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

Catching up

No update on the job front, but I do have some pictures to show, and a few stories to catch you up on... For New Years we went to the Holiday Inn and had a lot of fun - they have a dance every year - this was the first time we were able to go. The kids had a lot of fun - Ter was still recovering from surgery, but he was a good sport and though he went to rest for awhile, he came back at midnight to kiss me! We realized at that moment that this was the first time we had ever been out for New Year's! Akaela also got her braces off and her teeth look amazing! She is getting so pretty and growing up! Nick and Akaela are both playing basketball - such a difference this year for Nick at Kearney High! He's doing well, though. And Akaela is doing awesome - she broke the girls record by 12 points -and in only 3 quarters! Noelle has been a b-ball fan since she arrived (most of last season she was yelling in Mandarin) but she hadn't had any actual playing experience in China. We think that they don't do PE there - her muscle tone was almost nonexistent at first and she couldn't even shoot a ball close to the net - and jumping is an issue, too. BUT, she has been working at it and last week she made her first basket! Since then when she comes home from school, she gives me an update - 2 today, Mom! One day it was 4! We also took her in for a checkup and she has grown 3-1/2 inches and gained 13 pounds since she got home! She is now in the 70th percentile for her age! I am enjoying being home - things I always meant to get to are getting done - like cleaning out the pantry! Unfortunately, our finances won't allow me to be a permanent housewife, but I am enjoying it while I can! Of course, there are some unpleasant aspects to unemployment - but I am doing my best to see the glass as half full. Again, I thank my friends for being so great - emails, phone calls and hugs - tears and sad eyes - they all tell me that you care. And that means more to me than I can express. Mostly I don't cry anymore - and I am learning lessons! Just today I saw a woman on tv that had lost her arms and legs from a flesh eating bacteria - she was such a fighter - taking care of her family - and her face was so full of light. I cried (no surprise) at her story and realized that my problems are so small! I'm grateful that God is showing me so much during this time...my eyes are open to more because I am not so "busy". Blessings all! Lisa

I'm listening....

Hello all -
Last Tuesday, January 20th, I went to work as usual - and my boss called me into his office and let me know that my position had been eliminated. I, along with 13 others were let go from the Kearney plant - and Eaton as a whole let go 5200 people that day.
It was a blow - I'd been there for nearly 19 years, so as you can imagine, my world changed that day.
I left soon after I was told, unable to stop the tears, but returned the next day in order to tie up the loose ends and let my coworkers know where some issues stood. Ter was quite upset - and he felt that I should just let them figure it out, but I wanted to live my faith and do the right thing. It was a hard day, I did okay until people gave me sad eyes or hugs, but in the long run, I'm grateful that I did. I stayed till after five, beyond my 8 hours, in order to finish the filing and clean everything up.
I admit, at times I feel the fool, for all the extra time I worked, for always taking the extra step, going the extra mile, for giving the customers my home number, taking the 2 AM calls, being on two phones at once until 9 pm, setting up charter flights, while those above me slept. I feel as a wife who's husband has betrayed her - a fool for caring too much. But, when these feelings arise, I shrug them off, because I did my best and I can leave with a clear conscience.
It is concerning, because we lost 2/3 of our income, and we are still quite deep in debt because of the adoption. We went in debt purposely, knowing that her little life is worth it all, but we hadn't planned on this twist.
But, amazingly, I do have a sense of peace about it. I honestly feel that God has a plan for my life and that Eaton's part in it is over. I have been,even more since last Tuesday, been watching and listening intently for His direction. Though it's a bit scary - it is an exciting time, too! So many possibilities and opportunities!
I must also say, that it has been a time of blessings as well. So many people have shown me that they care, with tears and promises of prayers, sobs and hugs, that I feel humbled and thankful beyond words. It means so much to me that people showed me their concern and love. I feel so blessed.
Please say a prayer, if you think of it, and if any of you have a dream about what I'm supposed to do...you let me know!
Blessings,
Lisa