Whew! That's the short version. So much more to tell though. I successfully simplified my life this year by scaling back on activities. This was met with a little bit of complaining by my girls, but in the end, they are loving our simplified days/weeks. That's something I've learned over the years:
In the end, I'm still in charge. You can't cave too much to the whims of your kids in an effort to make them happy. You (guided by the Holy Spirit) know best and have to make tough decisions that, in time, your children will understand. This is especially true the more children you have; impossible to make everyone happy so choose what's best for the family.
Ruth especially seems to be benefiting from more routine and structure in her school days. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday she is home working on her school work. Thursday mornings she demonstrates dance to a class of 3 year olds (her cousin is in it). Then, she has a light load of school to do. She also dances Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Tuesday is her long night; she is up there for 5 hours. She also demonstrates for a class of 4 year olds on Saturday mornings. She is doing GREAT in her school work and applying herself. What I remind her of constantly is that this is not the summer. It's not about free time and playing and friends; it's the school year and she's in 6th grade now and that takes hard work. I still give her time to play as often as possible, it's just a struggle to keep her focused sometimes. That's as it should be! Here she is with me at a hockey game.
Jane has had a very busy fall. She took the ACT (I'm not allowed to divulge her score, but it did earn her a $9,000 scholarship from Webster University), she was the Snow Queen as well as a clown, merleton, and doll variation in the Nutcracker, and she worked with her dance instructor to create a solo audition for the dance department at Webster U. I'm happy to report she was quickly accepted and her plans to attend Webster U. and major in dance are set in motion! She's a lucky girl to know what she wants and to have it, so far, work out. She has a busy second semester finishing up her classes and dancing 7.5-10 hours a week. In addition to her regular dance classes, she is having to work on her senior solo for the 2016 recital. Here she just got her acceptance letter!
Sam is doing wonderful. He worked last summer at an engineering firm as an intern. He was so lucky to get that job and they PAID for him to get certified in cement (I didn't even know that was a thing). He's checking with Missouri S&T to see if they'll give him credit for it. It was hours of studying and he had to pass a test. Hopefully, it gets him that much closer to graduating. Even though this is only his second year at college, he'll be a junior this semester. He says with his goal of dual majoring in civil and architectural engineering, he'll be hard pressed to graduate in 4 years. Still, he's doing great. Here are the three boys (l-r) Martin, Leo, and Sam. We are out to dinner for Martin's 24th birthday.
Leo has turned a corner by being the first of our kids to graduate college. He graduated in December with a BS degree in Business with an emphasis in Marketing. He intends to go on and get his masters in Finance, but he's been advised to gain some real world experience first. I think that is sound advice. He is still working for the company that he's been interning for, but he'd like to find something else. He is grateful for the job, but it's not challenging him; he wants more. I hope he can find something that makes him feel like it was all worth it. Ideally, he'll get a job with a company that will eventually help him get his masters. In the meantime, he's itching to move out, buy a car, and just generally get on with his life. It's time!
A year ago, Martin was considering yet again the military. It's been on the table since he was a senior in high school. Boy! Am I glad he didn't enlist then?! Now, I don't feel so anxious about it. I've seen him start to go down so many roads, only to have doors shut. I can only conclude that this must be where God wants him. A year ago, he decided that since he didn't think he was going to make a career out of the military, he would instead pursue being a firefighter; specifically a paramedic. As he went through EMT Certification, he discovered that he was going to struggle with certain aspects of the job. Things like waiting for the police to secure a hostage situation before attempted to help any wounded. In his words, "I just don't think I can do that; it's not me." Back at Thanksgiving, I think he decided to enlist. He told his dad and I on Christmas Eve and I have to say I'm just happy for him. I think the time is right and he is really ready to be a Marine! He'll be going to San Diego in early February and I think he'll be gone for six months. So much I don't know. We are not a military family so this is all new territory for us. Very exciting though!
That's what's up with the kids. Next post, I'll catch you up on Marty and me.
