Wow.....Not even sure how you catch up TWO years without posting?? I guess you say "oops" and move on!! I could apologize all over and give lots of excuses.....helping Stevie finish high school, helping with a couple huge volunteer jobs, helping with parents, blah, blah, blah *grin* It has been a busy couple years and I am hoping to spend more time now doing the things I enjoy again.
So, what can I catch up on? How about our passion project? We got involved in a wonderful organization called the "Idaho Art Lab" here locally. It is a non-profit art center--with awesome people and things to do! We have been volunteering with them for about 3 years now. It started with pottery lessons for Stevie....and quickly moved into us almost living there LOL! Now we are basically "the Friday volunteers" who run the lab on Fridays so the owners can use the day for whatever they need to do. Kimberly draws the coloring contest each month with Artie the Art Lion, runs the gift shop and library of books, Missy takes care of all the plants and plays the piano each month for openings, Stevie made their children's pottery wheels for his Eagle Scout, did a ceramics pouring table for his Senior project, etc. Steven does all the refreshments for openings and helps me all the time....and me....well, I just do what I do *grin* I love being there--I wish I had more students and classes to teach, but it will come with time and I do love the creative outlet it gives me.
We also have done a lot of work with an organization "A Matter of the Heart" which takes donations and gives them away to people in need. I love the concept of it--and have enjoyed helping with them quite a bit. It has come to consume our lives though, so I am thinking we may have to tone it down a bit. Me--get too involved in a project? No never! *snicker* We will have to see where life takes us on it. I am hoping I can find a happy medium and balance the fun of helping and sharing with others and taking more time for myself and my family.
Hmmmmmm......what else to catch up on? How about kids? Kimmy just turned 27 and we are keeping her under lock and key.....she can never move away because I would miss her too much. *grin* Actually she is finding it hard living in a college town. Jobs are scarce and low paying and rent is exorbitant. I know she would love to move out on her own--but realistically at this time--she can't. She is working for a local call center while waiting on her dream job of being a librarian or working in a bank comes available. She does get to volunteer at the library each week....so hopefully that helps her get a foot in the door. She has become very active playing Dungeons and Dragons (yes, that game I used to make fun of people who played in in school.....now all 3 of my kids enjoy it....karma is funny) with a couple groups locally. She is an exceptional artist and has just started selling some of her artwork online. Right now she is in the middle of "an epic cross stitch" and can't seem to put it down. It is HUGE....I would have quit by now....I don't think I EVER finished a cross stitch!
Stevie graduated from high school this year. *breathing a sigh of relief*. He is currently working at the same call center as Kimmy--which is fun for them. He is really enjoying having a paycheck. We have decided he is a bit of a clothes horse--since he is continually buying t-shirts online *grin* He will be attending college this fall locally--if I can get him to finish filling out all his paperwork *sigh* He is still my crazy kid that will eat ice cream in the middle of a blizzard and constantly has his head phones on. He is super protective of his two sisters and takes great care of his mom!!
Missy turned 16 this year. (No, she is STILL my BABY...I don't let them grow up!) She has really blossomed into quite the young woman. She LIVES for the piano. Eats, lives and drinks it. She has an electric piano in her bedroom that she is constantly on. She spends a lot of time reading and just hanging out with her siblings and mom. She started ballroom dance lessons this year and has already taken 4th place in her first competition! It is amazing how quickly she has picked it up. She volunteers with the local cat shelter--and then hurries home to shower since her mom is so allergic to cats. She also helps out with the Mayor's Youth Council doing service projects throughout the year. She keeps me busy playing chauffeur!
Steven and I are pretty much the same as always....living and loving life! He is really enjoying his 2nd life.....he is now a corrections officer for the state. He always come home with quite the stories from work. He helps his crazy wife out whenever she comes up with projects for him to help with. I mostly just work on my pet projects and spend time with my family. I really have struggled since moving back to our hometown with depression. I miss the variety of living in a big city and the cultural events we were able to attend. We are searching for things here to do--but it seems that eating and shopping is a majority of what there is--unless you are big into nature--like camping and such---which my idea of camping is a motel! Hopefully we find what we are looking for soon.
So....that is pretty much a wrap up. I am hoping that I can do better with this again....no promises...but lots of hope!! And before you worry, no we have not become axe murderers and done away with the kids....but always making memories and just having fun....and maybe throwing a few dollars into their future therapy bills *grin*
