Dec 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
Another year come and gone, filled with happiness, blessings and so much to be thankful for! We have stayed plenty busy and made some great memories. Marko and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary this month; rather good for wedding at 17.5 and 19 years old.
Marko has now been with MTS as IT Specialist for a year this past August. He is still loving his job, which is something so few seem to be able to say. He has enjoyed getting to travel this year for work. He was able to visit many places he had never been before; Chicago, Dallas, Boston and others. He also has earned some new IT certifications in different areas like security all of which are WAY over my head. The bonus side of him having an “office job” rather than his own
business, he now has some great work buddies. Previously, he was mostly antisocial other than a fellow manager of mine from BK who he became good friends with. It is neat watching the social side of Marko... don't worry Garbear, you still hold your place <3
I continue to work third shift for the answering service and my crossing guard job for the second year. I also volunteer at both the city school and DTD School 34 days a week. Last school year I was on 4 committees at the kids' school in addition to volunteering for all the school special events. I had to resign all but one committee this August when both kidlets transferred. I am still on the Sheffield Hospitality Committee and continue to volunteer weekly. I also have been busy helping a former customer from Burger King with house cleaning weekly. I coached soccer and basketball this year on the church league, in addition to joining the 1st3rd grade Children's ministry team at church. It keeps me plenty busy, and I enjoy staying busy.
Jayna is 8.5 and having a year of change and challenges and now some progress. She struggled a lot academically last school year and the school was unable to devise a plan to help her. We were able in the past year to get one diagnosis, convergence insufficiency and she starts vision therapy this month for that. We are in the lengthy process of an official dyslexia diagnosis. Thankfully amongst the lack of answers and frustrations, we did find a puzzle piece. In August
Jayna started her new school, Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy. They even have a dyslexia program, something we weren't able to find anywhere else. But best of all, she loves it, adores her teacher and is happy there. We are very hopeful that she will have great progress this year. She is absolutely loving the writing program, Writer's Workshop and is always writing stories, huge
difference from a year ago. Away from school, Jayna played basketball, took swim lessons, played soccer and joined the cross country and gymnastics team at her new school... most of which she didn't actual enjoy but she was forced to obey her mom's rules of you start it, you finish it.... this child likely wasn't created for team sports... She also is in Adventurer Club, which is like a coed girl/boy scout with a Christian foundation. She remains a great mix of girly fashionista, tree climbing, pull up performing tomboy who loves anything artsy too. She performed her Hula Hoop abilities in the school talent show and was pleased to do 12 pull ups at the Marines exhibit this fall... yes obviously the spot light is more her enjoyable comfort zone as opposed to sports, although artsy stuff takes the cake.
Anthony is now nearing the double digits and will be 10 years old on Feb. 28, since it isn't a leap year. He loves sports. He played basketball, football, cross country and will play soccer in the spring. Anything active he wants to be in. He ran a one mile Turkey Trot with a 7min 52 sec time. Of course, typical for kids he can certainly also be very into his video games. Like Jayna he is in Adventurer Club too. He started his year at city school, but we were quickly extremely
blessed with a spot for Anthony at Desmond Doss, where Jayna is. He was initially shy, but now you would never know he is a first year student and has practically become a professional four square player... amusingly the gift he requested most often was a playground ball with the thick rubber, and the biggest smile in pictures was when he was surprised at Grandma and Poppy's with that said four square ball.... He will happily tell you his favorite subject is P.E. And Recess, which is no shock. The kids are very lucky to have a huge playground and ball field to enjoy daily recess multiple times a day!
We have had a fun year together. We enjoyed several vacations. A week in Pennsylvania with my sister Missy and her husband and four boys is near our favorite. Anthony even got to bring along his best friend who had never been out of our state before... their first visit to my beloved Lakemont Park, which isn't the same but allowed Jayna and Will to ride their 1st roller coaster and all the kids loved the farm Missy lives on!... We had four West Virginia trips this year. Thanksgiving of course wins the cake as it is the only time of the year we have all
the family at Nana and Papa's together and the kids enjoy cousin time.... It's crazy to see how this all started when the girls were 2 ... and now are 8 and an extra cutie has been added to the excitement!... Sadly Marko's Aunt Carolyn died this year. On the plus side, it allowed the kids and I to go to Marko's family's tiny hometown. We got to see where Grandma Pam grew up and the school she attended along with other family memories. The kids also enjoyed the “get away” with their Grandma Pam and other aunts and uncles.... the big river and park right there at the only hotel/motel was a big hit, and everything (all 4 options) are within walking distance.... I enjoy learning about their family history and teaching them it too!... In August we enjoyed four days at Virginia Beach with Poppy, Joe and Mark. The kids love the water and jump at any chance of extra time with their Poppy.... and the boy thinks Uncle Mark is the best ever....
A huge highlight in our year has been the addition of my Godson, baby Tristan in April. After a long 10 year wait my best friends finally had a successful pregnancy and now we happily spoil Tristan! Every Friday night I get to watch Tristan for 5 hours along with his big sisters. We love having “cousin” time every Friday and look forward to it each week.
The other excitement of my year has been finding nearly all of my foster siblings. There are only 2 of 26 foster siblings I don't have contact with. I'm hopeful that this coming year I will find them too. The years have passed since we lived together as siblings (some as long as 16 years ago), but I continue to remember them, and have found great excitement in reconnecting. I am also in the process of writing the kids a book about their unique family. It is about 1/3 finished and
has been enjoyable to create for them to better explain our unique family to them.
We are hopeful your year has been equally rewarding and that you can count the positives in your life. We have been richly blessed again this year and look forward to what God has in store for our family this year. May you remember to savor the moments and memories you have and enjoy a happy and safe new year!
With Love,
The Sykes Clan
Marko, Beth, Anthony and Jayna
I love that you are writing the kids a book about their family! I am wanting to do the same this year, with family history, etc. It's a big project, but I think it will be worth it. I hope you share more about the one you're doing sometime.
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