2010 Christmas Website

Expansion and Contraction

2010 has been a year of great contrasts for our family. One might classify this period of our lives as one of transition or change. We reflected on the various events in our 2010 experience and found ourselves drawn to the basic notions of expansion and contraction.

Expansion. Science tells us that under certain temperatures, pressures, states of matter and the like, certain substances expand. For our family, one of our most favorite "expansions" is water. Oh, so the Pusey's are beach people, you might say. Yes, we love the beach and the wide expanse of the ocean is thrilling but, we are more mountain people than anything else. As mountain people, our favorite expansion is when water freezes - to form snow and ice. Our family started 2010 on skis in our Colorado high country and we are rounding out 2010 in the same manner.

Through 2010, we took some opportunities to expand our horizons, as it were, by enjoying the vast vistas of the Colorado National Monument, Yellowstone National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. We never tire of the natural beauty that is found in the Western United States and our adventures this year certainly did not disappoint. We enjoyed hikes in Yellowstone (with a close trail sharing experience with a black bear) and through the amazing formations in Bryce Canyon.

One of the best forms of expansion in life is that which comes through both typical and atypical experiences. Harrison became the second member of our family to be graduated from Cherry Creek High School, as part of the class of 2010.

Harrison started his freshman year of college at Brigham Young University. He significantly expanded his social circle and his academic pursuits seem to be keeping up just fine as well. We certainly have enjoyed seeing Harrison's world and experience expand significantly in just a few months and the fact that he is thoroughly enjoying every minute of it makes it all that much better.

Elizabeth, aka Liz or Lizzie, returned from her semester abroad in Paris in late 2009 and 2010 ushered in her "senior year" at BYU. Liz was fortunate to obtain an internship at the BYU Museum of Art (MOA) and gained some valuable experience and insight into art curating, design and management. In the spring of 2010, Liz made a decision to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when she became eligible on her 21st birthday in September. She handled all the arrangements for her application to serve and eagerly awaited a calling, as is the system, to serve anywhere in the world where the Church sends missionaries. Scott said that since she studied French for so many years, that meant she would probably get called to Japan. Liz got her call to serve in the Ohio Cleveland mission to begin on November 3. This meant that she could stay around BYU, take a couple more classes and work part-time at the MOA before departing. She was able to show the ropes to Harrison as he arrived on campus which was a nice aspect for both of them. Sister Elizabeth Pusey, as she is now known for the next 18 months, enjoyed her three week stay at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT and departed for "the Ohio" on November 23 and is serving in the small town of Norwalk, Ohio.

Contraction. With Harrison joining Lizzie at college, and her departure on her mission, the rest of us at home have definitely felt a bit different. The logistics of daily life seem a bit less cumbersome with a contraction of the family living at home. One advantage of contraction is actually an expansion for the rest of us. Harrison's room is now a handy workout room and overflow sleeping area for Scott or Jenifer (either or both from time to time being referred to as the snorer, the sick one or the one in the dog house, uh well, that last one is Scott only). That seems to make everyone a little happier.

Will and Arianne are leading the way for our family in contraction. Will keeps lowering his times in various running events in track and cross country and Ari continues to take time off her various swimming events in just about every meet she enters. Ari competed in the Colorado State Long Course swim championships in Grand Junction, CO in August. She competed at a high level and enjoyed the time with her ACES swim club teammates.

Will is contracting nicely in a few other areas. He is checking off the last few requirements for his Eagle Scout award and he recently completed his Eagle Project. Will organized his troop to collect arts and crafts supplies and put together fun kits for patients at The Children's Hospital in Denver. Will also has made excellent progress in contracting his time on Facebook in favor of his homework. His recent essay for school entitled "What a Waste" was sort of a hypocritical, anti-autobiographical account of the dangers of excessive 'facebooking.'