2020 was a wacky year, but 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says to rejoice always. Below are some ways that we rejoiced this year. If you're looking for more, here are past Wickersham highlights: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019. Rejoice!
January - Josiah Lee plays in his first-ever organized basketball game as a member of the Huskies in an Upward Basketball league. I can't say enough about how Upward Basketball is a slam dunk.
February - Grace Noel and I go to Memphis where she guest plays for an older Sporting SI squad in a college soccer showcase. She knocks in her first goal for the club, and the team leaves with two wins and a tie.
March - Schools close their buildings and Megan and I start providing emergency remote learning. I tap into my Japanese side and create a YouTube channel for school purposes and learn how to use Google Meet and Zoom.
April - I get the honor to give the middle school & high school Easter chapel talk at ECS. I continue to learn that I strongly prefer speaking to a live audience instead of into a camera. Despite my introverted ways, I really do like seeing people.
May - Megan and I find ourselves doing activities we haven't done in ages. Occasionally, I skateboard with Josiah Lee, and Megan and I visit the tennis courts. I don't ever remember as a 16-year-old getting sore from skateboarding. What happened?
June - Josiah Lee and I go camping and fishing at Beall Woods State Park in southeastern Illinois, and the entire Wickersham clan visit Gulf Shores, Alabama at the end of the month. Everyone enjoys the beach, and to my delight, I catch several new species.
July - We make a stop in Montgomery, Alabama, and meet up with some old "China" friends. I also decide to accept a club soccer position that allows me to coach Josiah Lee and see him hit the back of the net and dish out some assists.
August - I complete my third two-week course and earn an Evangelism & Leadership in Crisis certificate from Wheaton College, Megan's alma mater. My soccer squad loses their first three matches, but they win four of their six matches in October. HUGE improvement.
September - We are thankful to see Rosalie and Grace Noel competing on the soccer field together. ECHS has a dream season and goes 9-1-1 during the regular season and finish with a #7 ranking in Class 1A. Rosalie served as one of the captains again and is named ISCA Academic All-State for the second time.
October - Despite nearly getting in a panic after I spotted a bear, we have a great time during our fall break in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. At the end of the month, ECHS wins the NCSAA soccer tourney, and Grace Noel is named to the all-tournament team.
November - Josiah Lee starts playing basketball for ECS, and I give a presentation about Eric Liddell at Faith Bible Church. Grace Noel has a match that Sunday morning, but we leave it early so she can hear me talk about the "Flying Scotsman."
December - We celebrate Christ's advent with Megan's parents. Fred comes home from the nursing home on Christmas Eve, and we drop off some gifts with my parents. God is good.
