More info on Jay's Call Process

This map shows how the synod Jay has been assigned to, Western North Dakota, is broken down into seven conferences. This synod has 192 (or 197) congregations and 73,018 members. Jay actually had an informative conversation yesterday with the bishop.

If you remember, I had mentioned before that we would like to get closer to my family. My family lives in Iowa, but you cross the river and you are in Nebraska. One of the congregations that Jay's information is being presented to is in the upper most northern part of the Upper Missouri region (that's the pink one) . . . again could we get any further from my family? Come on.

We all are beginning to adjust to the different resources that will be available to us in the great state of ND. Apparently, there is only one Sam's Club in that whole area of western ND and it is located in Bismarck. There is a Target store in Minot and Bismarck, a couple of Wal-Marts in Minot and Bismarck, a Kohl's in Bismarck, Barnes & Noble in Minot and Bismarck, Payless in Minot and Bismarck, and Jo-Ann craft store in Minot & Bismarck. Oh yeah, and there is a Starbucks in Minot and Bismarck -- Cassie loves Starbucks and she keeps talking about getting a job there. I already do my share of online shopping, so that doesn't bother me, but I do like to get out and shop sales without paying shipping and handling.

Oh yeah, I hope we live somewhere where if I need to find a part-time evening job I will be able to. And then Cassie will be of working age, so she will need to find a job to help her save money for her upcoming car, she's less than two years away from driving.

I have had an opportunity to communicate with homeschoolers in ND, and the research I've done shows there are resources and support in Minot and Bismarck. We have been reading tidbits about ND and books I have ordered for our ND state study started arriving this past week.

I know we will be together as a family wherever we end up in ND, and that is the most important thing. But, yes there's a but, I hope we are close enough to things to do things with the kids and close enough to things to have the resources we need to be financially and educationally fit.

Hangin' at the Zoo

One day last week, Jay took the kids to the zoo. It was a comfortably warm day and they had a great time spending some time with just dad. The pictures tell all . . .














. . . need I say more.

I'm glad they had fun!!

Our sick little one . . .

One of the things that really gets to me as a parent is when one of the kids is sick. Mackenzie has had a rough week and a half.

Last week, she had to have a tooth extracted (it was scheduled) on Mon., March 9th and they had to put in a spacer. Well, she got home and was tired and just wanted to rest. So, she got pampered and spent quite a bit of time in our bed resting. But by the evening she was wanting to go out and play with friends. She seemed fine. The only thing was we really couldn't get her to eat, and I didn't force any liquids down her either. I thought for sure by Tuesday she'd be ready to eat. No. So she'd take a bite here and there of some yogurt, a milkshake, applesauce, and drink some. But we really couldn't get much in her. Well, she woke up on Wed. (the 11th) shaking, had an upset stomach, and really thirsty. She drank a glass of water and before we knew it she didn't keep it down. This went on for about three hours. I called the dentist and then the pediatrician. The dentist said it had nothing to do with the extraction. The pediatric nurse said to watch for dehydration (I think she was already border line dehydrated), but get clear fluids into her. By mid afternoon she was back to herself, eating and drinking with no problems. However, our co-op policy requires 48 hours without vomiting, so she had to miss her second week in a row; the week before her brother and sister had severe coughs and cold symptoms so I kept them home.

Well, this week started out better until bedtime Tuesday (17th) night. She went to bed and then was up an hour later saying she couldn't go to sleep. I guess she didn't realize she had already been sleeping for an hour. She was coughing so I went in to see if she wanted to take some cough medicine. When I was giving her the medicine I noticed how red her face was and how hot her hands felt. So, I broke out the thermometer and sure enough she was running a 103.2 temperature. What!? She had been fine all day - she had been outside playing with her siblings and some neighborhood kids. I gave her some children's acetaminophen, which we all know just doesn't quite work the same as ibuprofen, but she can't have any ibuprofen since she is scheduled for a tonsillectomy surgery on May 27th.

Well, the night was rough and uncomfortable for her, and somewhat sleepless for me. After talking with a fellow mom, whose kids were sick with strep and Mackenzie had been with a few days earlier, I phoned the pediatrician to find out if she should be tested for strep, especially since she is scheduled for surgery (totally unrelated). The strep test came back negative, so the doctor informed me that there is a crazy viral thing going around that has a really high temp for three to five days and then the cold symptoms, which she has, get worse. Yeah!!

So, poor Mackenzie has been sick from school (the other two wanted the days off since she was off - no way) and having to find other things to do while we did school. All day today her temperature hovered around 100.9, but tonight when we put her to bed she has no fever, she was actually 98.5. I hope the fever is gone!! The poor thing has been wiped out by the fever.

This was Mackenzie last night right before bed - she fell asleep while the others were reading quietly to themselves.


The kids did take breaks in between school subjects to help entertain her. Other than the cough, runny nose, and the temperature she has been okay.



She has been a true trooper watching through the front window as Cassie and Zack play outside with friends. She has been coloring, making sculptures with Play-doh, and playing board games. She actually played Hangman and Scrabble today with her dad. Wait, she might have been sick and didn't do any textbook work, but I do believe she covered art, spelling, reasoning, vocabulary, and strategies the last couple of days. Oh yeah, she did have to miss co-op for the third week in a row and she was greatly sad. I hope she is over with the fever so she can venture outside and get some fresh air.

HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY CASSIE!!

Well, on the 14th Cassie turned 14. Can you believe she is 14. I think that means I'm getting old(er). Her birthday fell on a Saturday, which of course is the day she helps deliver the weekend shopper bags. Unfortunately, we had so much going on we couldn't work it out and she had to still help deliver. So, we did let her sleep in, but we finally woke her up. Jay sang to her and then she opened her presents.

WAKE UP, birthday girl.



Her siblings gave her a movie and a book on her favorite mammal.



The first thing Cassie asked while I was taking pictures was if her hair looked okay. Can we say "teenager"?

Learning something new

Well, my cake class started and I just finished the second class of the level three course. This class is suppose to teach me how to do some basics with fondant, make a lot more different flowers with royal icing, and then the last class (in two Mondays) we will construct a two tier cake. So this last class, we covered a cake in fondant and then made it look like a present by adding a bow. It was actually pretty fun . . . it looks like I'll explore the fondant a little more and take that class in April.

More Fun at CMA

After we toured the Egyptian exhibit, Zack and Jay dressed up and posed for a picture . . . or two.

How FUN!!

Family time at the museum

Well, Saturday we decided to spend some time together at the Columbus Museum of Art participating in the 1st Saturday program. The March program focused on ancient Egypt. First we visited the To Live Forever exhibit and played an object match-up game. Then we got to make a clay canopic jar. Actually, Mackenzie, Zack, and Jay made jars. Cassie didn't want to so she took pictures, and I used some of the leftover clay to make a small pot. After the jars were made, we watched the 8th Floor Improv Group.

We made a day of it, so instead of rushing back home so Cassie and I could deliver the weekend shopper bags, we went out for lunch and then checked out our new Target store.

Here Mackenzie is working with her air dry clay.

Zack worked quickly on the bottom of his canopic jar.

Mackenzie wanted a tall skinny base, so she started over with the bottom of her jar.

I think Jay was having as much, if not more fun than the kids.

Mackenzie shows off her giraffe.

And Zack with the top to his canopic jar, which is an elephant.

Nice job guys. It was nice to spend a Saturday with family instead of being consumed with delivering.

The State and Synod Assignment

Can you figure it out by the state flag??



Well, Jay got a call yesterday from the bishop in western North Dakota. Yes, you read correctly, western North Dakota. We knew that any of the three states (Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota) within region 3 would be a possibility, but we, as a family, really had our hearts set on South Dakota. One of the main reasons we were interested in SD is because it is a lot closer to my family and we were thinking we would be able to visit with them more. As of right now, we are 12-13 hours from my family and it doesn't look like we are going to be much closer to them in western North Dakota. In addition to that, we are hoping to continue our home eductaion, but I've read some things about home schooling in the state of ND, which I find greatly intimidating.

Now what . . . well, we wait, AGAIN to get more information on the next part of this process. In the meantime, we are starting a new state study. Can you guess what it will be?

(S)He found the money . . .

Remember not too long ago I posted pictures and talked about how the kids helped Zack dig through the trash to find some money he lost and possibly threw away. Well, after digging through all the trash cans he still did not find the money. So we just assumed he dropped it in the parking lot or the store when we left.

Well, that is not the case. You know how you tell your son to look everyone . . . jean pockets (which I double checked with the laundry), coat pockets, bedroom nook and crannies, anywhere and everywhere!! So, the other day the kids are outside talking with our wonderful mail lady, Debbie, and all the sudden Zack comes in yelling he found his money. Actually, Mackenzie found it in the coat pocket of Zack's coat (one of many).

Yeah for Mackenzie!! So, Zack rewarded her by buying her some Pokemon cards.

500 BOXES

Mackenzie has been a busy little Brownie. This cute, quiet and somewhat introverted (if she doesn't know you) little girl has blown all our minds with her Girl Scout selling capabilities. We were so excited when she sold 412 boxes for her initial order. She only wanted to get to the next prize level of 450 before March 3rd, so we had plenty of time to get her out and sell only 38 boxes.

Well, the weather did not cooperate at all. We had the ice, the snow, and just bitter cold. Finally, the weather cooperated with our schedule and she ventured out on Saturday to sell. I told her to aim for 20-25 and then she could probably earn the remaining boxes at the booth or booths she would be working with her troop. After an hour or so, Jay called me to let me know she had sold 55 more boxes and now then new goal was 500. So, after a couple of hours she came home with a total of 86 boxes sold which put her at 498. Well, a family member bought the last two to put her at 500. Then on Sunday she hung out at the booth with her troop selling more cookies.

Well, I guess you could say when it comes to selling and earning prizes there is not a stranger Mackenzie would not approach, introduce herself and ask "How many boxes would you like to buy?"