories. Those moments are precious, and we realize that now more than ever. Within days of the wedding, Sharla was back to teaching a full year-long schedule at the college, Jimmy was hard at work building corporate web sites, and Sage started Kindergarten. We had decided to put Sage in a private school to closer monitor his progress and provide a smaller learning environment…we found a “dream come true” school. It is called Mountain View Elementary School and his teacher, “Mrs. C,” takes only 7 children each year. Sage is reading, writing, flying through elementary math problems, and very advanced in his logical thinking and reasoning. He loves the interaction with the other kids and appreciates the “family” environment he will be in until he is 11 years old. By that time, we hope to have found something similar for the middle school years. This past year, his obsessions include snowboarding, riding his bike, and building things! He is never board, that’s for sure! Eldon and Carlene, and Rose are all enjoying their retirement. Even though their children are grown and out of the house, it seems they spend the majority of their time with all of us…we keep them busy, slightly stressed out, and maybe even young. Ours was not the only family wedding this past year. We all traveled to Phoenix to attend Denny and Ranasha’s wedding in September 2000. The weather was extremely hot (Sage and Jimmy loved playing in the pool!), but the ceremony and fellowship with family (new and old) was fantastic. Getting to know Ranasha’s family was very special. We are very fortunate to have Ranasha in our family. Jimmy’s brother, Mike, has moved to Seattle and is pursuing his music career in a more accommodating environment than he had on this side of the mountains. Though we miss him greatly, we do get the opportunity to spend most holidays with him; and we know that the Seattle area is a much more promising place for him in attracting attention to his music. Shawna and Brad have been busy with their toddler, Ally. She is beautiful and funny…Sage loves having a cousin and can’t wait until she is a little bit bigger, so he can “show her the ropes.” We just love having another “grandchild” in the family! Quilene and Egan became engaged in November 2000, so the family has another wedding coming up! We are very excited to officially welcome Egan into the family—he has unofficially been with us for a long time! Though they were not here for Christmas this past year, we did have the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with them on the Oregon Coast. Well, this should be a good indicator to you that we have been busier than ever this year!!! In sharing with you, we hope to eventually hear from you in return. Most of all, we want to wish you the best for the year. May you feel loved every day and know that you are in our thoughts and hearts always. Love, Jimmy, Sharla, and Sage