News as of May 5th 2008

    

Hello from Charles. Things are a little crazy here at the moment so Diane has asked for me to provide the latest. So taking a small break from my college project (which I am a month behind on), here I am.

We now have a fish tank full of fish (7 + 4 new babies) and are able to identify the sex of B’s fish. This knowledge was too late to save one of S’s two fish who was killed overnight by B’s 2 boys. It seems that 3 boys and 1 girl create a lot of tension in a fish tank even though S’s fish were of a different species. S’s fish was the original fish he had bought for the tank so it was a shame. Armed with the new found knowledge of what sex of fish B had, we then made a mad dash across town to find them some females so that they did not wipe out S’s replacement fish. Since the boys and girls have got together over the past few weeks, we now have 4 baby fish running (swimming) around. These babies will get no special protection as the tank is already full and hopefully it will be a quick end however they seem to be doing a little to well as B’s new red wags are not the hunter her first one was plus as the go in for the mercy killing another wag will knock them out of the way.

New 20” inch wheel bikes for the kids as they had outgrown their old 16” inch wheel bikes. For B we were able to find a bike at a thrift store that was in great condition, for S he got a new one from Wal-Mart with gears & suspension (He says he loves it). One of these days, B will also get a new bike however it just always seems to be that the girls bikes are always available and in great condition at these thrift stores. The boys bikes look like they have been run over and thrown in a mud hole.

Swimming lessons have started for S in preparation for Boy Scout summer camp (June 18^th – 21^st). The only way he will get to canoe is if he can swim 100 yards and turn in the water. (He currently is signed to get 2 ½ hour lessons a week at the Agnes Scott College here in Decatur.) We are the only ones going from his den to Summer Camp as the 2 others were not available. Originally we had signed up for the July 4^th weekend but we were the only campers that signed up in Atlanta so they cancelled it. Not a big holiday for us British so I didn’t mind spending it camping. Last weekend S & I went cub scout camping up at Lake Allatoona. This time we had mummy sleeping bags rated to below freezing and thankfully they worked. They also have additional vents so that we can use them in warmer weather. Speaking of sleeping in tents, at least it was brought to my attention that mosquito nets are recommended for Summer camp, so I will be looking to get one of those soon. At the weekend, the weather was cool enough that the mosquitoes left us alone. S certainly is being fit with cycling to his swim lessons and to Scouts on Sunday afternoon.

B is busy with her girl scouts and just got some awards the other day, however since that is Diane’s area of expertise I will let her fill you in next time. She loves art with a passion and when she is not reading or playing, a pencil or crayon will always be found in her hand making some kind of picture. Even during service she is creative with her drawing. Still trying to convince her however that noses belong on faces as she gives them a mouth and some eyes but no nose. All her extra curricular at school is also keeping B busy as participates in the O’ Ambassadors, Chess Club and the advanced Links class. Be careful with her whenever you express an Opinion as she has the ability now to articulate her side very well. Sort of a cross between debating and arguing, think that she gets this from Diane.

I am incredibly busy with my school work which is in catch up mode as I have a 15000 word paper due next month and I still have to send out questionnaires to people with small businesses to get the research material. Panic is not the word for this – I am beyond that at this time and get on average about 5 hrs of sleep during the week if I am lucky. Other than that, I am healthy and still employed with very little work to do. Have been joining S in the cycling he does using Diane’s bike, however I will need to get one that fits me soon or my knees will never forgive me. In a couple of weeks I will be in Scotland for a long weekend visiting the family and seeing my youngest nephew get christened. Should be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to it as it has been over 2 years since my last trip. So keep me in your prayers as I travel on 15^th and return on the 20^th.

As a family, we all helped our friends Matt & Sara load their rental truck and bid him farewell as he headed for Nashville (close to it anyway) to take up a pediatric chaplaincy at Vanderbilt Hospital. After 2 years of searching, it looks like he has landed on his feet and we hope that Sara is able to find something there too.

It looks like our summer worry over local babysitting is over as our neighbor who is moving out but staying local has agreed to help out. This will enable me to stay working while Diane does her internship.

Exotic birds are a way of life over here. Getting to see the humming birds now and even saw a huge bird take off the other day that had a wingspan wider than a car and it was not a goose, maybe some kind of vulture! Not sure what it was. The kids also had some excitement yesterday as we kept an eye on a copper head snake that was in the front yard. The police were called but finally it moved on back into the bushes before animal control arrived. The police officer reminded the kids that playing by the creek at this time of year was not a good idea as the snakes are coming out.

Good news that some friends from Sardis Presbyterian will be moving in next door next month. Carson & Doug got the apartment next to us and move in sometime at the end of June. So for the kids, the days of Mummy & Daddy screaming at them will soon be over (right now we have no neighbors).

Diane is busy with papers and reading these days and all other things seminarian. I even saw her prepare a worship service at least part of it for I went to bed before she finished. It looked like the laptop monitor was keeping her head up as the clock rolled past 1AM. Good preparation for the ministry if you ask me. She even got to teach my Sunday school lesson last week.

Well I better get back to my college work. Have a great month.

Charles

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