Sorry

I usually try to post something everyday but obviously it hasn't worked out that way lately. Here's the latest:

Steve accepted a new position with a company based out of Yankton called Central Plains Insurance. After 12 years at Daktronics, he felt he was ready to move on. CPI offered him a higher base salary, plus commission, a vehicle, computer and phone. He started the 1st of January and loves it so far. He's been doing a lot of traveling lately - at least 3 days in a row each week - but that will be temporary. He'll eventually be based out of Brookings but for now he's doing a lot of training with other agents. He's also studying to obtain his license so that he can sell all types of insurance, including home, farm, vehicle and comercial. They are underwritten by lots of different insurers so he's not limited in cost by just one insurance company. Kind of like the Progressive comercial on tv where they compare lots of prices. The only difference is that he can sell you which ever one is the best deal for you :)
Steve's also going to be doing some marketing on the side for a multi-media company called Onderick Multi-Media. They specialize in website design. He's also still at the Swiftel center doing concessions some weekends. He's there tonight and tomorrow night for motocross.
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The kids were super excited to see Grandma Lori, Aunt Brooke and Uncle Nathan in Arizona. No, we didn't make a trip south, although it would have been nice to get away from this freezing cold. Brittney figured out Skype for us and we used the webcam on our laptop to visit with them since they also had a webcam on their end. At first, we could see and hear them and they could see us but couldn't hear us. So later we got a microphone we could plug into the computer and then the kids could talk to them too. I don't think the boys have talked to Brooke and Nathan since they were in foster care so it was fun to be able to connect the boys with them again. If we would have known how easy it was, we would have tried it years ago! Now that we know what we're doing, we'll easily be able to do it again.
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Steve, Riley & Anthony went to a pizza and basketball night last night sponsored by our men's group at church. They met with about 35 other dads and kids at the church around 5:30pm and had pizza. Then they went to the college to watch the SDSU men play basketball. The best part was that Steve and the boys got to spend some fun time together. The second best part was that it was free!
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Taylor is such a giving soul. She put $20 in the children's offering at church on Sunday. Bless her little heart. Unfortunately, it was the $20 she stole out of my drawer at home! So yesterday we had a discussion about if God really wants money that you took from someone else. Taylor thought probably not. I wonder if God will give my money back?
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Brittney has been busy with gymnastics. They practice after school every day until 6pm. Then sometimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she goes to the gym downtown after that until 9pm. They have gymnastics meets pretty much every week and she's doing really well and loves it. So far, she's keeping up with her homework and also with her socializing. I don't think she probably gets enough sleep but I guess that's what happens when you're 12 and loving life.
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Zeke is down to physical therapy once a week at the hospital and twice a week at school. He's totally ditched the wheelchair and is using the walker, except inside our house where he walks by himself. He can walk across a room without the walker if he concentrates and doesn't get distracted. He can do stairs slowly and can get out of the van by himself. I just purchased a little plastic stepstool so he can now also get himself into the van! He has another appointment in St Paul at Gillette Children's Hospital on February 10th.
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Sandy found an apartment in Brookings just a few blocks from us and moved in last weekend. Now she's able to have her own space and not be crowded into our chaotic little house. It's a two bedroom on the ground floor. She's still looking for a job in the Brookings area so keep her in your prayers. She's taking computer classes every day and really enjoying what she's learning. At this point, she still has her house in Redfield and spends some weekends there.
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I guess that just leaves me. I'm still doing the usual running kids everywhere and keeping up with the baby's busy schedule. Between all her visits and therapies, she hardly has time for naps! She'll be starting at my friend's daycare in a few weeks when I start my position at Headstart. I'll be a teacher's aid, specifically because they have some special needs kids who need a bit of "extra attention". Headstart must have figured that I would know a bit about that! I'm actually looking forward to being out in the world again.
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In the past few weeks, I've also been more intentional about my bible studies again. It seems like it wasn't as hard to find time the last year Anthony was home with me but this year we've just seemed to have a lot of chaos again. Which means it's even more important that I'm intentional about my walk with Christ.