It's been nearly forever.

So it's been nearly forever since I last updated everyone on how things are going in our lives. So here's some updates.

The House: I had grand plans this past weekend to get lots and lots done around the house. Unfortunately God had a different plan and gave us a BEAUTIFUL weekend so I didn't want to get any housework done. We did finish the bathroom (okay, so we still need to caulk the trim and touch up the ceiling). So I can put a done stamp on that one. I've painted the trim in the dining room, but that's about it as far as work on the house goes. I'm frustrated that it's taking so long, but at the same time I want to spend time with my husband when he's home that is not painting or working on the house. Hmmm... guess I'll have to get over that one, or we're never going to get anything done on this place.

We got a kitten! She is super cute and her name is Lina. We have a sort of tradition in our family (thanks Joe!) to name our cats something that begins with the word cat. Joe began it all with Strophic (Catastrophic) and we continued it with Maran (Catamaran) who now lives with my parents, and now we've continued the journey with Lina (Catalina). I was also thinking Clysmic (cataclysmic... you get the idea) but couldn't see my self yelling it when she did something bad. Lina just sounds so much more girly and somewhat normal. (Why am I worried about normal cat names?) I'll post pictures of her one of these days. She's quite the fluffball.

Charlotte: Charlotte will be three in three weeks. She is talking so much more and you can actually understand a lot more now. I"m continually amazed that God is so gracious, and despite her difficult beginning, he has blessed us with a perfectly normal child who is so full of life and spunk. Truly amazing to think of her journey into the world so early and how she struggled for breath on her first days here, now we can't get her to sit down for five minutes. I'm continually humbled by it all.

Joshua: Joshua is working on catching up with his big sister in everything she does. He's so confident and fearless. He was standing on the top of the stepladder we have (it's only two steps, quit freaking out!) and trying to jump up and down. When I told him to get down because he may fall he shook his head at me and told me no! Then a bit later he came out of the hallway with Lina in arms upside down and being squished. Poor kitty. (I'm waiting for Charlotte to put her in the baby stroller and take her "baby" for a walk.) He cracks me up, and is so fond of eating it's not funny. Don't mess with that boy and his food.

Chris: works so hard for this family. I am so proud of him and all that he does. I am so fortunate that he is willing to work so hard for me to be able to go to school and stay home. I keep reminding myself that I need to work hard to make him proud and so that I can get finished so that he can stay home more. After I get my substitute credential, he can quit working for A-1 in the mornings to stay home with the kids while I'm working. Thank you Chris for being the Godly man that you are and I pray that you will be blessed by Him in your work. He has also taken on repairing computers lately. Last year (in 2007) I bought my laptop with our tax return, with the promise that Chris could build his the following year. So all year, he spent hours (and I do mean hours) researching parts and products and all the stuff that goes with it. Finally, we got our tax return this year and he built his computer. I was so looking forward to not having to hear about this part or that program. While we were waiting for it to ship and arrive my laptop died, and after figuring out that he couldn't fix it (it was a motherboard problem under warranty and recall) he sent it out for repair. Fast forward a month or so, laptop is back, new computer is put together and my laptop cord won't work anymore. Here comes the part research again. So part ordered, laptop fixed. Fast forward about another month or so and my parents computer dies. Meanwhile Chris has been working with my dad on several of his computer projects, and casually mentions to my parents that he could build them a better computer than they could get from Wal-Mart for about the same price. So here goes the research again... ugh! Anyway, now that's been bought, put together and he's also worked on Joe's computer and is currently sitting next to me trying to put my laptop together again. (He took it apart about two weeks ago because the cord stopped working again... and now he can't remember for sure how it goes back together :P LOL)

My turn? I finished up the spring semester with Liberty. I registered for some summer classes online and a tv class at Yuba College (so much cheaper than LU, when I don't have financial aid to pay for the classes). I am enjoying a few weeks off between them and yet I'm excited to get back so that I can work some more on getting it all done. I applied for a position with Sutter County Schools last week. There are two part time positions open that have flexible schedules (they're only 10 and 12.5 hours per week) and I hope to hear from them soon. I am no longer watching the Lee kids in the mornings which has been nice to only have my two kids, but it is kind of stressful financially. I am confident though that God won't leave us stranded financially. He has blessed us so much with this house and the things we have to take them away. (Not that he couldn't if it was his plan).
Now that I've written a novel, I'm going to close this post. I will post pictures of the new kitty this week (hopefully) and will write more later.

God Bless!