Garmans

The Garmans showed up yesterday for a surprise visit. So far it has been fun.

Snow Day!

Two days off from school was so much fun. It was amazing sledding, especially when it iced over and we went quite fast. Here is a picture.

New news from Nancy

HEAT: We are planning after almost 13 years to get a new heat pump in February. I cannot wait. I have been so cold. Plus it will be zoned, filtered and humidified. Yay!

Driveway/patio: along with the new heat pump we plan to fix the crumbling driveway and create a walkway/patio in the back yard. We plan on getting pressed/stamped cement. I am hoping for no cracks.

Money: how are we doing this you ask, we are refinancing since we have lots of equity in our home. Hopefully our house will be paid off in 15 years unless we borrow off it for little things like college, braces, weddings, cars, houses, etc.

Job: I have only ONE job now-amazing! I will no longer be working PRN (as needed) anymore as I received a part-time (half time) job from Stafford Hospital (2 miles from my house)! I am so excited. It will be more peaceful and less stressful to me and that is always a plus since I am not laid back.

School: in my 3rd week, hard but good.

ADHD: re considering medicine especially if I find one without the cocaine like bad side. We do need prayer regarding that.

Soccer: David is playing indoor right now and conditioning for the High school team-my prayer is that he makes it for his good/fun and for less driving and time on our part. Elizabeth hopefully will play on a friend's team this spring (carpooling help) and Jonny on a team for spring. Arianna is still dancing away.

Music: my question is if a kid does not express more than a passing interest in music/instrument, should the parent pursue it anyway with money/time for the kid? Example, Arianna says she wants to learn piano but I don't see her playing much on her own. No one picks up the guitar or books on their own either. They cannot take piano or guitar in school so I am wondering if I should bother. Maybe it is too much to ask to expect them to play/learn on their own although Keilan and Bobby O did, but they are probably the exception. Jonny is taking percussion at school so that relieves his need to keep a beat constantly (see medication).

Book: I just finished the House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. Sad about the thoughts, actions and lifestyles of the filthy rich in NYC around 1907. The sad thing is they probably still live this way at least as far as I can see from the outside.

SNOW: we finally have snow today and will make sure we play in it before it goes away in a day-have about 2 inches so far (I wish we would get a foot or at least 6 inches). No school today or tomorrow for the kids. The kids are 1/2 way through this year already.

Married to a Renaissance Man and other news

Our dear friend, Colby, is extremely gifted at being positive and encouraging others. Recently, he called my husband, Dave, a Renaissance Man. Well, even though he wasn't quite sure what that meant or entailed, Dave has been on cloud 9 ever since and has referred to himself as a Renaissance Man. So, I just looked it up in the dictionary since I wasn't explaining it very well to him:

A present day man who has acquired profound knowledge or proficiency in more than one field or a variety of fields. 

I would agree with Colby that this is true of my husband. He seems to have grown in all areas of his life  such as marriage, parenting, computers, home repair, maintenance and decorating, reading and studying, advanced degrees and classes and conferences, relationships with others, communication, and more that I am sure I am missing. So, I agree, I am married to a Renaissance man. What does that make me then? A bit of a tall order to live up to.

School: starts Monday-I have almost read the psychopathology book which has been tedious, I must stay.

Heat Pump: we have acquired 3 estimates on our heat pump, but I like only one. Of course it is the most expensive one because it offers more products and services. The owner is so knowledgeable and passionate about heating and cooling which I so appreciated (as opposed to the other 2). So not everyone has to go to conventional college/jobs. Everyone needs heat and air (humidity in winter, filters, etc). So we hope to fix it within the month-I can't wait as I am freezing and now have another cold.

Old movies: I was able to watch and record on DVD almost 40 year old movie reels of my brother and I and our family. I have about 67 minutes from 1967-1972. Such good times for my parents who are know gone and Jon and I were so darn cute! It made me cry to see my parents so young and happy. But they are ecstatic now in heaven.

Stamped cement: Since we may refinance our home, we are trying to figure out what the house needs (see heat pump). The other thing is the almost gravel driveway that bottoms out the cars when we go out. I am getting estimates for that today too. Such joy to maintain a house!

Book: I read the famous book: To Kill a Mockingbird. I can't believe I hadn't read it before. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it. While it's main theme is continued prejudice and segregation of blacks in the south, I really enjoyed the hero, Atticus, who is so full of compassion, integrity and courage. He is also a great single parent in the book (wife had died) and I even got a few parenting tips. The movie is harder to watch I heard (there is abuse and some violence in the story), so not for kids.