Quiet

It's been quiet.  I know that.  I look at my blog almost every work day to remind myself to say what I have to say.  The thing is, I don't have much to say lately.  Since November, we had Christmas (don't want to talk about it) and New Year's (don't want to talk about it either) and even the entire month of January (too busy to talk about it).  The holiday really did come and go, and I had days off and enjoyed them with my family.  Too bad we were going to drive to Virginia and surprise my entire family when we stayed for two WHOLE weeks.  Too bad even though I was feeling lively, the other three members of the family had the following during the last seven weeks: acute bronchitis (x2), the flu (x3), upper respiratory infections (x2), strep throat (x2), stomach bugs, regular colds, etc.  I think Arlin may even still have walking pneumonia.  He's at the doctor now, even as I type.  I think I took someone or someones to the ER or doctor about 15 times in the months of Dec/Jan and the pharmacy knows me by name.  And we had Arlin's family staying with us out of default even though we had planned to be out of town.  Like I said, I don't want to talk about it.  Needless to say we never made it to Virginia for the holidays.  Bummer.

What I do want to do is show you a little slice of heaven:

Lindsay 3 days ago while at the Pediatric eye doctor

This girl is a hoot.  She does a pretty good job of keeping these new glasses on her face, or at least around her neck.  When we went in for her check up, we found out we don't have to have eye surgery for her crossing eyes (at least not yet).  So we are wearing glasses still and Lindsay is deliberately crossing her eyes at anyone who will watch because she now thinks it's a funny trick at which others will laugh (thanks dad-she does your little straight eye, crooked eye trick).  Lately she has told me she wants to beat up the UFC fighters on television and her finger has super powers that will turn her into a monster (so she can fight other monsters).  Can you tell she has a little spit and vinegar in her?

Laney is doing stellar, brought home Honor Roll on her report card again.  Two of those grades barely made it, but we'll take it AND be happy about it.  It's a long long way from third grade, and I'm so proud of her for working hard.  And here's to say carefully control medicine really helps when all other options have failed.  I'm grateful she has options when twenty years ago there weren't any, and I'm grateful we can afford those options.  She's really enjoying her Activity Day Girls (a twice a month group where girls her age meet to talk about life, make goals, and do fun crafts) and she has lately discovered talking on the telephone and listening to an MP3 player of music.  She is growing up, and I can't believe it (Arlin refuses to think about it).  haha!

Arlin's business is beginning to take off and grow like the dickens.  He is about half way through a big job on a local campus and they are so far really pleased with his installers.  He is also moving into the realm of window sales and I'm so happy because it's way less stress and does not have as many possible negatives as installation jobs.  It's also faster to get paid, less time on a job, and less work for him in the long run.  Not to mention, no relying on others to be on point for months at a time.

Me?  I am still doing all the same things.  Except I was released as YW Secretary and now I'm an Activity Day girl co-leader and a co-teacher in the 3 year old class (Sunbeams).  Apparently my church leaders think adding grad school on to my already busy schedule still leaves plenty of time for two jobs.  They could be way worse, so I will take them I suppose.  School is going fairly well so far.  Homework is manageable and I'm already beginning my big projects so they won't overwhelm me right before they are due.  I have to write a series of biographies, tutor someone, volunteer at a school and complete a few other projects.  I'm a little worried about how I'm going to get the school hours in while I work, but I'll figure something out I'm sure.  I'm happy I'm in school, and I don't feel under water quite yet.  It's taking a lot of self discipline to do homework on weekends and in the evening when I'd rather be watching television while folding laundry or something, but it's getting done and that's all that matters in the long run, right?