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Dear Friends and Family,
2009 will go down for the Groses as maybe the biggest year
of change in recent memory.
The biggest news is that I retired and we all made the move
to Renton Washington, as was the plan for 22 years!
Alex is now a high school senior.
He is involved with the “Running
Start” program which allows him to take his final high
school classes at a community college, getting both graduation
credits as well as college credits. He is enjoying the comparatively
light schedule and independence this program affords him.
Stephanie, now 15, is attending
the same high school as her mother (sometimes the same
CLASSROOM!), and her focus
as “The
New Girl” is sports. She made the JV volleyball team
and was dubbed team captain two weeks into the season which
is even more incredible considering she has never played on
a volleyball team before. After the season ended, she set her
sights on basketball and made the JV team.
Carrie survived the first half of the year taking care of
the family alone and then a hectic move back to Washington.
She jumped right in and found some part-time work to help with
the finances as I continued my job search. Like all of us,
she is really enjoying being home near friends and family.
Buster, our dog, survived a bout with some medical and dental
issues this year but is still kicking. He continues to be the
5th member of this family and makes sure he imparts his presence
every moment of every day.
In July, I returned from Saudi
Arabia after a year-long, unaccompanied tour and, as was
planned, I retired from the
Marine Corps after
22 years of faithful service. After an initial job search came
up empty, I decided I would take the rest of the year to decompress,
transition to my new non-military role, and savor my homecoming
before finding employment in 2010. To fill the time, I have
been working on my running and being the best “house-husband” I
can be.
As a family, we are all thrilled to be back in the great Northwest.
The most important and anticipated change we achieved was being
back WHERE we all want to be with WHOM we want to be with.
We are in Washington, together as a family, with a large circle
of friends and extended family around us.
We want to wish you happy holidays. Family and friends have
been such a vital part of our lives this past year and we are
indescribably thankful for all your support.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and God bless you all.
Love,
The Groses (http://www.grose.us)
Jason,
Carrie, Alex, Stephanie, and Buster
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