General update

Well, I think it's time for one of my updates where I tell everyone how the fam is doing, what's going on at work, interesting school news and basic church happenings. Sound boring?...you have no idea! :)

First of all the family is doing fine. Joseph likes his newest sister, Krissi. She is fitting in with our family just fine and we are starting to really get to know each other (poor girl...I hope we don't scare her off). The kids are both taking drum lessons which are going very well. Andrew is a great teacher and they are both having fun. Joseph is also taking swimming once a week with FAST at KSU. Krissi is in the band at FCHS (drumline, of course!), and she seems to really like it. Tim and I are spending a good amount of time with the kids which is nice. Tim is still working in Louisville, and is starting to work for Kaplan again as a tutor for the LSAT. He will also be teaching an LSAT prep course starting in October--the man does not know how to slow down.

Work is going well. We are gearing up for 4-H school clubs. Most of the teachers who had in-school clubs are doing so again which is good. It is a great introduction to the 4th and 5th graders on what 4-H is all about. We are starting up some new clubs this fall and all of our clubs from last year are meeting again this year (that's a good thing). We have about 9500 students to reach in Franklin County which is hard to do with one full-time agent and a part-time program assistant, but we are doing our best. Hopefully we will have an additional full-time agent by this time next year. Tim's job is also going well. He really seems to like it which is new for him. It is just challenging enough to keep him out of trouble. :) He is in CA this week attending a class or conference or something like that. Aside from missing his family I think he likes it. Yet another good sign!

School...school stinks!! Well, it's not all bad. Joseph really likes his teacher, Mrs. Cull (a friend of mine and a personal favorite teacher of the Chase family), so he has been a very good boy for her so far. Being at the end of the second full week of school and having not pulled any cards...it's unheard of for him. We are very pleased. He will start up with speech therapy again in a couple of weeks and will more than likely add some OT as well. He was evaluated for OT this past tuesday and they think he will benefit from it. I have to agree. Krissi is liking school even though the language difference is hard at times. I think that will improve the longer she is here and she will end up loving FCHS in the end.

Church is going fine. Nothing new to report except that God is doing miraculous things at The Point. The attendance is growing every week, and we have had several baptisms in the last month alone. It is great to see God at work. He is truly awesome.

On a personal note...my face hurts. I had an emergency wisdom tooth extraction on tuesday afternoon...not pretty. I am in pain and bruised, but at least I am now able to speak like a normal person again (well, until my meds wear off). I've never been through anything like this before and I don't want to ever again! It really stinks!

Sad news

Yesterday was a bad day here in the central Kentucky area. As many of you know a Comair plane carrying 50 people crashed just a third of a mile from the Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, KY. 49 of the 50 people on board did not survive. There are many folks in this area who have lost loved ones or have some connection to someone on that flight. I am one of those people. Dr. Larry Turner, the head of Extension for the University of Kentucky, was one of the passengers. Dr. Turner was a kind, loving man, who had a heart for the people of Extension and those we serve. If you were lucky enough to know him you are well aware of the devastation this brings to the university. Dr. Turner always had a kind word, and would ask about your family...not only that, he would remember them as if he had known them personally for years. My heart goes out to his family and all the co-workers of Extension. We have lost a dear friend. Dr. Turner...you will be greatly missed.

Where have all the links gone?

I am confused. I know...nothing new. Well, while that may be true this time I just don't understand something. Even though I have had this style layout for my blog since...I don't know...this past spring, I have just noticed that all my links are gone. Some of you who have stuck with me from the beginning (hi mom, hi rew) may have noticed this. I had links to the blogs of others, my favorite websites, and the sites of my favorite artists. Now they are gone. I have searched for most of this morning around the dashboard and I can't for the life of me figure out how to get them back. If any of you have a clue please fill me in. I miss my links...


False alarm!...never mind...I found them.

Amusement park mania...

The fam and I are going to Holiday World tomorrow with a very large group of about 45 people from The Point Community Church. I'm very happy about this adventure. The Mr. and I used to go to Six Flags all the time when we lived in Alabama, but haven't been to an amusement park since we've been married. Of course, Joseph has never been and Krissi loves amusement parks so they are both excited about it. I have heard only good things about Holiday World so I think we will have a wonderful time. I hear the coolest thing about Holiday World is that you get free soft drinks with unlimited refills...hello...it doesn't get any better as far as I'm concerned! Nele got the chance to go to Kentucky Kingdom and King's Island and I hope that Krissi will have the same opportunities.

Stinkin' School...

So far things with Kristin, our new student, are just great. She is a very sweet girl and I think that we will have a good year. We went to FCHS today and registered for her classes, then went to Walmart for school supplies, came home for a couple of hours, and then went back out to orientation at Joe's school. I'm completely exhausted! I keep forgetting that getting ready for school takes so much out of a person. It's totally insane how much time and effort is required. Good luck to everyone out there with the beginning of the school year...I hope it's a good one.

New year, new student

We are going to the airport in 2 1/2 hours to pick up our new student, Kristin Mai. I am very excited about this and I am looking forward to meeting her in person. We have emailed each other every day or so for about 3 weeks, therefore I feel like I already know quite a bit about her. It will feel a bit strange since we became so used to Nele being a part of our family (which she still is, by the way), but I think we will adjust quickly. Kristin has many interests...one of which is playing the drums. She is going to be taking lessons from Andrew on the same day as Joseph. I pray that she likes it here in our family and has an excellent year. I'll keep you posted on our progress.

Huge blessing...tiny package!

I just got home from visiting with Kari and Nehemiah. Shane, Kari's mom, Myra, Lizzie, and Megan (one of the Cedarmore summer staffers) where there, too, but basically I just sat and held the baby and talked to the mommy. All I can say is Nehemiah is one of the most beautiful babies I have seen in a long time. I think Kari said it best, "...he is perfectly made. Even if there was something wrong he has been made by God so he is perfect." I can honestly tell you that the picture does not do this child justice. It is an awesome picture and he looks wonderful, but he is even better in person. I pray now for a speedy recovery for Kari and continued good health for the rest of the family.

Simple minded...

I know this is not going to interest anyone out there, but it is one of the things that I have on my mind (simple as it is) at this point in time. What is it?...screened porches. I know, I know...why? Allow me to explain...

I will say that I love screened-in porches. We had one growing up and I loved it. They really are a simple pleasure in life. You get that great feeling of being out in nature without the nagging insects. There really is nothing better than having a sunny day, a comfy chair, a light breeze, a good book, and a large amount of protective mesh keeping the 6-8 legged creatures at bay. This type of porch is also excellent for cool evenings where you can sit around with family and friends and play cards until the wee hours of the morning without being eaten alive my mosquitoes. And with the threat of the dreaded West Nile virus this makes the screened-in porch a safety feature, as well. :)

The screened porch is a typical feature with homes in the south and is starting to catch on in the northern states. However, the fever has just not hit the midwest as of yet. I will declare here and now that our next house will, I repeat...will, have a screened-in porch (especially if I will be expected to retire in that house). My parents moved into a new house last summer and my family has had the great pleasure of visiting them several times over the past year. Tim's favorite part of the new house is the screened porch, so I am fairly certain that my demand for such a porch will be supported.

The state of Kentucky was recently hit with a heat wave, but in the past few days we have been given a repreave which leaves me to long for enough time to enjoy the pleasant weather. Alas, I do not have a screened porch, nor do I have a can of Off bug spray, so I am left to sit in the air conditioning (which I am enjoying immensely, by the way). Oh well, I can't have everything now can I?

Welcome to our world

Many of you know that one of my favorite places on earth is Cedarmore Conference Center...located in the beautiful Kentucky countryside. It is so peaceful there. This place is also where a very good friend of mine, Kari McGrath, lives with her husband, Shane (Associate Director Cedarmore), and children, Myra, Lizzie, and now 1 day old Nehemiah. He was born yesterday in Louisville, KY. Weighing in at 7 lbs. 12 oz. and being 19 inches long he is a healthy little fella. The last time I saw Kari was on Sunday afternoon and I know she was so uncomfortable, but getting very excited about the pending birth. We at TPCC wish to welcome little Nehemiah to our world. I look forward to meeting him this Sunday afternoon.

How much is that doggy in the window?

Yes, I would love to sell my dogs...to anyone. Okay, not entirely true. I would consider giving them away to the right person.

As the current owner of two basically retarded dogs I have about had my fill of the canine species. I love animals, and I always will, but these two are just a bit much at times. Honestly, these two could really use a little time with the Dog Wisperer. Tara, our Boston Terrier (full blooded), is very sweet, but deaf as a post. Seriously. Poor pooch can't hear a thing. She is a beautiful dog, and very loving...just deaf and stupid. Oscar, on the other hand, is a very strange breed. He is a mix of Chihuahua, Rat Terrier, and Boston Terrier. His coloring is very similar to Tara's, but he only weighs 8 lbs. (compared to Tara's 17 lbs.), has a massive underbite, huge ears, and a mind of his own. He can jump like he walks on springs and bark louder than any other small dog I have ever met. They are quite a pair.

I think the problem I am having is I just don't have the time to devote to them now that I am working. I didn't want to see it before, but the more time I spend away from home the worse I feel about it, and the worse they act. I'm hoping either my schedule lets up a little so I can spend more time with them or we will be able to find them a good home where they will get the love and attention they deserve.