The McCarty Family has enjoyed many elements of 2008, while sadly bearing the grief of Marilyn's mother, Velma, passing away on January 30. At age 84, she passed away in her sleep, after many years of battling cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, and many other physical problems.
Marilyn's father, Rod McRae, continues living in the apartment he and Velma shared in Claremont, CA, but has just recently made plans to move closer to daughter Trudy and son Ed in Alta Loma in early 2009.
Chris is a sophomore now at Grants Pass High School and enjoying (?!) early morning seminary along with many of his friends. He continues earning merit badges and is currently a Life Scout in the BSA program. He has become an aficionado of XBOX Live and has many friends around the world that he games with.
Michael home-schooled for the first few months of 8th grade, but just returned to North Middle School last week. (After only 2 days back in the classroom, he was glad to have 2 snow days right before the
Christmas Vacation began!) He sport of choice this year has been BMX racing on his bike. He is happiest when he can go to the track 3 times a week. He also had a newspaper route this year for quite a few months, but resigned just before the elk hunt in October. He went with Jack to Utah for a "guy" family reunion and hunt for a couple weeks.
The newest addition to our family is Tommy, who just turned seven this month. He is our foster son and has been with us since Aug. 1st. He has kept us very busy and entertained for these 5 months! We've noticed a lot of improvement in his behavior and learning and we hope the trend continues!
Jack still suffers from extremely poor vision, but tries to make the best of what he has left. The retinal specialists have attempted to slow the deterioration of Jack's eyesight with some laser surgery and injections, but his vision actually seems worse since the surgery, so that's discouraging. Jack keeps busy with monitoring Tommy, who is home from his special school by 1:40 every day. Jack also tries to keep busy outdoors when possible - he admits that he finds the gray skies over Oregon depressing in the winters.
Marilyn is counting down h
er 28th year of public school teaching. How can that seem possible, when she keeps assuring her students that she's only 29 years old!! ha ha She is enjoying the other members of her department and staff. She had the opportunity to travel to Oaxaca, Mexico this summer and visit a friend (see her blog at http://www.marilyninmexico.blogspot.com/) and had a great time. She keeps threatening to move to Mexico if she ever retires, so the kids make sure she has no retirement savings built up, because they like their life here north of the border!!!
Marilyn's father, Rod McRae, continues living in the apartment he and Velma shared in Claremont, CA, but has just recently made plans to move closer to daughter Trudy and son Ed in Alta Loma in early 2009.
Chris is a sophomore now at Grants Pass High School and enjoying (?!) early morning seminary along with many of his friends. He continues earning merit badges and is currently a Life Scout in the BSA program. He has become an aficionado of XBOX Live and has many friends around the world that he games with.
Michael home-schooled for the first few months of 8th grade, but just returned to North Middle School last week. (After only 2 days back in the classroom, he was glad to have 2 snow days right before the
Christmas Vacation began!) He sport of choice this year has been BMX racing on his bike. He is happiest when he can go to the track 3 times a week. He also had a newspaper route this year for quite a few months, but resigned just before the elk hunt in October. He went with Jack to Utah for a "guy" family reunion and hunt for a couple weeks.
The newest addition to our family is Tommy, who just turned seven this month. He is our foster son and has been with us since Aug. 1st. He has kept us very busy and entertained for these 5 months! We've noticed a lot of improvement in his behavior and learning and we hope the trend continues!
Jack still suffers from extremely poor vision, but tries to make the best of what he has left. The retinal specialists have attempted to slow the deterioration of Jack's eyesight with some laser surgery and injections, but his vision actually seems worse since the surgery, so that's discouraging. Jack keeps busy with monitoring Tommy, who is home from his special school by 1:40 every day. Jack also tries to keep busy outdoors when possible - he admits that he finds the gray skies over Oregon depressing in the winters.Marilyn is counting down h
er 28th year of public school teaching. How can that seem possible, when she keeps assuring her students that she's only 29 years old!! ha ha She is enjoying the other members of her department and staff. She had the opportunity to travel to Oaxaca, Mexico this summer and visit a friend (see her blog at http://www.marilyninmexico.blogspot.com/) and had a great time. She keeps threatening to move to Mexico if she ever retires, so the kids make sure she has no retirement savings built up, because they like their life here north of the border!!!
