Well another year has come and gone like leaves on the wind. The kids are getting older and so am I. School is getting tougher and so am I. Bills are getting bigger and so am...wait a minute. I don't think I'll finish that.
We have added a dog to our private zoo. Not just any dog, but a 60-pound stray the boys found. Well she didn't weigh 60 pounds when they found her, but she does now. She's a mix of Pit Bull, German Shepard and Beagle we think. She digs. She makes holes. She excavates my back yard. She's smart and I'm convinced she needs to be on the same medication as the boys for hyperactivity.
We also have a new drum set. What? What did you say? I said we also have a new drum set! The boys have both had band and were spending all their time over at their friends arguing over who gets to play. So in a moment of complete lunacy, I decided they needed their own set. I said, I decided they needed their own set to keep them home. To keep them at home! What? Yes, I know I'm an idiot. All parents are idiots. What? Oh forget it.
I am still a librarian for Key Elementary School and I still love my job. Cherie is a junior in High School and we are praying very hard that we all make it through to her graduation. Chris is in the 8th grade and likes all of his classes except math and history. Robert is in the 7th grade and really likes Junior High.
I have really started to push the kids to start making goals for the future. Cherie is taking a class in medical terminology to make up some high school credits and she really likes it. She thinks she wants to be a paramedic. This is probably a good thing since Robert wants to ride BMX bikes professionally. Chris is so good with machines that I am trying to push him towards trade school. I need someone who is handy around the house. Of course I'll probably spend most of the time picking up his tools.
Cherie and I are both trying to lose weight. We are attending Weight Watchers and have been somewhat successful. I have rediscovered soup, water, and rice cakes. I have also discovered that if you invite a bunch of people over, cleaning the house is worth 2 pounds. Cleaning up the back yard is worth 4 pounds especially if you pull weeds. If you have to chase the dog to keep it out of the flowers, that's worth a quarter pound. If you decide you've had enough exercise and get pizza for dinner you blow the whole deal and have to start all over again.
This has been a tough year for our family. We lost a good friend John M. to a brain aneurysm and Jeff K. to cancer. We loved them both and will trust them to God's loving care until we meet again. I hope this letter finds all of you in good health and happy in the love of your family. If any of you need a dog just let me know.
