Hello from Charles
It seems everywhere we are all getting Snow these days. Normally in Decatur we get 1 day a year around March. So far we have had two days, fortunately it comes and goes quickly. Last time it happened on a Friday so the kids were able to go to school and only left an hour early. It was great snowman snow so the kids were busy beavers working away. S took a bread pan and made snow bricks to build a fortress when he was not busy building snowmen. My office closed at noon Friday to avoid traffic congestion.
Diane has done her ordinations (Results in March) and for the family that was a tough time trying to stay out of her way as she focused on studying them. We also had to buy a portable printer for the ordination exams since they are expected to hand in typed notes. Fortunately I was able to sell our old printer supplies for the cost of the new one. Our old portable printer did not work with the new versions of Windows. I think things are somewhat back to normal around the house however we are all adjusting to Diane's busy Clinical Pastorial Experience (CPE) schedule at a Hospital and Local Retirement Home which lasts until end of May. So far I have missed a couple of days at work, skipped going with S on Scout Trips and have signed B & S up for a Spring Camp to stop me from missing more work since that is a big source of our income.
Work for me is going okay and I hope I can stay at the Power Company until we get ready to leave Columbia Seminary. My boss has advised that as long as my internal client can find budgeted work for me I will have a contract. So far I have been extended until middle of April. The commute to work is only a 20 min drive and parking is cheap. The stress in the job comes from if your client cannot get budget you may only find out on the day they announce they no longer need you. Usually with contracts you have several weeks of notice that the job is going away and since it takes at least 30 days to find a new position short notice is not very desirable. On a slightly different note, I am starting to make a few dollars from my writings I do outside of work and also managed to get a mention on Minnesota Public Radio for an 2010 Move Skit. You can listen to it at:
B has been selling Girl Scout Cookies and as I type this I am enjoying some Chocolate Thin Mints. It was her last year selling as she is moving out of girl scouts hopefully into a 4H program that will be more active outdoors as she is really jealous of what S gets up too with scouts. B had a nice birthday party with some of her friends this past period and instead of cake she had an Apple Pie that she could eat along with some Coconut Milk ice cream. Grandma & Grandpa came for the event, and Grandpa beat me at Pool mostly because he did not pocket enough balls so I would end up scratching on the black trying to get around them. End score was 3 - 1.
Well that is it for now. We are counting down the months till we leave Seminary and it will be here before we know it.