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.