The State of Zenn

The hardest part about blogging is coming up with the title. If I could, all my titles would say "Truly Blessed". We have just crossed the 1 year mark since our move. I can honestly say that it has been a fantastic year. Definately not easy, but in the end, fantastic. We feel at home here and have made good friends. The kids are generally healthy and doing so well! I haven't blogged for 2 months because nothing is really happening, thank goodness! Things have been calm and stable.

We've been doing a lot of scout things lately. Noah participated in the Pinewood Derby (he made an awesome lego car) and also had fun and earned awards at his Blue and Gold Banquet. Matthew was the caller for the flag ceremony at an Eagle Court of Honor and did the best job I've ever seen by a boy scout. He took the responsiblility so seriously. Both Josh and Matthew will be earning ranks at an upcoming court of honor.

Noah and Matthew completed indoor winter soccer and Isaac is beginning spring soccer.

I got this flower from the chiropractor's office. They had toys for the kids to pick out and flowers for the moms for valentine's day. On our way out the door, Isaac says "Well, I guess I'm going to have to marry you!" He is all about giving me flowers lately and talking about his future wife and giving her flowers. He's so sweet.

We did Touch A Truck this last weekend. I can see the benefit of having your children very close together. I can't remember how many Touch A Trucks or similar events that we've done over the years. Too many!...the older kids might say. They didn't want to go, but I made them! Isaac shouldn't have to miss out, right?

From June 19 until July 2, 1864, 160,000 Union and Confederate soldiers fought on the land that now forms Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park as part of the civil war. It was designated a national battlefield on February 8, 1917. Over 5,350 soldiers lost their lives in the battle.

This plaque is at the very end of the museum. “This is hallowed ground. For two terrible weeks in the summer of 1864, thousands of Americans fought and bled and died here. Honor their sacrifices. Walk reverently in their footsteps. The fierce struggle they waged here not only helped decide the outcome of America’s Civil War. It shaped the fate of a nation, and the destiny of generations yet unborn.”

We visited this battlefield over the holiday break since it is just a hop, skip and a jump away and free. We lived at about 904 feet in Minnesota. We now live at about 1089 feet here in GA. The 1.2 mile hike up the mountain is about a 700 foot incline which takes you up to 1808 feet above sea level. I realize this is nothing to the 5400 + feet most of you live at but we did walk 1.2 miles up and 1.2 miles back down.

Isaac struggled a little with the walk. (It turns out he was coming down with a bug.) I was simply amazed at Matthew's energy. I just kept snapping pictures of the boys walking because Matthew was always up there, in the front, running ahead of the rest of us, the whole time. I could hardly believe my eyes. It's so great to have him...and really, all the boys...feeling good and enjoying life!



It was fun to learn a little history of our new home and the weather was perfect for such a walk.

What little boy doesn't like legos? They've been popular at our house and we miss Lego Land at Mall of America. We found this car dealership here that has a lego city up for a couple of months. A man and his son build these and take them places for people to enjoy. This one took 500 hours to build. They give a list of things to find. It was a fun little outing to get the kids away from the electronics this winter break. (And it hardly feels like winter...it's been 50's - 60's...so nice!)



I also had promised Isaac that we would take his brothers to the mall with him and ride the train during break. They are getting a little old for such things but some enjoyed it and others pretended to like it for Isaac's sake!


While there, we had 5 pairs of glasses adjusted and fixed up with new screws and nose pads. Some had become quite a mangled mess after some wrestling matches. I'm surprised how well they bend back into shape.

146 images on my camera...I guess it's time for some blogging. Here are a few random and incomplete thoughts but it's the best I've got right now.

We've had a fabulous end to 2011, enjoying much needed rest and family down time. Two things amaze me as I think about our year...the first is that we had NO hospital stays (in fact, it's been a year and a half since anyone has STAYED in the hospital...we did have 3 ER visits). Also, that we left Minnesota 10 months ago(almost a year!).

We were lucky to get a long winter break from school. The kids started back today. I've been dreading starting back more than they have. We have been playing Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan and Seafarers, Golf (with cards, not the ball), and other such games, watching a lot of movies, and eating!

Speaking of eating, I knew we would love the insulin pump sooner or later. It's been great to let Isaac snack with us all through Christmas and New Year's Eve without worries. And then being at church through lunch time now is great with the pump. Our new meter is much more difficult to use than our old one. Isaac will try to do his BG testing alone like he used to but he keeps getting an error. He'll go through about 5 strips and then we'll hear him cursing from the next room. "This is why I don't like Diabetes!" he will yell. It's sad but also a little funny.

A funny conversation between the boys in December: We used to live by a liquor store so it was the same conversation every time we drove by...Isaac is just sure it's called the licorice store. So here we are, months after moving away from the licorice store. The boys start talking about alcohol and what it does to you. After a very lengthy discussion, Isaac replies "I am NEVER going to have a licorice store drink!" It's probably only funny when you hear it with his own special voice!

Christmas was nice...I love when it falls on a Sunday! The Relief Society was doing the 12 days of Christmas - Service and asked me to share a service idea. I am sorry to say that I have been the receiver of far more service than I have given. All I could think of was that we have spent some Christmases and almost every other holiday in the hospital before. In Minneapolis, at Christmas time there is a man that comes to the ICU with his harp and will sit and play for hours. He'll move from corner to corner of the ICU so instead of hearing beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep; you hear the most beautiful, relaxing Christmas music...Christmas hymns! I thought what better way to share the Spirit of CHRISTmas. No words have to be spoken. Just peace to your soul! And to people who are feeling so hopeless/helpless.

Or, this wasn't at Christmas but after Matthew had surgery one time, this Dad brought his two little boys over to the house for a visit. Matthew doesn't get to go to church for a couple of months sometimes with surgeries and the complications that follow. This dad and his two little boys sat with us and sang primary songs to Matthew. It was sweetest thing!

These are the things I remember...the things that touched me most...people giving of themselves! I want to be better at that. I got really tired of the lists of demands coming home from school before break; for all of the parties and adopted families and giving trees, gifts for teachers, bus drivers, etc. Specific things listed that I don't even buy for my own kids. I felt like I was being pulled in every direction and everyone wanted money...money that I don't have. I wish I could give more but in the end, those things don't matter.