A year in review

We’ve had a year of celebrations, growth and transition.

Meghan (18) graduated from Millennium High School in Tracy and is now attending Las Positas Junior College in Livermore working toward a future at some capacity in law enforcement. She LOVES school and is doing very well while balancing a near full time job at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels in our mall. Meghan is making new friends, making money  and considering what her next step may be. She continues to amaze me!! It was nice to have all the family together to help celebrate her graduation. Loren and his fiancé, Sue, came to CA and mom made sure she was back from AZ during that time. Sooo great to all be together as it is so rare these days!!!

Cory (18) graduated from Yuba City High School in Yuba City and is now attending community college wanting to pursue a career as a music teacher. We don’t see Cory much but are so proud of his accomplishments!

William (21) moved out of our house and is renting a room in Stockton and working for Holt of CA. Will received his motorcycle license and joins us while riding a lot of the time. We have Will around often and I’m getting good making casseroles and dishes that are acceptable to send to his bachelor pad!

Alex (17) is a Senior at Yuba City High School and loves to work on his Grandfather’s ‘76 Chevy truck which he now drives. He is a little Randy always wanting to build, rebuild, tinker and help out. Alex stayed the summer with us and he was a HUGE help and fun having around. Meghan and Alex together are hysterical and kept me busy and in stitches! Alex also got his motorcycle license this year.

Allison (15) is a Sophomore at Yuba City High School and is very active in the band and sports, church, babysitting and whatever else. Getting time with Allie is getting more and more difficult. She now has her driver’s permit and we look forward to having her and all the kids over the Christmas break.

Zach (13) is an 8^th grader at Barry Middle School in Yuba City. He continues to sprout up and mature each time we see him. Those VanderMolen genes are kicking in quickly!! Zach is enjoying riding with Randy on the new Ultra. He is involved in Orchestra at school and loves his video games.

Home is where your heart is so our home has commuted between India and Tracy all year. Randy continues to build a solar power plant out in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to travel to India a few times to visit. During those times we’ve traveled within India and have been adopted as family by many. We’ve been able to experience weddings, child birth, festivals, World Heritage sights and a lot of daily life within the culture. It is all very fascinating and we are very fortunate to have been handed this opportunity. When Randy is home we don’t stay still either. We have gone up to Washington to visit his family, he’s been hunting up north and we’ve taken off on the bike for a 12 day road trip to Palm Springs and Southern California. We definitely make the most of our time!

I continue to work at Segale Travel in Stockton and they have been wonderful to allow me time off to come to India and spend time with Randy when he is back stateside. Family comes first and I’m happy they encourage that. I’m now transitioning to work from home and be “virtual”. It’s been fun to create a home office and not have to commute as much. I look forward to when this will be full time but for the time being they still like my energy part time in the office. 

It’s difficult to think of Christmas so close as I sit in a cottage in the Thar Desert of India, 80 degrees and no overload of Christmas decoration at every store. It’s nice as this way we remember the true meaning of Christmas and not all the commercialization of the season. I wish you all good health, happiness, and the hopes of discovering something new in the New Year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our home to yours!!