For all our family and friends who want to know what we have been up to lately, the short answer is: Not Much.
We are at the end of our homeschool, so we have been trying to finish out all the schoolwork and make decisions about what we are doing for next year. As the kids get older I am trying to have them help decide what kind of courses and things they want to study. Joel is very set in what he wants for his future, so it easy to pick courses that will benefit him. We are also looking at him starting to take some college level courses to give him a head start on his college goals. He has grown so much in the last year, not necessarily physically, but in maturity. He started driving a couple of weeks ago. In New Hampshire you do not take drivers ed until just before your 16th birthday, but you can start driving with a parent at 15 1/2. Joel is a very responsible driver and I feel very comfortable with him behind the wheel.
Joel behind the wheel
Joel has also been fishing whenever he can find a spare minute. There are two ponds here in the complex and another one down the road that he can easily walk to for fishing. He has such a love of the outdoors and really wants to work in Natural Resource Management in the future. New Hampshire has a program for teens interested in Conservation and Resource Management which includes a two week camp and programs throughout the year. Joel is applying for a scholarship to the program and then we will have to try and find a way to pay for the rest. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for him! He is also looking forward to getting a job soon, he is waiting for the new Five Guys restaurant to start hiring.
The Fisherman
Hannah has opted for a four year study on Proverbs 31 for her high school curriculum! It is completely different from what she has done in the past, but she is really excited. It is going to be alot of work for her, but it involves a ton of reading, which she loves. Hannah turned 14 on the 1st of June. She had a slumber party with some friends. She has such an ecclectic group of friends! Hannah is really good at meeting people and making them feel welcome. She has become very active in the youth group at church and is constantly looking for opportunities to help out in any way she can. She really is developing a servant’s heart and we have seen her grow so much spiritually since we have moved here!
Hannah at her party
Jacob will officially be in Junior High next year. We are sticking with the computerized curriculum for him because it works well for him. He is also excited about being able to join the Junior High youth group and we are hoping that he will be able to develop some more friendships. He has had a hard time making friends since we moved here, but it only occasionally seems to bother him. Jacob’s big accomplishment lately is that he has suddenly become an avid reader. As most of you know, we have struggled for years with Jacob’s reading ability and the fact that he couldn’t and wouldn’t read. He got interested in reading 20,000 Leagues under the Sea after seeing an old movie and just hasn’t stopped. He is currently finishing up the second book in the Eragon series (BIG BOOK)! Now he is the one telling us to be quiet so he can read!
Jacob intently reading
Dan has been busy working (the commute is LOOOOOONG!) and spending his free time helping to shuttle the kids around. He often spends his weekends fishing, hiking and entertaining kids. We are purchasing a 4 wheel drive pickup truck from friends so he is busily trying to replace the brake lines so we can use it to pull the camper. It will probably be the vehicle Joel drives when he gets his license. We are still trying to decide if we are going to sell my van and get something different, or just hang on to it for a family vehicle.
As for me, I am busy with the usual mom stuff! I have made a few friends who have become very dear and I am working on getting out of my shell and involved in things a little more. I joined a committee at church in charge of planning community activities and Dan and I are involved in a life group which has been a lot of fun. There are a few of us who have been having a fairly regular craft day and recently I have met a few more people and been out for coffee and stuff with them. It is a little hard for me, most of the people I have been hanging around with are either single or don’t have children yet, so even though most of them are close to my age, I don’t have the same flexibility in my schedule. I really enjoy hanging out with them and hope they don’t see me as the fuddy dud in the group. I have been on a cake baking spree lately. It seems when people find out you can decorate a cake, you become popular. I have made several small cakes for other people. This week I am working on a HUGE cake and definately the most complicated I have ever attempted for a friend. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when I volunteered!
Well, I think that pretty well covers our life lately. I still miss all of my Michigan friends but New Hampshire is really starting to become home. I would love to hear from some of you (it’s been a little quiet lately).
