Chocolate Stashes: What Life is Like Now

I am a full-time RN in the intensive care unit at a local hospital. I work night shift, either 3 or 4 shifts each week. The honeymoon is definitely over, but all-in-all, I have to admit it is not a bad job. I enjoy feeling like my work is important. While I sleep my days away, Matt teaches the kids. We are at the end of the second year of homeschooling. Bonnie is completing the 7^th grade. Will is finishing up his 5^th grade year, and Luke is finishing 4^th. Rosemary just graduated from Covenant Preschool and we have decided to homeschool her next year.

We are still attending mass at Saint Mary’s in Rome. I just turned in my notice that I will not be continuing as a parent volunteer in the nursery after this month. Part of the reason is that I am registered for school this summer. I am taking an online Statistics class from GHC, and I will be starting my BSN program at West Georgia this Fall. If all goes as planned, I’ll graduate next May. Both boys are still involved in Boy Scouts, and Matt will be the Webelo leader next year. Bonnie has been taking piano for several years now, and she just found out that her teacher, Miss Meredith, is moving away. Now she will have to find a new teacher, and she isn’t happy about that.

This last month has been a whirlwind of celebration. Rosemary turned 6 on May 14^th. My sister-in-law, Lisa, is expecting a baby in July, so April, Cristine, and I gave her a baby shower on May 17th. Roey graduated from kindergarten on May 22^nd. All the kids played in the indoor soccer league at First Baptist and just had their last games. Matt turned 40 on May 29^th, and we had a party for him on the 31^st. It was a medieval/fantasy themed party. We dressed up in costumes and had a great time. Sometimes I feel like the only time we make any effort around the house in when we are having company. Things got nice and clean, and we are still enjoying the benefits from that. Bonnie turned 13 on June 1^st. Her BFF, Andrea, spent the night that night, and she went to church, Sunday dinner, and swimming at Mom & Dad’s with us the next day. Also of note is that Uncle Rick died on May 28^th. He had been sick for quite a while and was on hospice. He was staying with Granny, but he went to the hospital on Monday afternoon and died early Tuesday morning. That has been very tough on my family.

So that’s it. We’re up to speed.