Aleya met with a post today on the playground at school. She hit her left eye on this post while attempting to go down the slide. She didn't do any damage to her eye, thankfully, though the lid was quite swollen and blue. This evening, the swelling has subsided quite a bit, and she seems much better. I think it will be sore and "pretty" for a few days though.

We are basking in the beautiful temperatures this week - 70's! Finally! We have seen snow for so long that the warmth and sunshine cheers us all. We cannot be outside enough!

March 29 -

Today is trash day. In West Des Moines we are given one day a year when we can get rid of junk by putting it on the curb and the trash men will come by and take it away. Unfortunately, all the girls are busy doing school things so Tom and I are left with getting all of it on the curb. I think we fill the curb every year, but this year looks to be a little bit slight. The fun part is watching all the people drive by with their trucks loading your junk into their vehicles. Our trash - their treasure!

The End of the Craziness

I have four more classes to teach, and then the most intense class that I am teaching this semester will be done! Whew. It has been so much work! My schedule should lighten quite a bit as I will only be teaching one class per day, Monday through Thursday. I have learned a lot, and have enjoyed it, but the level of work has been amazing.

Tom and I had birthdays this week. I love having them together. Then we kind of group our days and activities together. I like his birthday better than mine, though. On my birthday, we are the same age - for ONE day! He reminds me of that all day long. This year, we had a wonderful meal at a Thai restaurant with our close friends. It was so nice to go out in the middle of the day and visit with them and eat good food. Good fellowship and good food together is a great mix. All of my sweet children remembered (even Jathan, a little late), and Lorien spent her last nickels on Diet Coke. Kayren made a coffee mug warmer and bought me flowers. I took pictures but cannot get them loaded! The girls called me from college to let me know that they are living. (Moms like to know this!) All my brothers remember this year too! Wow! Way to go guys.

The next day, Kayren took us out again for lunch! It was so fun!

Tom and I were planning a trip to Columbus, Ohio. Why - you might ask? Well, there are two reasons. First, we had plane tickets that we had to use by March 5, and second, there was a reformed conference there for this weekend. After we got the tickets switched and everything set up for the weekend, the conference was canceled. Bummer. Now we have tickets to Columbus, Ohio for the weekend. It is so funny! We looked up the weather and it is supposed to be snowing and cold - unbelievable. We cannot change the tickets now without a huge extra fee, so tomorrow morning, off we go to Columbus. Well, it will be a wonderful time with my husband, because life is always good with him, but truly - there is nothing drawing us there! We did find symphony tickets for Saturday night. God's providence is always faithful, but sometimes it is just funny. He knows what Columbus has to offer, even though we don't!

Well, I have a lot to do before we leave. I need to get the oil changed in the cars, have lunch with a friend, write a quiz, prepare for class, teach a class, laundry, pack, ladies' fellowship tonight, and get the girls set up for us being gone. Off we go . . .

Am I really posting?

I can't believe that I am actually posting today. It is very early on Saturday morning, which is why I have the time. We are watching Lucero children which has been great fun. Jody is the pastor of our church, and he and his wife, Amanda took a short, quick anniversary trip to MN for the night. We are watching their three little ones while they are gone. (Merry Christmas, guys!)

I am reminded of days of old when all my children were this age. These children are so delightful. I love drinking my early morning coffee and listening to them chatter about all the things they are thinking. No thought is left unsaid. It makes me laugh and smile. I so enjoy the conversations of these guys. They build stories about the stuffed animals they are holding, until Owen finds the gameboy. Then Mongi is the only one talking. She is able to carry the conversation alone. She has been talking since 5:30! So, I have balanced my checkbook, cleaned up after the dog, and straightened up some stuff in the house.

More snow is coming today. We hope to go and see Aleya's basketball game, and then hang around and work on math. I am thinking that I might get tired of the math after a while. Could be.

Well, I am going to wake my sweet husband so help out with kids.

I sure miss my little girls! But, it is so wonderful to watch them grow up and turn into ladies.

Finally . . .  I know that it's been ages and ages, but in God's providence, He provided a job at DMACC (the local community college) teaching math that has me so swamped I can hardly see straight.  I was hired five days before school started, and I am teaching three classes, with lots of prep.  I am ever thankful for a lady in our church who is also teaching there, and has taught the same classes that I am teaching.  She has so very generously given me notes, and tips, and spent hours showing me how to use all kinds of measuring tools that I have never seen before!  Most days are 10-12 hours of teaching and study/prep and grading.  I know that things will be much better in a semester when I didn't have all the prep to do, but for now, here I am.  

I was jealously reading Mary Kathryn's blog of the slower life at home, and finding myself envying her.  At the point of exhaustion, I would love to be home!  Tom and I have made some difficult choices though, and keeping the girls at Grandview was one of them.  We want so much for all our choices to be wise and God-honoring, but so often they seem a mixed bag.  Right now, working this much certainly isn't our first choice.  It is so interesting to see how our choices work out in the big picture.  We continue to pray that this was a wise one, and look forward to a lighter load in a few months!

The girls continue to do well at Grandview, and Kayren is doing well at the Network and at home.  Kyrie seems to be having a very busy, but good year at Grove.  Kesse is doing well at Bryan this semester too.

Jathan is still washing windows, but he is trying to get into the medical work force and get some more experience while trying to map out his plan to get started in med school, and get married - of course!

We were thankful for the time that we were able to spend in Cedar Falls with Dad's side of the family at Grandpa's funeral.  It was a time of blessing and sweet fellowship in the Lord.  We were grateful to know that Grandpa had a strong profession of faith at the end of his life.  His funeral was such a blessing to us.  Lane preached, Sarah sang, Renee and Jenna played the flute, and many family members read scripture.  Gram came, but I don't think that she understood what was happening, which actually probably made it easier for her, and for all of us.  

Well, I need to get things ready for morning.  I'm ready for sleep!

Looking for Work

It is surprising to re-enter the job-searching world again, and the method has changed (of course) over time. Now, you surf the internet for jobs and thousands are listed. You are supposed to apply for them online by filling out an application and attaching your resume to it. You don't see any people, or talk to anyone either. So, you have to look really, really good on paper. Well, now that's a trick, isn't it? How many different ways can you explain your work experience, without tone or emphasis, but hopefully with personality and integrity? How can you explain that this job for which you are applying really isn't in your field - at all, but boy, I am willing to train and learn how to do it! Is there anyway to say - hey, I will show up; I will work hard; I will learn whatever you want to teach me; and I will give you your money's worth! Oh well. It is so nice to know that the Lord is in charge of all these things, and He will manage my work schedule ever so perfectly. Perhaps, His plan is for me to stay home, which I must say, sounds better than everything else put together!

Job Searching

I found out this past Friday that Faith Academy is closing here in Iowa in December. It made me very sad for so many reasons. I have really enjoyed working here and have built relationships with students along the way. I have watched students that were failing in the public schools graduate. It has been a joy to go work. I am very sad for all the students that won't be finished yet. Faith is offering a mail-order system to some of them, but many of them thrive on the personal contact, and the individual tutoring that they receive.

All to say, I am back in the market for work in a time when jobs are hard to find. It is such a good thing that the Lord knows exactly what we need, and orchestrates all these things. My job is only supplementary, though it has provided in past for our children's schooling. We have other choices we can make, but once again, we desire to make the best choices, and are wondering what that looks like.

I know that Adam and Mary Kathryn are dealing with much more serious income issues than we are, so we are continuing to pray for them daily!

We have seen our Lord provide some of the most difficult and complicated things for our good, and now is another opportunity to trust Him completely!