Baby It's Cold Outside

We have SNOOWWWW and lots of it! The schools are closed, I am not able to make it to the office and we are snuggled in for hot chocolate, teleconference calls (mine for work), cartoons, Mexican train dominoes, and some Wii! I was as excited as the kids were when I saw all the snow and learned of the school closure. And Harbour, the newfie extraordinaire, has had more fun than any dog should be allowed running and cavorting in the snow.

The fireplace is burning logs and I am working while listening to its crackling and feeling its warmth. Other than D not being home (he can walk to his work in our backyard, albeit through a foot of snow), there is not a thing in the world that I would complain about.

I am thankful for this warm home, my health, my family's health, our safety, my job and the ability I have to work remotely, and our ability to provide food and security to our family.

All is well:)
CC

Geneva and Back and Hope Springs Forth

So, since I last wrote, I have finally made my way to Europe and back. I had a trip for work to Geneva to our affiliate and D went with me and it was a nice get away. My company has a very large multi-drug resistant TB project that I have volunteered to help out with regarding communications and that was the reason for my trip. The nongovernmental organization (NGO) link with private companies is such a powerful union and I think that this will likely be my future direction in some way or another, who knows? The lady who leads it agreed to be a mentor of sorts regarding my research, so that is a very beneficial aspect of the trip.

What was missing from the trip? For the first 3 days, our luggage. Continental did NOT get high marks at all. My colleague who also traveled for the same purpose with Continental also had lost luggage, but for him it was only a day. And the kids. I miss them terribly after about 3 days.

But, that was the trip, I have been to Geneva, it is a fun city with wayyyy to many people who smoke, but lovely rosti, wine, cheese, and lovely little sandwiches. I made some nice acquaintances and who knows what the future will hold.

As for today, Harbour got "fixed" yesterday, so I stayed home with her today as she was not supposed to be alone and then Miss Shenzy had a fever and a nasty cough, so I am home with both of them today. I am 2 days late in sending in an assignment for school, I have jet lag, but we just inaugurated Obama as president and I find myself so incredibly hopeful for our nation and our reputation around the world. I have watched the events unfold today and was inspired by his speech, and loved the benediction given.

I have hope for the future of my non-Caucasian children, I think today truly marks a new chapter in our country. I don't like Obama because of his skin color, but for what he stands for and the hope he has inspired in so many. However, his advancement makes it possible for those who come after him to have a little bit less of a struggle because of skin color. Thank you President Obama for following the path so many blazed before you and for taking it further than anyone else has been able to before, on behalf of my children, thank you! I will pray daily for your safety, for your wisdom and for the health and safety of your whole family.

AMEN!
CC

2009 Here We Go

I find it hard to comprehend that 2008 has come and gone. It was a significant year for our family, primarily with D being gone for 9 weeks and our adventure of taking Doodle and Meesta back to their birth country. There were lots of positive financial moves forward and that will only continue to improve this year. School has been successful for all members of our family with Doodle taking a bit of adjusting to second grade, but eventually everything smoothing out before Christmas break. The only major negative was the lack of progress towards my weight loss and cholesterol reduction goals.

2009, what do I expect:
*Improved health through the following measures:

• Weight loss of at least 25 pounds
• Exercise a minimum of 2x/week (hopefully more)
• Decreased LDL, triglyceride, and total cholesterol numbers to within normal limits

*Continued success with school:

• At least one Knowledge Area Module (KAM) completed, hopefully 2
• No grade less than a B achieved (still holding on to 4.0 for now...)
• Almost all classes completed for PhD, just about 3 will remain hopefully and the dissertation
• Attend at least 1 residency
• CELEBRATE D graduating from seminary in May!!!!

*Successful move:

• 2009, mid-year, we will likely be moving, my goal is to make it as pain-free and stress-free for the kiddos, make it a fun and special event for them
• take time off from work for the move as needed, the kids will need both D and I to be fully present as much as possible

*Job

• Maintain it and look for opportunities to use my degree and interests to the fullest extent possible within my company (see upcoming trip to Geneva!!...post later in the week)

Well, those are my plans for 2009 in a nutshell. I pray mostly for health and happiness for us all, including my entire family and friends. And, this year I also pray that I will find more ways to be a good friend to others, to be an instrument of God, and to be a more present wife and mom.

Here's to 2009!

CC