Anyone still there?

It feels so weird to sit here and type on the blog.  I haven’t done this in quite a while!  I think an update is in order.  First of all, I am posting on Instagram (@kristydorminy) regularly, and I receive chatbooks at every 60 pictures, so that is a great way for me to keep up with our shenanigans and even record some our school year.  The blog has definitely been left behind.  I think there’s still some writing in me, but time shall tell.

Ruby:  She is almost a teenager, which is super crazy.  She is learning “Come Thou Fount” on the piano.  The recital is in May.  She is doing amazing in her math, which always surprises me because she uses a dvd teacher and basically teaches herself.  I oversee, but I am little help.  It’s time to start expanding our reach in how we educate, as I don’t think I am smart enough to teach high school.  Ruby is making friends in the youth group at church and has adjusted so well.  I am very proud of her. She continues to be a READER! And notice those braces….

Molly:  She is 11 and is very funny.  We have turned a corner in our relationship.  It has been a bumpy road, but let me just say that the Lord did a work in our family, and I think He made the breakthrough happen for us, and I could not be more thankful.  I really enjoy her company.  We still get on each other’s nerves from time to time, but we respond better to each other and don’t let things escalate.  She is a great piano player also and is working on “How Deep the Father’s Love  for Me” and “Home.”  Molly continues to be independent and knows her way around the kitchen. She loves all things pineapple.  She also is enjoying church and making friends.  This year we will go on a “Blessing Retreat” with JUST Molly!  The church really uses the 6th grade year to pour into the kids before sending them on to Youth Group.  It’s the neatest thing I’ve seen in an elementary department!  And it was just what Molly needed.  She was not quite ready to be in the youth group with much older kids.  Just another way the Lord has confirmed His leading in our lives. Here she is with a good friend when we visited Woodstock last month.  Such cuties.

Mack: He is almost 10!  Double digits….what in the world?  My baby is getting big.  He loves football and will play flag football in the spring.  He is begging for tackle, so I am sure that will be in our future.  He also enjoys basketball.  We got a basketball goal given to us right after Christmas–a huge blessing! The mild winter weather has enabled Mack to meet some neighborhood boys, and he is SOOOOO HAPPY when they are home in the afternoon and can play and SOOOOOO MAD when they aren’t available.  It’s times like these that he begs me for a 9 year old brother. UGH.  He still takes good care of me–always so thoughtful and kind.  It amazes all of us.  Neither Josh or myself are as thoughtful and tenderhearted as he is. He keeps us laughing most days. 

Josh:  He is enjoying his new job here in Charlotte.  There is never a boring day, that is for sure!  He misses teaching Sunday School, but knows now is not the time to add that responsibility to his plate.  He has been able to hunt more often this past season, which has been a lot of fun for him (and Mack).  Josh is kind of private, so that’s about all I feel comfortable sharing about him. 🙂

Me:  I am not very private, but I will restrain myself for the sake of the two of you who stayed with me this far. I will be 40 pretty soon.  Yikes.  I’m not afraid to be 40.  I kind of welcome it.  It’s been a reflective time for me, and I think I am growing as a person as a result of the move, so I have had plenty of circumstances  to evaluate and reflect upon.  Challenged in new ways that are good for me.  I am leading a table at a Bible Study at our new church, The Armor of God.  It’s really good and couldn’t be more perfect for where I am. I still teach the kids, but like I said, I am looking for ways to transfer responsibility to someone else…maybe Liberty Online?  maybe a math and science tutor?  That’d be awesome!  I pray about making that right connection to someone who wants to teach my kids math and science, so if you want to pray for our family, that is one way that I would greatly appreciate!  I am reminded of Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your ways to the Lord and your plans will be established.”  So that is what I am doing in the area of homeschool.  He has guided us so far, and I know He will continue to show Himself faithful to us.  I have crazy thoughts about going back to school myself and becoming some sort of counselor.  I have a book idea that I roll around from time to time, but then get too scared to really put any effort into it.  And it’s dinner time, so since I am still the mama around here, I best get into the kitchen.

Thanks for hanging in there and reading this.  I will post a pic of Josh and I from our honeymoon over 16 years ago.  We celebrated our 16th anniversary in January.  And this picture is better than any that we have taken lately of our tired selves. 🙂