Latest Updates

Back to blogging, again! Just some updates on our lives:

Andrew recently got a job at McDonalds. The restaurant is not too far from school, so he can walk there after school. It is about a 15 min. drive for us to pick him up, though, but right across the road from a grocery store where I can do my shopping.

My grant application got turned down, so I won't be getting any money to get my Eagala certification. Oh well, there is a reason for that and I will trust that it was not the right timing or God has something else planned.

Hannah recently took her piano exam (It was mostly theory and sight reading). She did very well. She does have another one for June which is more of the musical side of things.

Leah is working hard at the neighbor's horse barn. She is also getting a lot of great instruction and help in teaching Blaze ground manners. Both of us have seen a huge improvement in him. Now she is teaching Sierra those manners, too.

Looking forward to spring! We have had SO MANY snow storms and lots of COLD weather. It has been the coldest February on record since 1924. This week, the kids had a snow day on Mon. and Wed. due to storms and another one is supposed to come tomorrow! There is a plus side to this, it is great moisture for the ground since we had a very dry summer last year.

Spring break is next week!!! YEAH for spring cleaning!!!!!

Unprofessional photos from the photo session

Andrew posing with his motocross gear.

Hannah was a natural for the photo shoot.

Makeup even for the guys! (Ask him how the lip gloss was!)

Hannah getting her makeup applied.

Happy Birthday, Andrew

Monday was Andrew's birthday. He is 15 and growing! All he wanted was cash to buy a pool table, so that is what he got.

Shop Projects

Here are some pictures of Hannah and Leah with their finished shop projects. Hannah did a corner shelf and a cute peg shelf. Leah did a working clock and is finishing some horse jumps. They really turned out nice and are practical and useable. I am glad they are learning how to use power tools and learning more about workshop stuff.

Does anyone recognize this man?

Andrew recently took the plunge and GOT A HAIRCUT! He (with the help of his parents) decided to get it cut short after several years of longer hair. I have a friend who highlighted it for free. So, . . . . any thoughts on the new 'doo?

New Job???

We recently saw an ad in the paper that was looking for people of all ages for modelling in catalogs and commercials and etc. Hannah, Leah, and Andrew thought they would all be interested in doing this. So we went last night to check it out. (First, Andrew and Hannah researched the agency online and it checked out OK). We found out the agency is just a company that matches people to different agencies who then get jobs for them. I guess this company would be considered the middle man. Anyway, they took a picture of each of them individually, and then did a short interview with each on video tape. They will receive notification within a week if there was a match found. If not, there is no cost. If there was a match (a 55% chance of a successful match) there is a $40 fee and we are connected with the agent. At that point, we deal with the new agent and do an interview with them to see if they meet their requirements. I have never been involved in this type of work, so this is all new. But we will see how it all plays out.

I have decided to take a college level course at church on dispensationalism (which is really just a fancy way of saying "how to study the Bible.") If I do the homework (test and essay) along with the classes, I can get a college credit for it. I started last night and think I am going to learn a lot. I really like the teacher, who is our youth pastor. He has a great teaching style and makes learning fun.

I also recently applied for a government grant to get certification for Equine Assisted Therapy (EAP). This is newer form of mental psychotherapy with horses helping people deal with anger, depression, juvenile delinquency, fear, etc. It is expensive to get certified (about $1500) but I think it would be great to have some sort of job doing that.

New Van

Just some pictures of our new (to us anyway) Chevy Astro. It is a low mileage 1997. The color is a light brown, but in these pictures you don't get the true color.