Fall, School, and Schedules!

Just noticed that September is coming to a close (how did that happen?), and I did not write a post (not one!) during the entire month! So here I am on September 30th squeaking one in.

It seems I have been off and running since my return from Romania. After having such an amazing experience, there was the usual decompression time, and even a melancholy-ness that surrounded me for a while. Sometimes responsibilities, schedules, new drivers(!),and new babies on the way are just what you need to push you back into the routine here at home!

Yes, Natalie has started her Junior year of High School and along with that, some changes for her. After much soul-searching, she decided to "move on" from competitive gymnastics. The combination of not planning to do gymnastics in college and the desire to have time to experience some other activities while in high school played a part in her decision. And, the Romania trip played a part in her decision too. While she misses the girls on the team, she has filled in her "blank" schedule quite nicely (and it is anything but blank now!). I even wonder now how we ever managed to get to gym practice 4 times per week! She has enjoyed taking once a week riding lessons at a training stable nearby and also now is involved with a dance/drama team. She is also a part of the student leadership in her Youth Group. And, oh yes, we are doing SCHOOL and soon ACT preparation and Romanian language classes and driving for Driver's Ed!

I am teaching an American Literature class for the High School co-op and enjoying it....mostly. I am realizing how little American Lit I had in H.S. or college! But the good thing is......I'm learning it now! Staying ahead with the Lesson planning is really the big challenge for me. And also, learning how to ask the right questions for the class discussions. I'm also teaching a Writing class.

Amongst all this I have moved my sewing machine up to Kristin's room. She moved out in July and is settled in a nice condo in Folsom. (We see her often which is nice. Sometimes we wonder if she misses us, or has just run short on her grocery budget...! Either way, it's fine with us!) So, in my new "sewing room" I am working on a couple of projects: a quilt top for Natalie and a baby quilt for the new baby! I am almost done with the quilt top, so I can then start on the baby's quilt! YAY!

For my birthday, Chris surprised me with a new laptop computer! It is really nice and I have been having fun getting acquainted with it. No matter how great your old computer was, when a new one arrives you feel like you are light years ahead in technology! Which in most cases, means you are now up to speed with where you should have been. The new computer came accompanied by a new wireless printer. Yep, I press the Print button on my laptop in the kitchen, and presto! my document is printed. This has been a great help in my class preparation. Speaking of that....off to read Ben Franklin and Washington Irving!