Here I am back to writing the Family News after a short hiatus.  Now that I am officially on the “payroll”, this is now one of my roles again.  After being out of the work force for 16 years, I am now a homemaker and part-time real estate assistant.  In September I started working two days a week in our home office during school hours.  It only took a few weeks to become apparent that two work days each week was more than was manageable, with all of the other duties of keeping a family of 7 running.  So, Wednesdays it is.  I really enjoy the work, though I have so many things to learn.  My computer skills are very outdated.  Working alongside Steve in his business has been good for us.  We feel like a team, though Steve has a paranoia that I am secretly trying to take over as boss (just kidding!).

Our family has had some struggles in the past couple months as my health has really deteriorated for some reason.  After a couple trips by ambulance to the hospital, I’ve now been seen by a cardiologist.  There are some abnormal extra beats happening in one part of my heart.  I am taking a medication to control this.  I will have an ultrasound of my heart on February 11.  There are other issues that seem to be playing a part as well. So, one day at a time as we go through the process of finding answers.  Some times we go through difficult things because we are being prompted to make changes in our lives.  We believe that this is part of it.  One thing being evaluated is each of our kids various activities.  They are all good things, but too many good things can become a bad thing.  We are beginning to realize that we can’t live like a family with two kids.  So, we are working on simplifying our lives and making ourselves less busy, so we have time for the most important things.  It’s a question of what we want our life to look like and does it line up with our family values.

Steve had his second knee surgery in December and is healing very well this time.  We are thankful for this, and I know Steve is anxious to start running again.  Hopefully by the summer.

Jude just recently turned 15.  His voice is lower than Steve’s and his feet are definitely bigger.  He is full swing into track and field and is training hard.  He is Mr. Discipline.  I think we eat pretty healthy in our house, but Jude will usually pack his own lunch and will leave the cookie at home that I set out for him (not normal for a teenage boy).  We are happy that in the last couple of months he has taken an interest in learning piano again.  For his birthday we bought him some new piano books.

Adrianna has now officially entered the teen years.  She has LOVED! soccer this year.  She played rep soccer for the first time and loves the higher level of competition.  Her position is midfield.  The team has a great coach and the girls on the team all get along fantastically.  Another passion for her is baking.  A lot of her Christmas gifts were given with this is mind (lots of cupcake books and baking supplies).  I love that she wants to bake, but she is not a neat person in the kitchen.  I am a clean as I go person.  Not her style.  So, I have to learn to keep my mouth closed (not easy).  Adrianna is now taller than I am and I think that she has a fair bit of growing yet to do.

Jared is really sick with the flu as I’m writing this. He seems to be the one that catches every bug out there.  His hockey season is just entering into their round robin playoffs.  I know Jared feels pressure being the goalie, but seems to handle it okay.  During the regular season he played forward a few times and enjoyed it, but goalie is the thing for him.  He’s another one of the kids who has unexpectedly returned to playing a musical instrument.  Guitar is his choice.

Mireya, our ball of continual energy will accomplish great things in her life.  My mom always says that she could run a country some day.  She is such a go-getter and very self-motivated.  I can’t keep up to her pace.  It has been a pleasure to see her personality develop now that she has become secure in our family.  She is playing soccer, and when that ends, will start track and field for the first time.  Steve and I are very excited about this.  She is a little Speedy Gonzales with all her energy.  We see a lot of ribbons and medals in her future.

Nicole is enjoying Grade 1.  Her teacher Mrs. McLay is great, and is amazed how well Nicole is doing in school considering how short of a time she’s been in Canada.  I can’t believe that in March it will be 2 years since Nicole became part of our family.  Nicole is doing well in piano, but a little less motivated to practice than Mireya.  A little more prompting is necessary.  The Langley Mustangs track club is adding a track rascals program this season for the first time, so we’ve signed Nicole up for that.  She will start in March when Jared and Mireya start.  She doesn’t really want to do it, but I think she is scared that it’s going to be all intense and competitive, which it is not.  It’s going to be a lot of fun.  I will most likely be helping coach this group.

Wow, that was a lot of Family News.  I guess I’m making up for lost time.  I’m sure looking forward to Spring.  How about you?  I already find it better now that it stays light past 5:30 p.m.  Now we just need some sunshine and warmth.

~ Cindy Klassen