Another one...

Last night Noelle told me that she had been reading this blog - and today I went back an re-read it, too. It made me realize how much I enjoyed writing it...and how cool it is to go back and remember little snippets of time. I had forgotten many of the incidents that I had written about. Now I'm mad that I skipped so many years! Rather than try to catch up, I think I'll just jump in. Akaela is getting ready for graduation - in less than three weeks! This is my sixth child, so it's not like I haven't been to this rodeo, but each one breaks my heart a little. This weekend I put together her picture boards - I'm not a scrapbooker - I think they are incredible, but I've never found the time to do that - so I just make copies of pictures through the years and glue them to a posterboard. Not fancy, but the goal is to share some of our lives with friends that will gather to celebrate her accomplishment - and so it does the job. I know that I am far from alone, but the overwhelming sentiment that keeps running through my head is "Where did the time go?" She was just a little girl! If I'm not careful, I will go down the weepy road, not for the first time - hello she is number six! You'd think I'd have gotten used to it by now, but I've grieved for each and every oneof my babies that has grown up and left my round-the-clock watchful eye...much as I did the first day I dropped them off at daycare. In the beginning, those babies were all a part of me, and no matter that they are (al)most all taller than me, no matter how many decades old they are, each step toward independance is a step away from me. Of course, that's the goal! :-) but it doesn't mean it doesn't ache. Because the truth of the matter is that, of all the hats I've ever worn, or will, the one that fits the best, that I love the most, is the mommy hat. That being said, fear not, you first timers! I'm blessed to have a great relationship with my grown kids(some more than others) and the relationship isn't over, it's just changing. It's still a blessing, and sometimes it gets a lot better once those teenage hormones (or stabs at independance from YOU) recede. You change, eventually, to more of a friend than a director...so it's okay. At least, that's what I keep telling myself... Blessings, all! Lisa

It's been years!

Hello all, Recently I have been corresponding with my Uncle, and he told me that he had gone to my blog. He really enjoyed seeing all the kids, etc...but wondered if it was true that I hadn't entered a post since 2009. I knew it had been awhile, but 2009? The old adage about time flying when you get old is true! So much to catch up on, almost impossible to do...so I will just continue on, or the job seems too daunting. Nick graduated from Kearney High in May, and is going to head to Southeast Community College in Lincoln in the fall. :-( Akaela is going to be a senior, and has been in Denver all summer babysitting for Katie's baby, Gavin. Noelle is going to be in the 7th grade in the fall, still at Zion. I'm doing pretty well in my new career. I'm really enjoying it a lot. I have the opportunity to meet a lot of nice people, and to help them. What's not to like? But, I do work a lot of late nights. Dad had a stroke in Feb 2011, and is doing well physically, but is quite cognitively impaired. We feel blessed to still have him, but it is hard to watch him decline. We were able to go and see him earlier this month, and it was very hard to leave. I'm his power of attorney, and that's another reason that I just haven't had time to update. The Olympics are on again! I love them! I'm just pooped from staying up too late watching. It's kind of funny because I don't listen to the radio, or watch the news, and I even avert my eyes when I go onto the internet so as not to see the headlines about who has won anything. I want to see it for myself in prime time! Each time they are on, I want to visit whatever part of the world they are taking place in. The networks do a great job of showing the highlights of London, this time, Beijing last time, etc. I guess if I was rich, I'd be a world traveler. At least we have TV these days to see what we'll never get to. I'll try to add some pictures later. Blessings All! Lisa

They're growing up!

Hi Everyone!
Sorry it's been so long, I've been working so many hours -
Nick had a track meet - he is doing the high jump, long jump and triple jump - and he also ran the 200 that day. He got 2nd place in the high jump at this meet. Pretty cool! He has now outgrown his dad and he is really proud of that!
Akaela just had her confirmation dinner tonight. She got to wear her dress and they took pictures at the church. It was a fun evening, but next Sunday is the big confirmation for her.
Actually next week will be pretty crazy for us - Kenny and Kristi are going out of town, so we will have their kids starting on Thursday night. Katie will come home on Friday, then on Saturday we go to Seward for the Lutheran state track meet - all day long! Sunday is the confirmation so sometime in there I need to do some cooking - Akaela has a hair appointment at 8:30 AM and she needs to be to the church by 10:30, so we will be cutting it close and I don't see how any cooking will be done that morning! Akaela and her Zion classmates are all having their party together at the church - Trevor, Derrick and Cole - it will be fun!
Then on Monday is the Worms track and field day for Akaela and Noelle - so busy, busy, busy!
I'm enjoying helping people with insurance. I've met so many nice and interesting people. Every day is an adventure. The downside is that I'm away from home a lot more, and I miss the family - they might miss me, but they REALLY miss my cooking. :-) I try to do crockpot meals when I can for them...
Anyhow, it's late so I better fly - Enjoy the pics!

Hi All!
On Saturday, Akaela performed at the Gathering of the Talents - this is the first year that we have attended - what a great event!
It is held at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. All the Lutheran schoolkids can enter - the categories are singing, instrumental music, art, writing, inspirational readings - and probably more that I'm not aware of. I'm hoping that Noelle will be interested in going next year.
We also had Kenny and his kids over for the weekend because Derek had a wrestling meet in Kearney, so we had a lot of fun with them! The baby is getting so big! He was an angel even during church and we went to a movie and he lasted through that without a hitch too.
Many are asking how the new job is going - and I think it's going well. I still have so much to learn, but the good news is that I'm actually starting to be comfortable with some of it - AND - I got my first paycheck! (It was a little one -commissions only! - but it felt good to get after making no money for two months!) The good news is that I am meeting lots of people - and I am really enjoying that part of it - Every morning when I'm driving to work, I pray that we find someone we can help today. A few years ago I went to Athens, Georgia to help roll out some diversity training. One of my friends there had me start up his computer after it had gone to sleep and his password was "Servant's Heart". Since then, I have repeated that phrase to myself many times - sometimes when I am frustrated with people - or when I'm feeling down - and now as I meet people in this new job. It really does help with in all of those instances and more!
I'm getting to spend a lot of time with my biggest boy, too. And it's fun. We have never lost touch, but when you spend 10 - 12 hours/day together - you really get to reconnect! He has been great to work with, and he's a good trainer, too. If I had to say anything slightly negative, it's just that he's so good it's intimidating!

He made me an offer I couldn't refuse...

Tonight was the Zion auction. The theme was "Little Italy" so my dh went as Don Vito Corleone, and I was his dw, Carmella. I had a heck of a time getting my hair to look like I was in the 40's - but Ter looked great. For a German guy, he made a heck of a mobster. What do you think?
Noelle was so funny. She came upstairs as I was getting ready and said, "Mommy, why does your hair look funny?" I told her we had to go to the auction at Zion and we were dressing up like Italians. She said, "What is Italian?" I told her that Italy was a country in Europe. She said, "Oh, well - I'm not Italian, so do I have to dress up?" Turns out there was not a single Italian in the room tonight - probably a good thing considering the jokes that were told.
Blessings, all - enjoy the pics!

Back to work!

Hey all,
Today was my first "real" day back to work. Since I passed the test, I have been doing internal training and waiting for my license to arrive. I had about 10 courses to take and I'm happy to say that I'm done with them! But I still have so very much to learn that sometimes I'm scared half to death.
My dh, Ter, reminded me when I confessed my fears to him, that I have had many times during my career when I was faced with a new challenge - (backing up yet another person in my department, for instance) when at the beginning I thought I wouldl NEVER get, but after a few weeks of working at it, I was fine.
Anyhow, though I did pretty well today, my first appointments with live people will be on Monday....so we'll see how that goes!
to be continued...

Coming clean...

Hi all,
I have been quiet for awhile, I know - For the last 2-1/2 weeks, I have been studying for the Nebraska Insurance test - and I was more than worried that I wouldn't be able to pass it.
Do you know how long it's been since I took an actual test that was being graded? Anyone out there over 50 try to learn anything new? Holy smokes, I thought my brain was going to fall right out of my head! Then to add to the issue, I got sick just as I was starting, so my old brain was all stuffed up and sneezing information all over the place - I finally went to the doctor this week - on Tuesday because I had developed a fever (and I am required to go in whenever I get a fever because of the meds I am on) and he put me on large dosages of antibiotics, but they haven't worked quickly...
Anyway, yesterday I took the actual test. Quite a deal - I had brought tons of kleenex (the good kind with lotion) and they don't allow you to take anything in with you, so I had to leave them behind and use the rough kind that they had available. (Yes, you may refer to me as Rudolph today) and they fingerprint you with this little machine - three times each index finger - and if you should have to go to the bathroom during the testing, you have to be refingerprinted on the way out and on the way back in! Anyhow, after much (MUCH) prayer and chanting of "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me..", I finished the test and I PASSED !!!! I liken the relief to finally giving birth after 4 months on bedrest and a cane/walker...or close anyhow -

It feels wonderful to have a direction to be going in again. Although I actually did when I decided to start studying, it feels like a confirmation of doing the right thing since I have the embossed certificate in my purse saying that I passed the test.
And today I feel like I might actually live through this illness, too. I have, as they say, turned a corner.

So...it looks like I will go to work for Banker's Life - the company that my son Kenny works for - it will still be awhile as we need to send the forms into the state - and I have lots of training to do - but I am looking forward to it.
It will be a job where I will be meeting lots of people, and doing my best to help them out. Those are things that I have always wanted to be able to do in a career, so I'm hoping that it will all work out for the best.
Keep us in your prayers, as you are all in ours,
Lisa