Annual Newsletter

When writing a personal letter to a friend (I didn’t have to time to think about a form letter when I started my Christmas cards last week) I realized that this could suffice as a post for my blogs that I have sadly neglected lately. So here you go…my Christmas newsletter (which most of you reading probably already know J)

I am working part time in the school office so my life the last two years has taken a drastic turn. I enjoy working out rather than doing housework, if only I had a maid. But truth be told, I’d rather work in a classroom. But my health (I’m getting old) will not permit me to make that kind of commitment. It’s more flexible to work in the office and not as demanding (well, sometimes, anyway…I feel like there is so much that I don’t know and that I might be missing something I don’t realize, but whatever, I guess I’ll survive). We have 78 students this year which makes for a nice group of kids but definitely more work for us to keep up with!

Britnee is 11.5 yrs and is our tomboy. She hates pink and boys, but loves animals and sports. I wonder where we went wrong with her, but then I think back to the fact that I wasn’t exactly a girly girl—but I WAS a flirt. But I’m sure it will catch up with her one of these days. She is in 6^th grade and joined Girl Scouts this year. She enjoys projects, so this seemed like a good outlet for her. She also enjoys tending to our cats, Pudge and Twiz, as well as our fish whose names I cannot remember. She is a writer and likes to stay in touch with her friends and has also acquired a few pen pals this year.

Janae turns 9 next Tuesday (the 19^th). Her assistant teacher told me recently that she is an over-achiever and I think that was a compliment. Rachel, the assistant, realized that Janae needs to be noticed even though she doesn’t require much attention per say needing help with her school work or setting her goals and I appreciate Rachel’s perception. But I digress…Janae was chosen for one of the lead parts in her school Christmas drama, “Peanut Butter Christmas”. She did a fabulous job. We were so proud of her, even if we didn’t get pictures or video of her b/c I had to direct the music and Tony helped in the sound booth L

Kerrigan is soon to be 6 and in Kindergarten. I was very nervous about her going to school instead of me homeschooling like I did the other two. Besides she was to be in aBeka rather than ACE that I used for Britnee and Janae. We were nervous also b/c at home she is very aggressive and we just knew we would be in the principal’s more in this first year with her than all the other years with Brit and Nae. But, she has surprised us and even though she is actually shy in the classroom, she is doing very well. She is learning to read, and though I can see she will have challenges that are different than the other girls, it will be a learning experience for us. Britnee and Janae have very different personalities but they have similar learning methods so Kerrigan has broken the mold and we are starting all over again. But we’ll make it.

She is my girly girl and sometimes a little too much. Very into princesses and Barbies and anything that shimmers and sparkles!

Tony and business partner, Jon Cooper, started a new venture this year. They are building software to automate the recruiting process and have had very positive experiences with each and every company that they have worked with this year. Tony resigned from his position with Yoh IT in March and has been doing the job of 5 people with the new company, Tridge Alliance, Inc. – named for the Tridge in Midland, MI. They are bridging the gap between the client and the companies that they recruit for, thus the name, Tridge. You can see their website at Tridge Alliance, Inc.

As mentioned, I stay busy with school and house work. In my spare time, I am webmaster for our school website FCA and Tony and I also update the church’s website FBHC.

I also try to maintain a couple of blogs when I have time, which lately, have had few posts.

My mom broke her hip in August and had to have surgery to replace the ball and a portion below it. She has recovered remarkably well physically. But she had been experiencing memory loss prior to this time and the surgery, anesthetic and medicine escalated the dementia and life has not been easy since for her or my father. She has had many days when she does not know him and that has been very exhausting and difficult.

Dad has had a recurrence of pulmonary fibrosis which requires him to use oxygen. Stress accelerates the disease and he has certainly had his share of stress lately. On Labor Day, we were leaving to head back home to Indiana and he showed symptoms of possible stroke, so we encouraged him to go to ER and get checked. He was not super-pleased and thought we were chasing a wild goose. But he went so we could all have peace of mind. They dismissed it as a TIA (mini stroke) and then we found out later that his lack of oxygen could certainly have caused similar symptoms. It all made sense.

Tony’s parents are doing well. They are staying young taking care of Liz, who will soon be a teenager! His brother, Lauren’s, position at Excel in Kentucky was eliminated last December, so he has moved back home to attend Mid Michigan Community College. He found a girl up there (kind of reminds us of when Tony came home from UBC due to illness and never returned JJ) and time will tell what all becomes of that romance. They DO look good together though!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful, prosperous New Year!!