Rob and I had decided that I need a new computer in order to do the work I have at the College. So we had been looking around and found a lap top with all of the things that I need to work at the College. It is compatible with the software at the College so that I can open documents from the students and send them things that they can open [this was posing a very large problem with our old computer]. So, I picked it up yesterday and I am enjoying not having to negotiate for time on the computer with the kids. Also, I'm really, really looking forward to being able to post pictures here again. I have not enjoyed blogging nearly as much without the capability of putting pictures up to show you what I'm talking about. So, you can all expect more blog posts now that I will be able to post some pictures.
I'm off to figure out how the new software works so that I can post some pics!!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Make A Difference
This year Rob and I decided that we needed to be a little more active in teaching our children about social compassion and outreach. We have decided to have a family theme that will stretch over the school year from September to June. Our theme for this year is 'Make A Difference'. To meet our theme, as a family, we are looking for opportunities to bless other people. The opportunities can be big or small, local or international.
So, for example, so far on our family's list we have : sponsoring a child through World Vision, making meals for people in our church who are sick or have had surgery, and we have also started providing a loan to someone in a developing country with a microfinancing opportunity.
Microfinancing is a wonderful opportunity in which you can give a small amount [or a large amount if you so choose] of money to people in developing countries who are trying to start businesses so that they can be self-sufficient. After the person has started their business and is making a profit, they pay the money back to the microfinancing company, who pays it back to you. So, when our money is paid back, we can then invest it in someone else trying to start their own business.
This theme will be sacrificial on our part as a family and at times has not brought out the best sides of our children as they are sacrificing things for themselves in order to help others, but it is great. It is great to be able to stretch, and grow in our compassion for other people. It has been challenging to see the need of others around the world and prayerfully decide where to help.
So, if you feel so led, come along with us this year as we Make A Difference....
So, for example, so far on our family's list we have : sponsoring a child through World Vision, making meals for people in our church who are sick or have had surgery, and we have also started providing a loan to someone in a developing country with a microfinancing opportunity.
Microfinancing is a wonderful opportunity in which you can give a small amount [or a large amount if you so choose] of money to people in developing countries who are trying to start businesses so that they can be self-sufficient. After the person has started their business and is making a profit, they pay the money back to the microfinancing company, who pays it back to you. So, when our money is paid back, we can then invest it in someone else trying to start their own business.
This theme will be sacrificial on our part as a family and at times has not brought out the best sides of our children as they are sacrificing things for themselves in order to help others, but it is great. It is great to be able to stretch, and grow in our compassion for other people. It has been challenging to see the need of others around the world and prayerfully decide where to help.
So, if you feel so led, come along with us this year as we Make A Difference....
Friday, September 18, 2009
Well....it's official...I'm too close to 40
Well, as I said in the title of this blog, it is now obvious to me that I have gotten WAY too close to 40. I just spent some time at the eye doctor today to find out what I already knew.....I need to get glasses.
I have always had fabulous vision, but I have noticed that I have been having problems seeing very fine things at work [like insulin syringes and telemetry strips]. Since this is a very important part of my job, and since I haven't been to the eye doctor in about 15 years [yikes], I decided it was definitely time to pay one a visit. So, the very nice Dr. Holtom told me that I was in need of some glasses for reading.
Well, they are ordered and my heart skipped beats at the $461.00 price tag for the glasses, lenses and eye exam. But, I guess after this week, I'll be able to see more clearly and that is a good thing. Even though it is forcing me to take a nice long look in the mirror and come to grips with what is staring back at me....I am aging. Sigh.
I have always had fabulous vision, but I have noticed that I have been having problems seeing very fine things at work [like insulin syringes and telemetry strips]. Since this is a very important part of my job, and since I haven't been to the eye doctor in about 15 years [yikes], I decided it was definitely time to pay one a visit. So, the very nice Dr. Holtom told me that I was in need of some glasses for reading.
Well, they are ordered and my heart skipped beats at the $461.00 price tag for the glasses, lenses and eye exam. But, I guess after this week, I'll be able to see more clearly and that is a good thing. Even though it is forcing me to take a nice long look in the mirror and come to grips with what is staring back at me....I am aging. Sigh.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Meep....Meep...It's The Road Runner
I feel like I'm that cartoon character that I watched so often as a child. The cartoon character was called the Road Runner. He was this super fast blue bird, who spent his time running through the cartoons and fending off attacks by Wyle E. Coyote. I am thankful that I have no human nemesis like Wyle E. to fend off, [ well at least none that I know of ], but I can totally relate to running like the Road Runner.
Take today for example. Here's a brief overview of my day:
1. I have to read in order to prep for the nursing lab tomorrow at 8 am on pre-and post-op care of patients. I'm not teaching this lab [thank God :-) ] but I need to be prepared to answer student questions when they're in their small groups.
2. I have to make the snacks for the kids school lunches. Buying store bought snacks was killing our grocery budget. So, after thinking long and hard about it, I decided that I could make their snacks from scratch, thereby, saving us a little $$. So the baking plan for today is 5 dozen sugar diamonds, 2 batches of peanut butter cookies, and 4 loaves of pound cake. Whew!! So far, I'm done with the peanut butter cookes and the first part of the sugar diamonds. So, I still have some time in the kitchen.
3. I need to do laundry. For all 6 of us. Laundry is actually a household chore that I enjoy, but it is time consuming. Also, Rob has no idea who belongs to which clothes so it's just easier if I do this job.
4. Housecleaning. I have to give the house a once over so that it's good to go for the rest of the week.
5. I need to make sure that the kids have finished all of their homework for tomorrow. I've been caught a few Monday mornings with panicked children that need help to frantically finish something that they had all weekend to finish but didn't. I've learned my lesson on that one. Everyones' bag gets checked on Sunday afternoon to ensure that we're all on the same page with what needs to be done.
6. I need to do some grocery shopping to replenish what I used when baking today. I think we'll be completely out of flour, sugar, milk, butter and some other things.
7. Then I need to read some more. I have nursing students completing Nursing Care Plans for their patients for the very first time this week and I need to review them. So, when all that other work is done, I need to sit down and spend some time in the nursing diagnosis and care plan book so that I'm ready to help them with that on Tues. and Wed.
Oh, by the way, did I mention that Rob is out today all day at 2 church services in the morning, prep for his young adult service this afternoon and then doing his young adult service tonight? So, the above 7 tasks are being completed by me with no help from my wonderful husband, while 4 kids go about their own activities in the house!!!????!!!!!
I guess you all get the picture. So here I goooooooo.....MEEP......MEEP
Take today for example. Here's a brief overview of my day:
1. I have to read in order to prep for the nursing lab tomorrow at 8 am on pre-and post-op care of patients. I'm not teaching this lab [thank God :-) ] but I need to be prepared to answer student questions when they're in their small groups.
2. I have to make the snacks for the kids school lunches. Buying store bought snacks was killing our grocery budget. So, after thinking long and hard about it, I decided that I could make their snacks from scratch, thereby, saving us a little $$. So the baking plan for today is 5 dozen sugar diamonds, 2 batches of peanut butter cookies, and 4 loaves of pound cake. Whew!! So far, I'm done with the peanut butter cookes and the first part of the sugar diamonds. So, I still have some time in the kitchen.
3. I need to do laundry. For all 6 of us. Laundry is actually a household chore that I enjoy, but it is time consuming. Also, Rob has no idea who belongs to which clothes so it's just easier if I do this job.
4. Housecleaning. I have to give the house a once over so that it's good to go for the rest of the week.
5. I need to make sure that the kids have finished all of their homework for tomorrow. I've been caught a few Monday mornings with panicked children that need help to frantically finish something that they had all weekend to finish but didn't. I've learned my lesson on that one. Everyones' bag gets checked on Sunday afternoon to ensure that we're all on the same page with what needs to be done.
6. I need to do some grocery shopping to replenish what I used when baking today. I think we'll be completely out of flour, sugar, milk, butter and some other things.
7. Then I need to read some more. I have nursing students completing Nursing Care Plans for their patients for the very first time this week and I need to review them. So, when all that other work is done, I need to sit down and spend some time in the nursing diagnosis and care plan book so that I'm ready to help them with that on Tues. and Wed.
Oh, by the way, did I mention that Rob is out today all day at 2 church services in the morning, prep for his young adult service this afternoon and then doing his young adult service tonight? So, the above 7 tasks are being completed by me with no help from my wonderful husband, while 4 kids go about their own activities in the house!!!????!!!!!
I guess you all get the picture. So here I goooooooo.....MEEP......MEEP
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The First Day of School 2009
Well, another first day of school has come. I am so excited for each of my kids.
Jonah is starting Grade 5. He is maturing so very much and I have realized that I don't have much more time with him. He will always be my son but his days of living in my home and being in my life every day are winding down. He will soon be off to college and out into the world. It is a bittersweet feeling. I can hear my mother-in-law saying "Come on Andrea. Stop being so morbid!" I don't want to be morbid, but I just see that he is getting ready little by little. I know that it is the way that life is supposed to go, but I my mother's heart is twisting at the thought. I think God has me think about these things so far ahead so that I don't completely fall apart when they happen. When they come, He has prepared me in little tiny steps to deal with them in a healthy way.
Seth is starting in the Pathways program today. He is at a new school, with a new teacher and I have really prayed about this placement. I feel that God has opened this door, and so we are walking through it with great excitement. This program will focus a lot on behaviours and social graces and interactions. Seth still needs a lot of education in these areas so we are happy about him being in this program.
Lauren is off to Grade 2. It truly does feel like yesterday that she was an infant sitting in the middle of the carpet of our living room in Fond du Lac. Back then all she did was sit and drool and now she's a very mature 7 year old picking out her outfit and all its' accessories for the first day of school. The outfit she picked even had a co-ordinating scarf [Mom T, you know which one I mean :-) ] and she had to have me tie it just the right way so that she had the right 'look' on. She is 7 going on 16. Sigh
Spencer is at Dorothy's today since I am working later on. She was so excited to see "Dorfee" as she calls her day home provider. We have been so blessed with this lady. She has taken a little girl who hated anyone but her dad, and turned her into a precious little lady that loves everyone she meets. I am so thankful to her!
I was going to include the group shot I took of everyone this morning, but of course the computer won't co-operate with loading the pic, so I will get Rob to e-mail it to me later.
I have to say that I was really proud of myself. Why you might ask??? Well, here's why...I didn't do anything embarrasing. Really, I didn't....no crying, no waving... just sitting in the van, dropping everyone off and smiling....smiling about these 4 precious gifts that God has given me. Smiling that I have the wonderful blessing of living in a country in which my kids are being educated. Smiling about being able to come home and have a hot shower in peace!!!!
Jonah is starting Grade 5. He is maturing so very much and I have realized that I don't have much more time with him. He will always be my son but his days of living in my home and being in my life every day are winding down. He will soon be off to college and out into the world. It is a bittersweet feeling. I can hear my mother-in-law saying "Come on Andrea. Stop being so morbid!" I don't want to be morbid, but I just see that he is getting ready little by little. I know that it is the way that life is supposed to go, but I my mother's heart is twisting at the thought. I think God has me think about these things so far ahead so that I don't completely fall apart when they happen. When they come, He has prepared me in little tiny steps to deal with them in a healthy way.
Seth is starting in the Pathways program today. He is at a new school, with a new teacher and I have really prayed about this placement. I feel that God has opened this door, and so we are walking through it with great excitement. This program will focus a lot on behaviours and social graces and interactions. Seth still needs a lot of education in these areas so we are happy about him being in this program.
Lauren is off to Grade 2. It truly does feel like yesterday that she was an infant sitting in the middle of the carpet of our living room in Fond du Lac. Back then all she did was sit and drool and now she's a very mature 7 year old picking out her outfit and all its' accessories for the first day of school. The outfit she picked even had a co-ordinating scarf [Mom T, you know which one I mean :-) ] and she had to have me tie it just the right way so that she had the right 'look' on. She is 7 going on 16. Sigh
Spencer is at Dorothy's today since I am working later on. She was so excited to see "Dorfee" as she calls her day home provider. We have been so blessed with this lady. She has taken a little girl who hated anyone but her dad, and turned her into a precious little lady that loves everyone she meets. I am so thankful to her!
I was going to include the group shot I took of everyone this morning, but of course the computer won't co-operate with loading the pic, so I will get Rob to e-mail it to me later.
I have to say that I was really proud of myself. Why you might ask??? Well, here's why...I didn't do anything embarrasing. Really, I didn't....no crying, no waving... just sitting in the van, dropping everyone off and smiling....smiling about these 4 precious gifts that God has given me. Smiling that I have the wonderful blessing of living in a country in which my kids are being educated. Smiling about being able to come home and have a hot shower in peace!!!!
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