Back again in 2015

I think I always start this with it has been a while. But it truly has. It's been a few years since I am on this blog, and I hopefully can keep it better updated.
Just a recap, and I will try and get a picture soon... oldest daughter is Kayla, 16 (graduating high school this year), Joshua, 14, Laura, 13, Micah, 11, Timothy, 9, Brad, 8.
Homeschooling started again this year, so a new year begins. Kayla is excited because it is her last year. Josh is starting high school this year and to him it's school so... But he is doing well so far.

It has been a busy couple of years with my mom being sick with cancer... and now having COPD on top of it. Brad Sr. being pretty sick as well with his birth defect. But we are being seen and treated now at John Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. Everything is trial and error with him and the doctors because what he has is rare, but they are on to something new this year, we will see how it works.

We have started attending another church, and it is great! The kids are learning so much. The youth group is good and godly, and the Bible taught and scripture memory is awesome. The teens do nursing home ministry as a group and have some awesome fellowship afterwards.
This year on Mother's Day actually, my van decided to not work once I got to church. Alternator died. Brad and his friend Mark had to change it right in the parking lot :-(    But all kids got to go to the nursing home and minister, I got to wait and "supervise" while the men worked on the car... There were other willing helpers from church who would have lent a hand, but it was handled (with a few finger cuts, and unhappiness because how do they fit these things in those small spaces?) Anyway...

All 4 boys started playing baseball in spring of 2013. 4 boys on 3 different teams.... Brad also had surgery that year so I was stuck with a lot of running. My mother in law and sister had to jump in and help a few times because it was impossible. The boys did well and I am so glad they played. Didn't know they had such talent. Micah made all star team his first year playing ball. Then year two came along... Josh had to move up to teener ball (I feel bad he started so late, such a disadvantage for him). He did well tho, and I am very proud of him. Micah made all star team again second year. Tournament one they won first place and second tournament they had double elimination, but they made it toward the end... and got out. Tim and Brad make an awesome pitcher/catcher team, and they enjoy playing so much.

Well fall 2015 and the boys are trying their feet (?) at soccer.... Run, run, run.... But they LOVE it! And let me tell you, they will definitely be in shape after this. They all play really well. Micah is very aggressive, which you need in soccer, Josh has awesome footwork (but his first game playing he got a little nervous on the field, soccer is completely new to them, with positions etc.) But Josh did well for his first time, and like I said, he has awesome footwork, Tim and Brad.... They are on a younger kid team, their first game they played they tied 2-2. I think they both did well. Tim and Micah got to be goal keeper in their game. And I believe all my kids play midfielder or striker... I think, like I said soccer is all new to us.

Laura is joining the choir at church, and Kayla still loves to play the piano. She was just tonight given the book to study for her drivers permit... Oh no!
We took Kayla to Sight and Sound for her 16th Birthday, and Sonic, that restaurant... That was on her bucket list that she can now cross off. :-) She saw Joseph. It was just her, Brad, and I. No other kids. That is rare at this house, so that alone was special. Of course, as hard as I tried to keep it all a secret, she still suspected it.
Laura and Kayla's birthday are exactly 3 years apart, so for her 13th birthday, we didn't do anything different really.. just normal cake and gifts at home. I didn't do anything special for Kayla when she turned 13... so I guess Sweet 16 (and what do you call it for boys?) will be the "Special Birthday".

All the kids got CPR certified this past year too. They really enjoyed that. It was a few hour class and they each had their own "dummy" to do CPR on, and they also got a class on First Aid. Laura wants to be a nurse, so this was right up her alley.

Well I think that is an overall catchup for our home... More to come... or so that's the plan. Maybe I will break it down to more detail about mom, and Brad's problem, and then focus on the things that happen with the kids...