November

The mouse: it is getting a bit chilly (30's at night) so other creatures besides me are cold. I go to recycle some paper in my green box recycling bin and I see 2 tiny legs and a tail burrowing under the papers. AAAAHHH! I yell, Dave says, "What?!" "Mouse in the recycle bin! I just can't deal with that!" "I'll get it", says my brave man and out he goes into the garage to haul the bin outside in hopes the mouse will go out into the night. Instead, the mouse leaps onto his foot and races to the other end of the garage. I hear a yell and see my 6 foot 4 inch husband topple over onto the garage floor. I thought it was a snake they way he carried on. "Where are the traps?"

He set a spring trap with peanut butter and surprise, dead mouse in it by morning. I hope there is not a family still in our garage somewhere.

School: I am in a marriage class and am enjoying it. We have to counsel a couple. It is very interesting. I think I am going to like marriage counseling which is good, b/c that is what I am going into.

NYC: I get to go to NYC twice-this weekend by myself and in December just Dave and I. I am excited and looking forward to seeing my brother and his new apartment (which is still in renovation stage but still).

Sleep studies: Jonny and I are getting sleep studies in the next 2 weeks. I hope they can figure out some helps for our inattention, hyperactivity and lack of sleeping ability.

Couches: I briefly thought about buying new couches a few months ago and praised God I did not b/c one kid spilled soda all over the couch and my kids got chocolate on it. The couch and love seat in my family room are from when I was a teenager (you do the math).

Exercise: I went back to weight lifting at least 2x/week-soreness! Was doing well with running but this week was too much working and headaches!

Kids: They need to slow down! Marching band is over but soccer is still going this week-it is dragging worse than the World Series!

-Nancy

The Crisp Fall

I'm cold already. That is NOT good. Our friends invited us to a last pool party. needless to say I did not go in the water. But Dave and the kids did and I was nice and warm after being freezing all morning. I came home after church and donned my jeans and long sleeved shirt. One thing about menopause I am looking forward to-hot flashes! I really hope I get a bit warmer!

School: The kids have completed 2 weeks of school and I have finished half of my course. We are chugging along.

Book: Do Hard Things by the Harris brothers. It is about helping teens rebel against low standards and the myth of adolescence. Excellent.

Crape Myrtles: The Crape Myrtles in Virginia are in full bloom right now in Virginia. They should be the state flower. They are so hardy here and so beautiful. They are in white, pink, lavender and bright pink. They stay in bloom for about 2 months.

Arianna lost her 8th tooth and the tooth fairy missed the first night. She cried. The tooth fairy made up for it by giving her $2 and apologizing.

Jonny made percussion in school and has been banging on his drums (and would do so all day if we would let him). We bought him drum stick, drum pad, and rented bells from the school. He is always keeping a beat.

David will turn 16 in 5 days and his Varsity jacket will come in about 2 more weeks. He is busy with band, school and studying.

Elizabeth actually has to study this year and has started spanish. We are trying to figure out if she should apply for governor's school or the international baccalureate program.

Uncle Jonny is home from sea safely.

I worked on Saturday but got time and a half! That was worth it.

We are trying to get some fall yard work done. Some plants are so hardy and pretty (see crape myrtles above) and some are so high maintenance (I guess people are similar).

I am reading through and thinking about Ezekiel. The main theme: So that all will know that I am the LORD (YHWH-breath of life, God of covenant, very life itself). I am going to count how many times God says that. It is amazing how much we forget that and yet with each breath we take we should remember it.

Time to right another paper for my adolescent class. I am really enjoying this one. I had to watch the movie, Big with Tom Hanks from 1988 and then watched Juno from 2008 about a 16 yr old teenager who was pregnant and gave her child up for adoption. Then I have 3 papers on these interesting case studies and a research paper on an adolescent issue. It has been great especially since I have my own adolescents and work with them in church.

-Nancy

Summer's End

Summer is quickly drawing to a close and the crazy fall is about to begin. I haven't written for over a month (I've been kind of down) so I'll try not to be lengthy but catch you up:

Races: I just ran one 5k at the end of July for the Christian Health Center in Fredericksburg. Did a lot better than last year but it is in the evening and so hot. I dislike evening races for that reason. I haven't run a race since (or really even done much running since).

Biking: My friend and I biked 40 miles on July 27th! We were impressed with ourselves. We went on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail. My son, David and her son went with us. I have been biking since.

School: I have completed 36 credits and have started a new class on adolescence (perhaps it will help me with my own 2 almost 3 if you count Jonny).

David and driving: Since he is partially color blind, driving at night is a bit more difficult! We still need almost 14 more hours of night driving. He should get his license in January if we can get all these hours in. Then I can get help schlepping everyone around!!!!!!

Schlepping around: I am as usual, a bit overwhelmed with that. Jonny and Elizabeth are on 2 different soccer teams. Arianna is taking piano on Thursdays and dance on Mondays and David is in Marching band daily (although I think he can take the activity bus after school so that is a help). Friends help me with band during the summer and when there is not bus and I seem to have help with Elizabeth and soccer so I hope it works.

Dave and work: he may work in Fredericksburg 2-3 days/week-that would be a blessing and help with the above.

Me and work: still has its ups and downs. I hope I can stick it out. It has been stressful helping start up a new hospital with new people. I am glad I am part-time.

Letting go: God is really teaching me to continue to let as much as I can go and rest in Him. This is very hard for me.

I Kissed Dating Goodbye Seminar: Dave and I were able to give that seminar yesterday to the youth and parents at church based on Joshua Harris' book. It went well. I enjoyed doing it and think it provided a good foundation for our youth in the area of relationships.

Books: I am reading the Twilight series to see what all the hubbub is about with the youth. I can't stand the romance part of it (see above) but do enjoy the vampire/werewolf part. I have been on the edge of my seat a couple of times. The books could be about half of their lengths but they are easy reads and a nice change from the heavy duty books I usually read.

God uses all: When reading Ruth for probably the millionth time, I just noticed that Tamar who snagged Judah by prostitution was in the line of Boaz and therefore David and more importantly Jesus. I am so glad God does not discount us when we are weak, disgusting and sinful. That is how I have felt lately. It just brings Him much more glory so that is very good.

My boy, David, got a 4 on his World History AP test!!!! (3 is passing, most colleges accept 4's and 5's). I am so proud of him! Now he is already working on AP English and American History!

Now for SAT prep and visiting colleges! Yikes, we better get moving!
-Nancy

News for summer

I, Nancy, thought I would catch you all up.

Running: David, Jonny and I ran the Fredericksburg Heritage 5 miler and enjoyed it. I beat my time for last year and ran it in 44 minutes, 47 seconds. I was happy.

Good Book: Hind's Feet in High Places. Amazing book about surrendering all to the Lord and not being so anxious. (Main character is Much Afraid in this allegory which really hits home for me).

David: starts driving school Monday. Has 8 sessions that he can't miss and takes a test at the end that if he passes, he won't have to take at the DMV.

VBS this week for our church. David and Elizabeth working.

Arianna: off to Lynchburg today for music camp with her friend. Then when she comes home, she immediately goes to kids' camp with Jonny and Elizabeth and our church. She'll be worn out.

Music: Arianna has had 3 piano lessons now. We managed to get a new keyboard, full size, with pedal and weighted touch sensitive keys. I hope she sticks with it. David has been brushing up on the mellaphone with some lessons this summer-marching band, here he comes. Jonny is getting some decent sounding notes out on the saxophone with David's help.

We had our first party on the new patio. It is really nice. People enjoyed it.

We all had some great Lebanese food tonight thanks to Moses Abdallah's mom and aunt.

Hospital: needs to get busier! Today we had an open house. I am actually working at my old hospital this week. It will be fun to see everyone that I worked with for years.

School: I am done with 33 credits. I am in the middle of another class. This one is on assessment. I took an online IQ test. Scored high on verbal. Surprised?

First piano lesson

Arianna had her first piano lesson tonight and knew quite a bit of music theory and playing the piano thanks to school, Keilan, and her sister. BUT we were strongly encouraged to get a better piano since we only have a keyboard that is not full-size, has no pedals nor weighted keys. Plus it is now buzzing when plugged in and the bench is broken. Time to check on Craig's list! and pray!

News for summer

David II: could not get him a job at Graystone due to his age (need to be 16). I wish they would have told me that before we got up early to go there this morning. Chick-Filet (who employs under 16) is not hiring. So, lawn and yard work will have to do if he can get it. Tomorrow I am going to try to get him in a summer driving class in July. Other than that, I am glad to have him around especially since he will go off to college most likely in 2 short years.

Arianna: starts piano lessons tonight. I hope she does well, likes it, practices regularly without too much nagging from us, and actually learns to play the piano well! She is going to music camp in Lynchburg and kids camp with church.

Jonny: is MR. social! He has already been on 2 sleepovers in the week school has been out. Everyone seems to know and love him. God bless his people skills. He is going to try out David's saxophone to see if he likes it for band this year. He'll go to kids camp for the last time this summer and he finished 5th grade and elementary and will go to middle school in the fall. Good for him completing that milestone. He still gives me lost of smoochies but not so much in public.

Elizabeth: my helpful daughter is in Mississippi for a week. She went by herself. We all miss her but she is having a grand time with a friend who moved there last year. She saw New Orleans so mom is jealous. She loves to travel, so she can add this to her places seen. Her friend may move back to Virginia (surprising since everyone else seems to move out of this area). She is going to kids and youth camp in addition to this trip.

Nancy: I ran another race-10k on June 20th in the evening. Managed to do 6.2 miles in 59:35 minutes/seconds (around 9 1/2 mph-good for me). I haven't run a 10k in years. Next race, July 4th in Fredericksburg-5 miler. David and Jonny are running that one too.

Dave: completed his colonoscopy today and is sleeping it off. I never heard so many one-liners as today when he was nervous. But we wanted to make sure he was ok since his dad had colon cancer last year. We get the results in 2 weeks.

The end of the school year

3 of our kids took SOL (standards of learning) tests yesterday. David managed to score another 600 (perfect score) on his history test (of which he called lame). He is remarkable in history and somehow I hope he incorporates it into his life and career. I took him for his Advanced Placement meeting last night-taking AP history (American) and AP English (instructor promised they would come out good writers-Amen!). He has his work cut out for him next year with these classes in addition to all his others. He will be a junior-hard to believe for me. He is doing driver's education in school-much to my happiness that they were able to squeeze him in. I hope they get him started on I95. We still haven't braved that yet.

Jonny and Elizabeth tried out for Classic soccer for the fall. We'll see how they do. They decreased the number of teams for next year.

Arianna's front tooth can almost be twisted all around and yet will not come out!

Arianna and David had fun on their respective trips, but were tired.