Sitting on the front porch, sipping a glass of lemonade, watching the kids dart in and out of shadows as twilight falls, I can't help but sigh with contentment. This is the time of year when fireflies wink in the bushes, and you can hear scattered shouts and squeals as kids play tag or basketball or, more than likely, football. This is the time for popsicles and dixie cups and water guns, the time when parents pull out the lawn chairs and barbeques, and the true American family spills onto the front lawns of the neighborhood. You hear, "howdy's" and "evening ma'am", sometimes the clink of a spur if someone has just come off the ranch, but more often the roar of motorcycles as people start pulling out their summer toys.
The smells of a Texan summer evening waft in and out of the trees. Sometimes they linger if the wind dies down, but more often they slip by. It's a peculiar scent filled state. Gasoline mixes with exotic tropical flowers, the scent of sweet fruits mingles with bug spray and sunscreen, and of course the faintest smell of damp sweat. It's a nice smell. The smell of hard work, determination and success.
I miss having Tanner in the chair next to me. I find it funny because it's not as if he ever really sat in the chair when we would come out here in the evenings. He would be the one chasing the kids, or he would be chasing the squirrel, cat or dog or any other stray animal he happened to see.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
All is well on the home front
Girl Scout Day Camp. I never was a Girl Scout. I use to envy my friends their good luck at getting to be a Girl Scout, so I really enjoy watching Kate do Girl Scout things, and Reagan's excitement at becoming a Daisy. I finally found the courage to let Kate go to Day Camp this year. On Sunday we registered, found her campsite and the latrines. Good old-fashioned latrines. Not the deluxe port-a-potties, but those wooden structures that we all remember as kids.
The volunteers at the camp couldn't stress enough the importance of preparing our girls for latrines. I kept hearing stories of girls having accidents at the end of the day because they'd "pretend" to use the latrines, but actually keep holding it until they couldn't hold it any more. I don't think Kate will have a problem. She peered into the hole with a great deal of excitement. I'm glad to say that I think she'll do just fine.
Day Camp is quite a bit different here than in Oregon. First of all the two most important pieces of equipment are a water bottle and sunscreen, followed closely by bug repellent. I don't ever remember needing any of those things when we went to Kids Camp at Wind River. I'm pretty sure I just had a change of clothes and a toothbrush. We had to get a substantial sun hat for Kate as well. What is most interesting is that they don't do anything with water until the very last day of camp, and then it is balloon tosses and soakers.
Kate was ecstatic yesterday because she got to pet a millipede, and she let a walking stick crawl on her. I'm pretty sure I would never have survived to Girl Scouts. Now I know why my parents never signed me up. I would've been traumatized. Last night I stepped on a cockroach with my bare foot. Jonathan was laughing so hard because I started to cry and then proceeded to wash my foot for about 15minutes. I still get the creepy crawlies every time I think about it. Yeah, my parents knew what they were doing when they didn't encourage Girl Scouts for me. All I can keep thinking is, "I hope Kate washed her hands and sanitized them."
Of course we're having gorgeous summer weather. I'm getting a bit tired of reporting on it. Of course it is sunny. What else would it be? Sometimes the morning start out cloudy and cool. Cool being about 80F. Then the clouds burn off by about 8:00am and we've got crystal blue skies with that big yellow ball scattering super bright light everywhere. Emily asked if she should bring jeans and a sweater just in case it cooled down. My reply: if you can imagine wearing them when it is "cool" outside, aka 95F, then yes, bring them. If not, leave them at home.
The beach is beginning to call us. I realized that we hadn't taken a beach trip yet. The girls love Galveston and Stewart Beach Park, so hopefully we'll be able to make a trip down soon. The sand is great at that particular section of the beach, and as long as we have an umbrella and water, the girls do just fine. It's strange that the waves look so murky in all of the pictures that I take, but when you're there, the waves are clear and sandy. I sometimes wonder if I have the settings on my camera incorrect. Of course, the water isn't anything like Hawaii, after all we're on the Gulf of Mexico host to oil spills and port traffic, but still it is a nice mini-vacation for the family.
All reports from Tanner indicate that he is relishing his job. I'm scared that he's already looking for housing and schools and has figured out how to move the entire family. I guess I've grown fond of small town life. I like the fact that police officers are friendly, kind and filled with integrity. I like that fact that you can talk to your mayor without an appointment. I like the fact that you run into people you know all the time, no matter where you go. I guess small town life has it's good points. Of course, I miss big city amenities, like French restaurants, Asian-fusion cuisine, grand opera, ballet, symphony, concerts in the park, Shakespeare, art museums and Whole Foods. We will see what God has in store for us. He holds the future in His hands, and I am so glad that we can trust Him for all sorts of goodies to come!
The volunteers at the camp couldn't stress enough the importance of preparing our girls for latrines. I kept hearing stories of girls having accidents at the end of the day because they'd "pretend" to use the latrines, but actually keep holding it until they couldn't hold it any more. I don't think Kate will have a problem. She peered into the hole with a great deal of excitement. I'm glad to say that I think she'll do just fine.
Day Camp is quite a bit different here than in Oregon. First of all the two most important pieces of equipment are a water bottle and sunscreen, followed closely by bug repellent. I don't ever remember needing any of those things when we went to Kids Camp at Wind River. I'm pretty sure I just had a change of clothes and a toothbrush. We had to get a substantial sun hat for Kate as well. What is most interesting is that they don't do anything with water until the very last day of camp, and then it is balloon tosses and soakers.
Kate was ecstatic yesterday because she got to pet a millipede, and she let a walking stick crawl on her. I'm pretty sure I would never have survived to Girl Scouts. Now I know why my parents never signed me up. I would've been traumatized. Last night I stepped on a cockroach with my bare foot. Jonathan was laughing so hard because I started to cry and then proceeded to wash my foot for about 15minutes. I still get the creepy crawlies every time I think about it. Yeah, my parents knew what they were doing when they didn't encourage Girl Scouts for me. All I can keep thinking is, "I hope Kate washed her hands and sanitized them."
Of course we're having gorgeous summer weather. I'm getting a bit tired of reporting on it. Of course it is sunny. What else would it be? Sometimes the morning start out cloudy and cool. Cool being about 80F. Then the clouds burn off by about 8:00am and we've got crystal blue skies with that big yellow ball scattering super bright light everywhere. Emily asked if she should bring jeans and a sweater just in case it cooled down. My reply: if you can imagine wearing them when it is "cool" outside, aka 95F, then yes, bring them. If not, leave them at home.
The beach is beginning to call us. I realized that we hadn't taken a beach trip yet. The girls love Galveston and Stewart Beach Park, so hopefully we'll be able to make a trip down soon. The sand is great at that particular section of the beach, and as long as we have an umbrella and water, the girls do just fine. It's strange that the waves look so murky in all of the pictures that I take, but when you're there, the waves are clear and sandy. I sometimes wonder if I have the settings on my camera incorrect. Of course, the water isn't anything like Hawaii, after all we're on the Gulf of Mexico host to oil spills and port traffic, but still it is a nice mini-vacation for the family.
All reports from Tanner indicate that he is relishing his job. I'm scared that he's already looking for housing and schools and has figured out how to move the entire family. I guess I've grown fond of small town life. I like the fact that police officers are friendly, kind and filled with integrity. I like that fact that you can talk to your mayor without an appointment. I like the fact that you run into people you know all the time, no matter where you go. I guess small town life has it's good points. Of course, I miss big city amenities, like French restaurants, Asian-fusion cuisine, grand opera, ballet, symphony, concerts in the park, Shakespeare, art museums and Whole Foods. We will see what God has in store for us. He holds the future in His hands, and I am so glad that we can trust Him for all sorts of goodies to come!
All is well on the home front
Girl Scout Day Camp. I never was a Girl Scout. I use to envy my friends their good luck at getting to be a Girl Scout, so I really enjoy watching Kate do Girl Scout things, and Reagan's excitement at becoming a Daisy. I finally found the courage to let Kate go to Day Camp this year. On Sunday we registered, found her campsite and the latrines. Good old-fashioned latrines. Not the deluxe port-a-potties, but those wooden structures that we all remember as kids.
The volunteers at the camp couldn't stress enough the importance of preparing our girls for latrines. I kept hearing stories of girls having accidents at the end of the day because they'd "pretend" to use the latrines, but actually keep holding it until they couldn't hold it any more. I don't think Kate will have a problem. She peered into the hole with a great deal of excitement. I'm glad to say that I think she'll do just fine.
Day Camp is quite a bit different here than in Oregon. First of all the two most important pieces of equipment are a water bottle and sunscreen, followed closely by bug repellent. I don't ever remember needing any of those things when we went to Kids Camp at Wind River. I'm pretty sure I just had a change of clothes and a toothbrush. We had to get a substantial sun hat for Kate as well. What is most interesting is that they don't do anything with water until the very last day of camp, and then it is balloon tosses and soakers.
Kate was ecstatic yesterday because she got to pet a millipede, and she let a walking stick crawl on her. I'm pretty sure I would never have survived to Girl Scouts. Now I know why my parents never signed me up. I would've traumatized. Last night I stepped on a cockroach with my bare foot. Jonathan was laughing so hard because I started to cry and then proceeded to wash my foot for about 15minutes. I still get the creepy crawlies every time I think about it. Yeah, my parents knew what they were doing when they didn't encourage Girl Scouts for me. All I can keep thinking is, "I hope Kate washed her hands and sanitized them."
Of course we're having gorgeous summer weather. I'm getting a bit tired of reporting on it. Of course it is sunny. What else would it be? Sometimes the morning start out cloudy and cool. Cool being about 80F. Then the clouds burn off by about 8:00am and we've got crystal blue skies with that big yellow ball scattering super bright light everywhere. Emily asked if she should bring jeans and a sweater just in case it cooled down. My reply: if you can imagine wearing them when it is "cool" outside, aka 95F, then yes, bring them. If not, leave them at home.
The beach is beginning to call us. I realized that we hadn't taken a beach trip yet. The girls love Galveston and Stewart Beach Park, so hopefully we'll be able to make a trip down soon. The sand is great at that particular section of the beach, and as long as we have an umbrella and water, the girls do just fine. It's strange that the waves look so murky in all of the pictures that I take, but when you're there, the waves are clear and sandy. I sometimes wonder if I have the settings on my camera incorrect. Of course, the water isn't anything like Hawaii, after all we're on the Gulf of Mexico host to oil spills and port traffic, but still it is a nice mini-vacation for the family.
All reports from Tanner indicate that he is relishing his job. I'm scared that he's already looking for housing and schools and has figured out how to move the entire family. I guess I've grown fond of small town life. I like the fact that police officers are friendly, kind and filled with integrity. I like that fact that you can talk to your mayor without an appointment. I like the fact that you run into people you know all the time, no matter where you go. I guess small town life has it's good points. Of course, I miss big city amenities, like French restaurants, Asian-fusion cuisine, grand opera, ballet, symphony, concerts in the park, Shakespeare, art museums and Whole Foods. We will see what God has in store for us. He holds the future in His hands, and I am so glad that we can trust Him for all sorts of goodies to come!
The volunteers at the camp couldn't stress enough the importance of preparing our girls for latrines. I kept hearing stories of girls having accidents at the end of the day because they'd "pretend" to use the latrines, but actually keep holding it until they couldn't hold it any more. I don't think Kate will have a problem. She peered into the hole with a great deal of excitement. I'm glad to say that I think she'll do just fine.
Day Camp is quite a bit different here than in Oregon. First of all the two most important pieces of equipment are a water bottle and sunscreen, followed closely by bug repellent. I don't ever remember needing any of those things when we went to Kids Camp at Wind River. I'm pretty sure I just had a change of clothes and a toothbrush. We had to get a substantial sun hat for Kate as well. What is most interesting is that they don't do anything with water until the very last day of camp, and then it is balloon tosses and soakers.
Kate was ecstatic yesterday because she got to pet a millipede, and she let a walking stick crawl on her. I'm pretty sure I would never have survived to Girl Scouts. Now I know why my parents never signed me up. I would've traumatized. Last night I stepped on a cockroach with my bare foot. Jonathan was laughing so hard because I started to cry and then proceeded to wash my foot for about 15minutes. I still get the creepy crawlies every time I think about it. Yeah, my parents knew what they were doing when they didn't encourage Girl Scouts for me. All I can keep thinking is, "I hope Kate washed her hands and sanitized them."
Of course we're having gorgeous summer weather. I'm getting a bit tired of reporting on it. Of course it is sunny. What else would it be? Sometimes the morning start out cloudy and cool. Cool being about 80F. Then the clouds burn off by about 8:00am and we've got crystal blue skies with that big yellow ball scattering super bright light everywhere. Emily asked if she should bring jeans and a sweater just in case it cooled down. My reply: if you can imagine wearing them when it is "cool" outside, aka 95F, then yes, bring them. If not, leave them at home.
The beach is beginning to call us. I realized that we hadn't taken a beach trip yet. The girls love Galveston and Stewart Beach Park, so hopefully we'll be able to make a trip down soon. The sand is great at that particular section of the beach, and as long as we have an umbrella and water, the girls do just fine. It's strange that the waves look so murky in all of the pictures that I take, but when you're there, the waves are clear and sandy. I sometimes wonder if I have the settings on my camera incorrect. Of course, the water isn't anything like Hawaii, after all we're on the Gulf of Mexico host to oil spills and port traffic, but still it is a nice mini-vacation for the family.
All reports from Tanner indicate that he is relishing his job. I'm scared that he's already looking for housing and schools and has figured out how to move the entire family. I guess I've grown fond of small town life. I like the fact that police officers are friendly, kind and filled with integrity. I like that fact that you can talk to your mayor without an appointment. I like the fact that you run into people you know all the time, no matter where you go. I guess small town life has it's good points. Of course, I miss big city amenities, like French restaurants, Asian-fusion cuisine, grand opera, ballet, symphony, concerts in the park, Shakespeare, art museums and Whole Foods. We will see what God has in store for us. He holds the future in His hands, and I am so glad that we can trust Him for all sorts of goodies to come!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
A cool morning beckoned us to the blueberry patch, so we all piled into the van early on Saturday morning and drove to Caldwell to visit Kingsbury Farms. It's a smallish farm with about 100 blueberry bushes. Not very popular with all the rough and tumble, but it had good picking, good prices and short distance all in its favor. We picked about 20 pounds in about an hour and a half which was just perfect for the kids. No pictures this time around. We were a hot, sweaty sticky mess, but we had our treasure trove and were satisfied.
Then we did some much needed summer gear shopping. Please don't worry, I will not afflict you with a list of all the things we had to get, but for the Grandmas and the Grandpas out there, we did get new life vests for the girls. Of course the girls had a great time. It was like they had been transported to Disneyland. Kate actually stopped in the middle of putting her pink life jacket into the basket and said, "I can't believe you actually said yes! I feel RICH!" It was nice to be able to get the girls a few pretty things, especially since they give up their Daddy for a whole week.
Nap time, bath time and then Tanner whisked me away to a dinner and movie date. I still think it is funny that I just love having dates like this. I guess it's because I didn't get any of them before I got married, so these types of outings are a lot of fun. We crack jokes and comment on all the previews just like a couple of high school kids sitting in the back of the theater. We went for a run. Yes, we are starting to run. We'll see how long it lasts. No promises.
Sunday was not so great. We had a great start, a delayed breakfast, a delayed oil change, a delayed tire change and then a delayed arrival at home because we got into a car accident. The classic three car sandwich with our car in the middle. To top it all off, the car that rear ended us took off! What is it about us and hit and run drivers? So, now the air conditioning isn't working in the van, and I'm not sure how to get it fixed since we are both technically down to single car family status with a MUST drive to work. We will see. Tanner is thinking of trying to make a miracle happen on Friday.
It's difficult to say if any of us are injured. I'm keeping a careful eye on the girls, of course, but I've had a hurt back since early December, so I'm not sure if the soreness I'm experiencing is increasing because of the accident or if it is just the normal increase of soreness before my next appointment. Well, I am confident that God is still taking excellent care of us. I will not be shaken. But please, continue to hold us in your prayers. As we move closer to reaching our goals, we are certain to be tested.
Many of you might not know the chief reason we moved. Tanner and I were continually frustrated that no matter how hard he worked, we could never get to the point where we could effectively contribute to missions. We were able to give one time gifts, but were unable to make commitments to help fund people overseas. We prayed a long time about it and felt God direct us to go to college, to seek a degree that would provide for our needs and to spend a period of time learning to live within those needs and in faith so that we would know the difference between a need and a want. We believe that through all of this we will be able to have a great impact on missionaries around the world. Our commitment to this endeavor has not wavered. Even with Tanner's internship, after a great deal of prayer, we decided to send a small portion of the money that he makes to fund a missionary in Africa.
Believe it or not, we wired funds last night, and this morning the accident happened. Suddenly, we're struggling with worrying about how much this will cost or that will cost, and I confess, tempted to try to hold on to the "extra" that God gave us in order to make sure that we are comfortable. I am comforted to know that not once did either of us suggest this.
And here is the amazing part of our story. After the accident, the hood couldn't be opened on the van, so it looked like there would be body work to be done. I had to take Kate to her camp orientation, and then dinner had to be made. Things didn't settle down till after 5:00, and then we discussed which car Tanner should take. He then remembered that the license plate had fallen off the van, so he went back to the accident site, which was actually near Kolache Rolfs (aka Kate's favorite breakfast stop in the ENTIRE world). When he came back with the plate which miraculously was still there, he pushed the bumper, heard something click, and voila! the hood was fixed and it will now open. Of course there is still some damage, that sort of thing doesn't always get fixed in miracles, but it looks like the van will be okay. We still have to figure out how to get the A.C. fixed, but that's something that might only take a day rather than a week to repair. ahWhoop! (BTW, that's the Aggie yell for Juniors).
So, we count our blessings. All of you are among them, and we are truly touched and blessed by your prayers.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Happiness is...
Storm clouds rolled in during the night, so we woke up to gray, looming clouds. Of course, they didn't really effect the temperature, so it felt like a humid tropical night except the day was just beginning. I love this type of weather when my skin just soaks up all of the moisture and revels in the fact that wind and sun aren't drying out its surface. It's during this time of year that chapped lips, runny noses and fuzzy socks are put away for the year and sunscreen, golden skin and beach towels become the new normal. Weather in the Brazos Valley can change on a dime, so after a furious down pour complete with claps of lightning and rolls of thunder, the sun asserted it's power and the clouds rumbled away. Blue skies smiled down on us, and the rain became a swift, distant memory.
Hmm...just had to go over the sentence about three times to fix all of the grammar. I'm still not convinced that I got it right. Oh, well...that's why I'm not an editor.
I treated myself to a solitary lunch in a corner of Barnes and Noble and finished reading, Journey to the Center of the Earth. I was surprised that it was my first Jules Verne that I had managed to read all the way through. Considering that I like reading H.G. Wells and cult-sci-fi like Ender's Game, this is truly remarkable. I guess I'll have to remedy that a little more thoroughly.
Reagan had her very first dance lesson today. We decided that it was time she got to do some extra-curricular activities. I think by the time Kate was that age, she had already had soccer lessons, ice skating lessons, voice lessons, dance lessons and Chinese lessons. Oh, and we'd tried violin lessons, but that didn't work out so well. I'm pretty sure these lessons are way over due.
Reagan was absolutely ecstatic when I picked her up from dance. She talked about Sashay's and leaps and showed me all of the great stretches that she had learned. She was radiant. I think that's what I like best about her. Nothing is ever just a normal happening. Even when you ask her about her day...her eyebrows go up, her eyes look off to the right and she gushes, "It was amazing, Mom! We went outside, and I went down the slide!" Her head will nodded up and down vigorously. "AND I went UP the slide, too! It was sooo kewl!" And yes, she says "kewl" gotta get that southern accent in there somehow!
After lessons I took the girls to Red Mango for frozen yogurt, are as Georgianna calls it, "ice cream factory!" They had rock candies, gummy worms, those red, squishy balls that spurt juice in your mouth when you chomp on them and Mochi for toppings. I think Mom was the hero for about 1/2 an hour or at least until we got home and I made them put their shoes away!
This week has been a little tougher without Tanner. The girls aren't weepy anymore, but I can tell that they're just a bit frustrated that Daddy isn't here. They fight more and seem to be little short tempered with each other. Georgi just can't understand why Daddy won't pick her up when he calls, and of course it's hard for them to "share" the skype time, so they squabble over that as well.
On the other hand, they pulled together today and vacuumed the house, dusted, swept, mopped, did a load of laundry and cleaned the kitchen while I was at work! Amazing little girls. I think I might read them the story of Little Women because that's what they are right now.
We made it through the pinch period! Tanner will be able to drive home to visit us for the weekend. We are very thankful and glad that God used this time to show us how to live humbly and to trust Him. It enlarges our hearts and teaches us compassion for those in even greater need. He is even faithful to show us how to help others during our own time of need, so that we aren't consumed with self-pity. He surrounds us with the beauty of His creation, the peace of His power and the joy of His love.
Hmm...just had to go over the sentence about three times to fix all of the grammar. I'm still not convinced that I got it right. Oh, well...that's why I'm not an editor.
I treated myself to a solitary lunch in a corner of Barnes and Noble and finished reading, Journey to the Center of the Earth. I was surprised that it was my first Jules Verne that I had managed to read all the way through. Considering that I like reading H.G. Wells and cult-sci-fi like Ender's Game, this is truly remarkable. I guess I'll have to remedy that a little more thoroughly.
Reagan had her very first dance lesson today. We decided that it was time she got to do some extra-curricular activities. I think by the time Kate was that age, she had already had soccer lessons, ice skating lessons, voice lessons, dance lessons and Chinese lessons. Oh, and we'd tried violin lessons, but that didn't work out so well. I'm pretty sure these lessons are way over due.
Reagan was absolutely ecstatic when I picked her up from dance. She talked about Sashay's and leaps and showed me all of the great stretches that she had learned. She was radiant. I think that's what I like best about her. Nothing is ever just a normal happening. Even when you ask her about her day...her eyebrows go up, her eyes look off to the right and she gushes, "It was amazing, Mom! We went outside, and I went down the slide!" Her head will nodded up and down vigorously. "AND I went UP the slide, too! It was sooo kewl!" And yes, she says "kewl" gotta get that southern accent in there somehow!
After lessons I took the girls to Red Mango for frozen yogurt, are as Georgianna calls it, "ice cream factory!" They had rock candies, gummy worms, those red, squishy balls that spurt juice in your mouth when you chomp on them and Mochi for toppings. I think Mom was the hero for about 1/2 an hour or at least until we got home and I made them put their shoes away!
This week has been a little tougher without Tanner. The girls aren't weepy anymore, but I can tell that they're just a bit frustrated that Daddy isn't here. They fight more and seem to be little short tempered with each other. Georgi just can't understand why Daddy won't pick her up when he calls, and of course it's hard for them to "share" the skype time, so they squabble over that as well.
On the other hand, they pulled together today and vacuumed the house, dusted, swept, mopped, did a load of laundry and cleaned the kitchen while I was at work! Amazing little girls. I think I might read them the story of Little Women because that's what they are right now.
We made it through the pinch period! Tanner will be able to drive home to visit us for the weekend. We are very thankful and glad that God used this time to show us how to live humbly and to trust Him. It enlarges our hearts and teaches us compassion for those in even greater need. He is even faithful to show us how to help others during our own time of need, so that we aren't consumed with self-pity. He surrounds us with the beauty of His creation, the peace of His power and the joy of His love.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Long days and nights
Tuesdays are long days for our little family. I start work at 8:00am, finish at 5:00pm, start teaching at 5:30, finish at 8:00pm. The girls are showing amazing fortitude on days like this. They keep the front room picked up, wash the dishes, sweep the floors and generally keep the squabbling down until the last student leaves.
I try to treat them with some fun mommy time right before bedtime. Sometimes we watch corny musicals while munching chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes we skype with Tutu or with Daddy. Sometimes we karaoke at the top of our lungs. Whatever we do, it's fun and keeps them going for the next day.
Things are cooling off a bit here. We're suppose to be in the low 80's for the weekend. I'm thinking...blueberry picking time...or maybe blackberry picking! If we go, pictures, pictures, pictures!
I try to treat them with some fun mommy time right before bedtime. Sometimes we watch corny musicals while munching chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes we skype with Tutu or with Daddy. Sometimes we karaoke at the top of our lungs. Whatever we do, it's fun and keeps them going for the next day.
Things are cooling off a bit here. We're suppose to be in the low 80's for the weekend. I'm thinking...blueberry picking time...or maybe blackberry picking! If we go, pictures, pictures, pictures!
Monday, May 28, 2012
saying goodbye, again.
Even though it is hard to say goodbye for a whole week, I am glad that it is only for a week. Today, I think of all the wives and mothers and children that have to say goodbye to their soldiers for months, years and sometimes for a lifetime. It makes my goodbye a little less bittersweet.
After such a tough couple of years, this internship is such a welcome break. Is it odd that we find the goodbyes, long weeks and short weekends far less stressful on our family than a semester at school? Tanner remarked that he has seen his family far more in the last week than he would during a month of school, and I agree. We've had time to play cards with the girls, go to the park, take walks and splash in the pool. We've had time to do projects around the house together rather than one person doing part, leaving it to go to work or to study, and then the other person picking it up and finishing it (if we were that lucky). It feels so strange to have the time to watch a movie together after the kids are put to bed or to have a cup of coffee with each other. There actually came a point this weekend where we didn't really feel the need to grab a few minutes of alone time.
I hadn't realized what a hardship school has been until this last week. We're so use to an almost overwhelming work load. Tanner mentioned it this afternoon before leaving that if we'd known just how hard the number three engineering school in the nation was gonna be, we might have been too scared to try. Like the song Garth Brooks sings (I'm sorry for the country reference, peeps, but I am in Texas), "I'm glad I didn't know the way it all would end, the way it all would go...I would have missed the dance." I guess if you're a school and you're competing with MIT (number 1) and Sanford (number 2), you've gotta have a tough curriculum, but Tanner has been talking to other interns this last week, and he has realized just how much more challenging the curriculum is at A&M than at other schools.
One story he had from work was from a safety meeting. The instructor was explaining some material, and both Tanner and another school-mate from Texas A&M both knew the answers to almost every question while interns from other schools had absolutely know idea what was being discussed. The instructor actually went so far as to say that he "loved it when we get interns from A&M. No training needed."
Not that we are on the homestretch for school. Tanner still has to make it through materials and kinetics which are two major hurdles for many engineers. We've heard that a lot of students save kinetics for the last semester, after they've received their job offers so that they only have to make a "C". All I can do is shudder. I'm not sure that I'm looking forward to that course, and I don't even have to take it!
So, how are the girls doing? Well, I numbed the parting of Daddy with movie night and chocolate chip cookie baking time. That seemed to do the trick. My goal is to give them little distractions even though I know that their hearts are sad. They're looking forward to their "babysitter" coming tomorrow, and then there is choir on Wednesday, the pool on Thursday and Friday, and then hopefully, Daddy will come home! I say hopefully because we're not sure that his paycheck will come in time for him to get gas! I told him if that happened then I would drive the girls down Friday evening. I'm trying not to because we have to be back Sunday afternoon for a Girl Scout meeting which is mandatory for Kate to attend camp the following week. It would mean a shortened visit, but a short visit is better than no visit. We'll see how it goes, I guess.
After such a tough couple of years, this internship is such a welcome break. Is it odd that we find the goodbyes, long weeks and short weekends far less stressful on our family than a semester at school? Tanner remarked that he has seen his family far more in the last week than he would during a month of school, and I agree. We've had time to play cards with the girls, go to the park, take walks and splash in the pool. We've had time to do projects around the house together rather than one person doing part, leaving it to go to work or to study, and then the other person picking it up and finishing it (if we were that lucky). It feels so strange to have the time to watch a movie together after the kids are put to bed or to have a cup of coffee with each other. There actually came a point this weekend where we didn't really feel the need to grab a few minutes of alone time.
I hadn't realized what a hardship school has been until this last week. We're so use to an almost overwhelming work load. Tanner mentioned it this afternoon before leaving that if we'd known just how hard the number three engineering school in the nation was gonna be, we might have been too scared to try. Like the song Garth Brooks sings (I'm sorry for the country reference, peeps, but I am in Texas), "I'm glad I didn't know the way it all would end, the way it all would go...I would have missed the dance." I guess if you're a school and you're competing with MIT (number 1) and Sanford (number 2), you've gotta have a tough curriculum, but Tanner has been talking to other interns this last week, and he has realized just how much more challenging the curriculum is at A&M than at other schools.
One story he had from work was from a safety meeting. The instructor was explaining some material, and both Tanner and another school-mate from Texas A&M both knew the answers to almost every question while interns from other schools had absolutely know idea what was being discussed. The instructor actually went so far as to say that he "loved it when we get interns from A&M. No training needed."
Not that we are on the homestretch for school. Tanner still has to make it through materials and kinetics which are two major hurdles for many engineers. We've heard that a lot of students save kinetics for the last semester, after they've received their job offers so that they only have to make a "C". All I can do is shudder. I'm not sure that I'm looking forward to that course, and I don't even have to take it!
So, how are the girls doing? Well, I numbed the parting of Daddy with movie night and chocolate chip cookie baking time. That seemed to do the trick. My goal is to give them little distractions even though I know that their hearts are sad. They're looking forward to their "babysitter" coming tomorrow, and then there is choir on Wednesday, the pool on Thursday and Friday, and then hopefully, Daddy will come home! I say hopefully because we're not sure that his paycheck will come in time for him to get gas! I told him if that happened then I would drive the girls down Friday evening. I'm trying not to because we have to be back Sunday afternoon for a Girl Scout meeting which is mandatory for Kate to attend camp the following week. It would mean a shortened visit, but a short visit is better than no visit. We'll see how it goes, I guess.
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