Catching Up

I thought this was adorable! Random thought....

I hadn't realized how long it had been since we've updated! A lot has happened since the last time we wrote.

The biggest news is that Nick had to work with his advisor to prepare for next semester, and he figured out how he can graduate by next May. It will require him to take summer classes, wintersession, 26 credits this upcoming fall, and 29 credits next spring. Needless to say, his schedule is going to be insane for the next year. He loves school, but has been in college for four years, so he's got the motivation to finish a quickly as possible. I'm very excited for him. He will need to figure out how to squeeze an internship into his already crazy schedule to graduate, but I think that will help him gain confidence in his ability to lead in a ministry upon graduation. Lord willing, he'll be able to find job placement towards home (KC/St. Joseph) soon after.

This past weekend, we went up to St. Joe for Easter (with a pitstop Friday evening-Sat. morning in KC to see Julie). I think this is maybe the third time we've been back to my hometown since we've been married. We both had a great time. We both noticed on the ride up that everything up north is noticably much greener (such as, they have grass). It was so warm outside that while driving from Joplin to KC, the car got showered in bugs (yuck!). I insisted that Nick listen to an Adventure in Odyssey with me on the long drive (a childhood experience I loved and he'd never done before). On more than one occasion, he'd shut off the CD to say, "Do you hear that?" We later realized what sounded like the pitter-pattering of rain was actually the splattering on bugs on the front of the car! Ew!

On Saturday morning, we went out to eat with Julie at Mimi's Cafe. We've both have eaten there once or twice in the past, but hadn't had breakfast there. It was fabulous! Nick got pancakes (which one portion could have fed Cox's army!) and I got quiche. After our time with Julie, we were off to my grandparent's house to wish my grandma a happy birthday (it's easy to remember her birthday, as it's Tax Day), and then out to St. Joe. The weather turned stormy later Saturday evening, but we still got a lot of time in outside earlier in the day. McKenzie and I jogged and walked a few miles, catching up on what was going on with each other and it was just beautiful out. We later played violin together (something I've missed doing). Michael and Nick hit it off really well the whole weekend, mostly playing video games.

On Sunday, we all headed out super early to hear McKenzie play her violin for sunrise service. After the service and church pancake breakfast, we headed home to cook Easter lunch. Everyone was tired and so naps were in order in the afternoon (Nick and Mom crashed, the rest of us went outside to play some basketball). Later that afternoon, we rented Bee Season and watched it as a family. It was one of the worst movies we'd all ever seen, which was unfortunate because we were all looking forward to see it so much. It had little to do with any spelling bee, so much as it had to do with a family who didn't know the Lord. Each person in the family was a wreck because they were trying to pursue God in all the wrong places (Hare Krisshnah, mysticism, disorders, etc.). It was messed up, and we all agreed what we missed most was that there was no laughter in the movie... at all. We felt kind of depressed after watching it. Luckily, we didn't dwell on it too long! Mom gave me a hair cut and then we had to head back to Joplin.

This week has been rather crazy. Today Nick finished his huge Principles of Interp. Paper. It was over 80 pages when he handed it in. He was busy working on the last details today. This week has been rather busy in the office, too. I've taken over two projects in both the HR and traffic department, which keeps my days full. I haven't practiced at all on my orchestra music and am not at all ready. I was promoted up to second chair this week, after hearing that a player had to drop out. We have two more rehearsals before the concert and I can't play most of the material. I'll be doing a lot of woodshedding this week to try to keep up.

Tomorrow, we'll be heading back up to St. Joe for Dr.'s Appt and spending time with the family. We'll both be busy packing tonight.