Long time no write.

Wow, I am embarrassed by how long it has been. It is writing that is taking me away from this blog and I have made some strides in this area.

I finished my Mirror Images book and am working on another, Monsters Within. After I get done with this one, I plan to edit both and go from there.

Bob has been working steadily with his job at Teledyne. He seems more secure about it and they do keep him busy. Bob did get a job close enough to Drew to go visit one weekend.

I have been doing my 26th year of teaching and it has been a hard one. So much work added on and so many changes without clear instruction made me really question if I want to do this or not. And if I want to do this at Holden. I really almost went home the third day of school at 8:15 and later I did go home one day because of the stress. However, I did some pro-active things and it is better. I still dread going to work, but not at much. The irony is that I really do enjoy the students and that is the part people say to me, "I don't know how you can work with those kids." Gladly.

Our kids are kind of all over the place.

Rachel went to Vegas to "celebrate" a birthday that ends in zero. She is working at Strate's Drive-In. And mothering her children.

Drew is still stationed in Colorado, but his health issues from the malaria he had last October still trouble him. I guess the good news is he will probably not deploy because of them. And the bad news is that he has them. He did get to go Elk hunting with his Dad and Uncle Bobby in Colorado this fall and he enjoyed it even without getting an elk. He also go to come home for a brief Thanksgiving visit.

Michael called and said he has decided to join the Army and goes to basic in March. Bob is struggling some with that. That, I understand well.

Ryan is looking for some seasonal work.

They are both in CT.

The grandchildren are joy that keeps growing. Veronica is in fifth grade and full of attitude. She seems much happier at school this year. She is actually getting figure and I am not thrilled. She is only in fifth grade! We just had a tea for her friends and they had a great time playing with their American Girl dolls and being Cat Warriors...it's a book series.

Cash is blaring through his second year of pre-school and is showing he is quite bright. He also is showing some spirit. Maybe a little too much sometimes for the teachers. He is a sweet boy who doesn't want to upset people though.

Mom is still down the street and I see her a lot. She keeps feeding us and helps Veronica with her homework. She and Veronica are in an afterschool bookclub together. And she has been busy helping my brother Bill and sister-in-law Debbie because of some of their health issues. Bev, my sister, has been keeping her busy too with some things for the new house she bought in Raintree. It will be much closer for Bev to get to Harrisonville since she spends a lot of time there.

We have had some good times. We went to the Renaissance Festival and the Holden Fair.

And we have been busy too. Hope we have and everyone else has a good holiday season.

July Ends 2011

Another month is nearly passed. And it is HOT in ole' Missouri. 106 has been the actual temperature some days. Heat index? BURN!

We made to and from our vacation to CO and had a good time. Everyone kind of did their own activities so we gambled, hiked, hunted fossils, toured museums (whore house was the most interesting), rode trains, shopped, took old time pictures, ate-a lot, fed the donkeys, had tea, played in the park, soaked in the hot tub, saw deer and a fox, played board games, played the piano, and enjoyed staying together in the Dusty Rose Cottage. Renting a house is the way to go, if you have a lot of people.

Seeing Drew was the best part, but I wish he felt better physically.

Bob has been home mostly this summer. Rach has been working. Veronica and Cash staying with their babysitter. Mom hiding in the air conditioning.

Me, writing. And I am currently slamming to get a FULL manuscript ready for perusal by an agent. I don't think anything will come from it, but it is forcing me to get my butt in gear. Sometimes I really like the writing. And sometimes I do not.

School starts in a couple of weeks and I am have not accomplished everything I want.

Now, I am off to bed, so I can spend tomorrow with Cash and Veronica.

July

Mid month.

Summer rolls on. I have enjoying my time off and my body feels better because of less standing. During the school year, I am always so sore that it surprises me when I don't feel pain. Darn Arthritis!

Bob has been working or observing during his new training period for some time. He has had a little time off recently and he has been enjoying it.

We are going on a family vacation to see Drew. Bob, Goldie, Mom, Rachel, Veronica, Cash, and my sister-in-law Debbie. Hope Drew is ready an invasion!

I have been hitting the writing hard and writing career goals. And I have accomplished some, but not all I hoped.

The kids and I have done some "Fabulous Fridays" and they have been fun.

Rachel and I went to see Motley Crue and Poison. We are rockers at heart!

We had a nice 4th of July with dinner at Mom's.

Bob has been preparing a paleontologist fossil kit for Veronica. She will be so excited. And he is too. They are ready to go fossil hunting now!

We are enjoying the new kitten, Hercules. He moves much more than Xena.

Mike and Ryan called this morning. EARLY. They are doing okay. But I think I am ready to go back to sleep. Good night/morning.

June 18, 2011

Happy almost Father's Day to Bob and other fathers!

Wow, school vacation is in full swing for me. I am feeling rested and not so sore. I have been writing some, but need to write more.

Bob is working very steadily at his new job at Teledyne Industries. So far, mostly training, but is getting closer to working completely on his own. Has been driving around a lot. Had to dodge some Missouri River flooding yesterday.

Rach is working at Strate's Drive-In and looking for other jobs. She is looking forward to the upcoming Colorado vacation.

Drew is working at job in Army in CO. He has been taking mountain motorcycle rides and seems to enjoy them. I think he is looking forward to all of us coming to visit.

Mom is bored, but trying to keep busy. She went to Boonville gambling recently.

Veronica and Cash are enjoying their summer. They like their daytime babysitter. They have been swimming and we had a great Fabulous Friday with the Grandmas at Powell Gardens.

We have a new kitten, Hercules. He likes to sleep on my feet when I am writing.

Other than that, things are pretty normal around here. I am off to clean the refrigerator. Good times. Necessary times!

CELEBRATIONS GALORE!

So much to celebrate!

Birthdays for Veronica, Bev, and Cash. Veronica's actual birthday at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Co-birthday party for both kids and friends at laser tag. Lots of tag, pizza, an awesome cake and fun. (Except somebody's grandma got a ticket for speeding on the way. Sorry Cash.) Rachel survived the multiple preteen girls spending the night. Cash's regular birthday was Batman themed. They got great gifts and now they are 10 and 4. And my sister Bev is older too.

Went to graduations for my "ex" niece Lisa and nephew Bryan. Also, Melissa graduated 8th grade. Went to Lisa's graduation party and had a nice time visiting with her family. Then Bob and I went to his nephew Cameron's graduation. So, I saw a graduation with about 12 kids, 100 kids and 700 kids. All were nice.

Everything is moving along here. Bob has been working and is coming home on weekends. It is nice for him to get home on a more regular basis. He did find a really wonderful doll for Veronica. She was just speechless with joy when she saw it.

I am finishing school. Kids are done this week on Tuesday and I am done on Friday. I am finishing my 25th year. Wow, a quarter of a century. It is my longest commitment ever. And I really love it still.

This week we are doing an end of the year dance for our students...okay I am not exactly dancing...but I got to help choreograph. I miss that part from my drama teaching days.

Hope everyone's week is grand!

Another Week Down

May 15...Birthdays and Graduations Galore.

First, celebrated Veronica's 10th birthday this week on Monday. She had a great time at our favorite Mexican restaurant. But I think she has a crush on her favorite waiter. She left cake for the staff and said, "Please make sure Delphino gets a piece."

Second, then joint birthday party at laser tag for Cash and Veronica. Lots of kids for tag, pizza, and a really cool cake. Then Cash came home with me and he and Poppie played with the toys. Rach took numerous girls home for a sleep over with makeup, movies, perfume making. We all survived, but Cash was a little concerned about getting to the party since somebody got a speeding ticket on the way. And it wasn't Bob the slowpoke driver. We will celebrate again on Wednesday with Cash's real birthday where he turns 4. And my sister Bev experienced a birthday too.

Graduations abound this week. My "ex" niece and nephew Lisa and Bryan graduate this week and so does Bob's nephew Cameron.

Bob went to training all week and is off again to Iowa. He gets to come home most weekends with this job and I know he is glad to get this break.

I am really busy. I have said that before, but this is end of the year busy and it is a whole different ballgame. And arthritis sucks! But I got to read my favorite Of Mice and Men to this year's students and see the joy on their faces when they get it. We have 8th Grad Celebration Monday night and it is a lot of work, but lots of fun too. I will miss this year's class!

I went to my HeRA writers group meeting and it went well. Good speaker and lots of new people to meet.

I will be so glad to end my 25th year of teaching. I love the job and the students but I am tired. I am looking forward to not doing much of anything this summer. I plan to sleep, exercise, diet, do some stuff with family, and WRITE. I am ready to move forward with some goals. I also intend to continue Fabulous Fridays with Grandma. Looking forward to spoiling the grandbabies some. And I will probably get a visit in with Drew.

Now to continue my chores for the day! They are numerous!

We go on.

WOW. A lot has been happening around here. Some of it is good. Much of it has not been.

Bob lost his job when the whole division closed down. He had fourteen years with Forney, but they had been changing management and company ownership so much that things became ineffectively run. He actually got job offers the next day, and took the one that called at 9:30 the next morning. It took awhile for him to be interviewed, do some tests, and get through some paperwork.

Bob started work last week, but early in the morning of his first day at training, his mom, Toni passed away. She has been ill for a number of years and had recently been in the hospital. The nice thing about Bob having been off from work was that he had been able to spend more time with Toni since his dad, Herman passed away ten weeks ago. It is sad for everyone, but Toni had been in a lot of physical pain and emotional pain and it helps us a little to know that has lessens. His work was really nice and helped him get back in time for the funeral. However, hard times for Bob.

I am looking forward the last weeks of school. I am ready to have a break. I have enjoyed my students greatly this year, but this has been a stressful spring. I did finally get word that I will be working in the MS and not the HS. I am glad. I like my MS kids and no, I am not crazy. Okay, a little. This summer I plan to do some serious writing toward my goal of publication.

Rachel is working and looking for a better job with more potential. Her birthday is looming in August and she changes the first digit, so I think she is a little freaked out. She has been successfully losing some weight and working out hard to make it happen.

Drew is still in CO, but his unit is scheduled to deploy again in less than a year. We found out his health problems are not life threatening, but they will limit some of the things he can do in the Army. Not certain what he will do next.

Mike and Ryan are working in CT.

Veronica will be overjoyed to finish 4th grade. She has developed some interest in boys, and Bob seems to be having the most trouble with that concept. Veronica is turning 10 on May 9. I think I may cry. She is quite funny but get some of moodiness that goes along with growing up. She loves her dog!

Cash is finishing his first year of real preschool. He will soon be 4 on May 18 and that seems impossible too. He is playing soccer and seems to like it. Apparently there is a cougary 4th grader who has been kissing him on the mouth at school, and we are going to have a talk with her. Cash says he tries to run away.

My brother Bill is going to work for the park service in Montana. He will be supervising a campground. We are hoping a bear does not get him.

We have had some good times in the past weeks. Mom and I had birthdays which we celebrated at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Easter was nice at Mom's with my aunt and cousins. Bob got to go to a dinner and picture reminiscing session with his family.

And so it goes.

Spring at LAST!

Much has gone on in the months since the last post.

Bob's father Herman surprised us again and did pass on. He was 89 and it was upsetting to all. Bob's mom Toni has moved in to Ellen's new house.

Bob spent some time staying with Toni. He also has worked some in Springfield. He always has a job, but hadn't been going out to the field much. He also has been sick for weeks with his annual head cold.

Bob and Ellen (Ellen mostly) have been busy with all of the issues that come with a family death. Lots of paperwork.

I have not enjoyed much of the last few months myself. First it was weeks of snowdays and all of the planning chaos that causes at school. Then there was great talk of me transferring to the high school to work. I am not totally opposed to that, but I preferred to stay where I was. And I recently found out I will stay at the MS. I am too close to the end to want to start over. I also changed some of the things I am doing when it comes to writing. Some of that was dramatic, but hopefully positive. Too much stress aggravated my arthritis and that has not been so fun.

Rachel has been working at Strate's Drive-in. She and the kids spent more time here due to snowdays. And she made the kids' world by getting them a little dog. The dog is spoiled. It has made friends with all of the family and gotten presents from most of them.

Veronica is making her way through fourth grade. Math is still not her favorite subject, but she did well enough on MAP Communication Arts to get to take a special test. She is learning to sew.

Cash is enjoying preschool. He has four male friends and he does not kiss girls there. It is not allowed. He just started soccer.

Mike and Ryan are still in CT and working on getting regular jobs. They have been doing a lot of part-time jobs.

My mom is good. She does a lot to help take care of Rachel's children. Every evening after school she helps Veronica with her homework. She has a birthday this week and on Friday we are going to a casino in Booneville to see David Cassidy.

Drew has been a concern for us. He has been ill and experiences stomach pains. Currently, we are waiting on biopsies. He is on special office duties in the Army in CO. He would like some relief from the pain and the chance to go forward in his career.


All in all not our best quarter of a year, but we will hope for better days. And Spring is really welcome!

Death in the family?

No. We had thought that Bob's father Herman was going to die this week due to his poor health. In fact, the doctors had prepared us for this. It was a shock (a good one) that Herman was healthier than the doctors anticipated and he was able to breathe on his own without a ventilator. He is not fixed, but he is going home.

The Annual Family Update

2010 in Review and Happy New Year!
All that is Edwards, Atkinson, and Knox

Why send Christmas letters…

when you can procrastinate…
and send New Year’s Greetings!
First, we are all well and hope you are too! And we are looking forward to putting 2010 behind us and jumping into 2011! Watch out below!

Bob is first in our end of year round up. He is fine. He worked all of this year as a field technician for Forney Corporation based in Texas. Other than a brief try at another company last year, this is where he has been for the past thirteen years. He made it through another change in leadership, but things seem more stable on that end. He actually has not traveled much this year, but has gone to Argentina, Mexico, California, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and good old Springfield, MO. He has been doing a little writing of his own and spends a great deal of his time ruling worlds on his games.

I lost some weight, gained some back, and decided to lose some more. I spent some of my summer walking in the morning with the Senior Citizens (and Mom). In an attempt to be more physically active, I’ve done walking, working out at the gym, some bike riding, the current river walk at the pool, Wii Just Dance, and I accepted that I am too inflexible to do “Yoga for Inflexible People”. Free DVD available. I introduced on own summer program with my grandkids called, “Fabulous Fridays with Grandma.” We went swimming and to the various places for kids in the Warrensburg and KC areas. We had fun! I continued to write some, but am ready to get more serious. Speaking of serious, my 25th year of school has been HARD on me. Lots of changes…which I am not opposed to in general…, less than stellar management, and some unrealistic expectations about sent all of the teachers over the edge of sanity. Thank goodness I love the kids and my coworkers. There is a possibility I may be moving back to the high school to finish out my years, but we will see.

Rachel has had a rough year. There has been lots of stress with some of her family and in business with them and only some of it of her making. She is busy but keeps moving in a forward manner. I have faith that this year will be better for her. She’s been enjoying helping with Room Mother activities for Cash. She enjoyed our Branson trip and she went to CO to be with Drew when he was sick.

Drew has made all of us VERY happy this year by returning home alive from fighting in Afghanistan. He came home for a visit last February, then returned to the US for good at the end of May. He came home on leave for a nice visit in June/July. Then he came home again this fall for an unplanned convalescent leave due to the fact that he had contracted malaria while in Afghanistan. It took the Army a while to figure out what was wrong and he was quite ill and hospitalized for a week. Overall he is better, but returns to the base from his Christmas visit determined to get his liver functioning correctly. Once that occurs he is looking at some options for service, since the malaria limits his combat options somewhat. We are just happy to have him back and think often of those soldiers still serving overseas.

Mike and Ryan continue to live in CT. This has been a rough year for them too as they struggle to find ways to support themselves. Currently they are both working on getting some job training. Michael is going to go to Culinary training. Ryan has been working various temporary jobs and he has talked about joining a friend on a shrimping boat.

Veronica is a nine-year-old fourth grader. Fortunately, she still thinks most boy are “stinky”, but she continues to be a beautiful child who has gotten much taller. She managed to break her front permanent teeth off, but her bonding looks pretty good. She did not care much for multiplication or division, but has made great strides in both this year. Veronica is quite pleased with the after school arrangement that enables her to go to Grandma Martha’s after school to do homework and eat snacks. Veronica likes to write stories and design clothes for her Barbie. Veronica continues to be the Craft Queen, (much to her teacher’s dismay) is learning to sew, and she lives in hope of getting a puppy.

Cash is three and a half and is enrolled in “real” preschool. He, like all my grandchildren, is quite bright. He also enjoys talking…a lot! He is quite creative with his storytelling. He is really sweet. He has a good memory for things he likes. And although he loves all of us, I have never seen a child that loved his uncle as much as Cash adores Drew. Cash enjoys waffles, Batman, the color blue, and Buzz Lightyear. Early on at preschool he got in trouble for biting another child. When I told him, “It is not nice to bite your friends,” his response was, “They’re not all my friends.” Enough said.

We did some family traveling together this year. We all went to Branson where we enjoyed shows, helicopters, swimming, waltzing waters, and magic! Mom and I went to CO to a writers’ convention and met some of our favorites. Then we visited Drew. We had a nice trip to the zoo too.

Our ugly Beta fish Jack has died. We have not replaced him. Xena, our cat lives on…sometimes just barely as she is OLD!

And that brings us to the end of the update on our immediate family. Now, on to our extended family…

My mom turned 65 in March. She is retired but has been busy feeding us good food, tutoring Veronica, and organizing a family reunion for her mother’s side of the family. Since moving to MO, she has purchased and renovated her house. We enjoyed the fair parade from her new lawn. She also has been dealing with the deaths of her brother-in-law Wilbur and her only brother Forrest. Not easy times for her.

We were also saddened to hear that my Uncle John passed away in November. He was the last of my father’s brothers and I knew him better than most. I was glad that Mom and I got to visit with his family when we were in CO in July.
My sister Bev is still working for the Juvenile Department. She continues to be very busy. She stills lives in Warrensburg, but drives a great deal over to Cass County.

My brother Bill and his wife Debbie moved into the country this year near LaTour. He has been quite ill this year with some blood pressure and migraine issues. Hopefully, he will get those taken care of soon. He has been enjoying doing some leather and knife work. Debbie lost her son Josh in July and has been busy helping to care for her other son David who has been ill. Through it all she continues to be the kind person she has always been, but this has been hard on her. They both enjoy their grandchildren.

Bob’s parents are good. Some days are better than others for Toni when it comes to her health. They both enjoy the visits from Veronica and Cash. Veronica gets with Toni and just jabbers to her. Cash is a little more subdued, but they have good toys to play with and it doesn’t take him too long to loosen up.

Bob’s sister Ellen is busy with her boys Cameron and Logan. Cameron is graduating in the spring and has done exceptionally well on testing and is getting scholarship offers. Ellen does a lot to help Herman and Toni.

And that brings us to the end...

All in all 2011 had…lots of ups…lots of downs…lots of laughs…lots of tears, but mostly lots of love.

We hope 2011 brings you all the good things and very little of the bad.

Goldie and Bob, Rachel, Drew, Michael, Ryan, Veronica, Cash and Xena