Life moves fast. Cory year in review.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look once in awhile, you could miss it. --Ferris Bueller


Well, I have finally arrived. You know, at that place in the space time continuum when you realize you actually do not have enough time to do what you want or need to do? Remember the good ‘ol days when the Cory Christmas card (all 100+ of them) was hand-crafted, contained a lengthy annual update with thematic material and photos, and may have induced laughing and crying in the same letter?

Well, that isn’t this year.

As the organizer, scheduler, writer, gift-purchaser, card-creating, do-it-yourselfer that I am, I have concluded that this year takes the cake for busy. Thus, much less pizzazz on the old blog here. Sorry friends, family and even foe. Keep following us. I have big plans beginning next summer!

Here’s the skinny:

It seemed life was moving slowly, until all of the sudden it is moving way too fast. Two years ago I lamented in the annual update that taking 2 classes each semester was making the PhD coursework take “forever”. Well, I am done with coursework, have passed my prelims, defended my proposal, conducted 20 interviews and am currently chin deep in transcribing interviews and writing my dissertation. I am studying how fraternity/sorority membership influences leadership identity development and am also planning to graduate in May. Aha! Do you now see how and why I will have more time to devote to the Cory Connection next summer? My job is still great; working with college students is so rewarding! I was honored to be recognized as the Fraternity/Sorority Life Professional of the 2010 for the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values in April.

John still works at the CUB (student union) as the Associate Director. There have been several staffing changes in his immediate circle over the last year, but overall, things are going pretty well. John also tackled a huge project in our backyard this summer that kept him very busy. He removed about 12 tons (not kidding) of brick and mortar by taking down our huge chimney (it had to be done…ugh).

John has also grown more interested in training for sprint triathlons and once again won his age group and place in the top ten overall in a competition this fall. Two weeks later, he ran his first half marathon and took up serious running with a couple other guys he met at these competitions. Sadly, John’s Dad, Don Cory (age 73) suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in October and John spent a week in Iowa with family. We have now each lost a parent…a club in which no one wants to be a member. This is a sad place to be.

Spencer (15) has transitioned from middle school to high school relatively smoothly. Yikes. Yes, I said HS. He is a great student, plays saxophone AND trombone in the band, and hopes to play soccer for the HS team in the spring. Early this fall, he injured his back and has really struggled to get and stay healed. It’s a long story, but we are optimistic that with serious focus and PT, in the coming months, he will regain his strength, flexibility, and ability to play soccer. He has grown so much and is now 6’ tall!

Camryn (12) has also transitioned this year, from elementary school to middle school. It is going pretty well for her too. She is learning to play saxophone and already plays piano and loves it, so perhaps music is her “thing”?! She played soccer this year and made many new friends over the summer and fall. Haircuts, ear-piercing, and a new-found passion for clothing have defined Camryn’s changes from ‘little’ girl to ‘big’ girl this year!

Harrison’s big transition this year is not having a big brother or sister to walk to school with him. Right, we have a kid in each school this year…it’s a little hectic. Anyway, Harrison has risen to the challenge and does indeed walk a relatively straight line to school each morning and picks up his buddy Daniel along the route. Harrison started playing soccer this year, which is a great sport for him, because one is constantly moving in this game, and that is right up H’s alley. He continues to be a ham and keeps us laughing all the time. Harrison joined the CUB Scouts this year and LOVES it! It has been fun for both he and John to get involved in something like this together!

We are blessed with good beasts: Ellie (dog) and Simon & Chloe (cats). All of them love John to pieces, and we kid him that he is a “animal-whisperer”.

We had visitors this summer: John’s Mom, Chris came for a week back in late May, and my Dad (John) and sister (Gena) came for a visit in mid-July. We really loved having family come visit us and just “hang”. Whenever we travel to the Midwest, our schedule is packed with people to see, places to go, and things to do. If/when, you come visit us; we’ll hang out, play cards, eat good food, and get lots of R & R. The door is always open and the lights are on for YOU!

So, this is the update. Photo collages below illustrate the annual happenings, and if you have even more time, go back through the blog. It will be a little glimpse into our everyday life. It is the Cory Connection.

Merry Christmas!
A
First half of 2010 in photos...


Second half of 2010 in photos...


Our friends...our family out here!