Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Horne Creek Farm...and a New Special Friend!
We planned on a relaxing, somewhat educational day with the kids today since the weather was going to be nice. We decided to go to Horne Creek Farm (http://www.nchistoricsites.org/horne/horne.htm) to see how people lived in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Here are a few pictures (story continues below).
Well, when we visited the barn, we found three new lambs had been born. One was about three weeks old, while the other two were less than one day old. The mother was neglecting one of the two lambs in favor of the other. We're not sure if the one lamb had eaten since its birth, and it had not been cleaned off after it was born. I don't think the lamb would have survived had someone not intervened.
So...we decided to ask the folks who maintain the farm if we could take the lamb to our house to try to nurse it back to health. They had been trying to find some local farmers who would take it in, but no one was able. So instead of studying, Jobe has been trying to get our little lamb to eat (and has finally been successful!). Miriam named the lamb Biddy Betty after the sheep in the book "Mountain Born" by Elizabeth Yates. Ironically, Miriam had just finished reading that book about a week ago. We're hoping she survives, but we have prepared the kids just in case...
Pictures below include (in order) Biddy in her stall, Biddy's sibling and mother, Daddy and the man at Horne Creek trying to get Biddy to nurse from her mother before we leave, Daddy taking about an hour to get Biddy to drink 2 oz. of colostrum, and the kids with Biddy.
Well, when we visited the barn, we found three new lambs had been born. One was about three weeks old, while the other two were less than one day old. The mother was neglecting one of the two lambs in favor of the other. We're not sure if the one lamb had eaten since its birth, and it had not been cleaned off after it was born. I don't think the lamb would have survived had someone not intervened.
So...we decided to ask the folks who maintain the farm if we could take the lamb to our house to try to nurse it back to health. They had been trying to find some local farmers who would take it in, but no one was able. So instead of studying, Jobe has been trying to get our little lamb to eat (and has finally been successful!). Miriam named the lamb Biddy Betty after the sheep in the book "Mountain Born" by Elizabeth Yates. Ironically, Miriam had just finished reading that book about a week ago. We're hoping she survives, but we have prepared the kids just in case...
Pictures below include (in order) Biddy in her stall, Biddy's sibling and mother, Daddy and the man at Horne Creek trying to get Biddy to nurse from her mother before we leave, Daddy taking about an hour to get Biddy to drink 2 oz. of colostrum, and the kids with Biddy.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that...
Greetings. We would like to begin by wishing a belated "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" to all of our family and friends we were not able to see over the holidays.
There are a couple of recent developments in our household that have increased the level of excitement. First, Jobe only has 4 weeks of school remaining! We are all excited to be finishing with this part of the journey. Second, we had about 8" of snow on the ground just a few days before Christmas. We were able to sled and do other snow activities for several days. There are still a few patches of snow hanging around due to the fact that for about three weeks it's been colder than an Eskimo's butt sitting on a Port-A-John while ice fishing in Alaska (nice visual there, right?).
Which brings me to #3...we got a Wii for Christmas. Because the kids can only tolerate freezing temperatures for so long, we've been forced to spend less time outdoors and more time inside. Needless to say, the Wii came at the right time. Suzanne and Miriam are master bowlers. Nathanael and Jobe are the golfers. Caleb has a shooting game he really likes. Joshua's favorite game? Boxing.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as Jobe prepares to take his licensing exam, interviews for jobs, and as we begin to look for a new home once Jobe finishes school. Thanks and take care.
The West Family
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
We would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We enjoyed a day with family. We also had a chance to teach/remind our older two about why we celebrate Thanksgiving.
It's been a few months since we've posted anything, so a brief update is in order. Things are going pretty well here for us. The kids are enjoying another year of homeschool and are progressing well. Jobe will be done with school in about 10 weeks (not counting a week off for Christmas!). Suzanne is doing a wonderful job being wife, mommy, and teacher.
We want to leave you with a funny picture. What happens when you're hiking, two little boys have tired legs, and Mommy can't carry one of them any longer? (See image below).
Let me also add that Daddy isn't having nearly as much fun as it might look like he is having... Joshua is rubbing the sweat off of Daddy's head with the palms of his hands then rubbing Daddy's ears. If you've ever had a "wet willy," it's like a wet willy on steroids. Needless to say, Daddy wouldn't trade the time spent with his family for anything.
It's been a few months since we've posted anything, so a brief update is in order. Things are going pretty well here for us. The kids are enjoying another year of homeschool and are progressing well. Jobe will be done with school in about 10 weeks (not counting a week off for Christmas!). Suzanne is doing a wonderful job being wife, mommy, and teacher.
We want to leave you with a funny picture. What happens when you're hiking, two little boys have tired legs, and Mommy can't carry one of them any longer? (See image below).
Let me also add that Daddy isn't having nearly as much fun as it might look like he is having... Joshua is rubbing the sweat off of Daddy's head with the palms of his hands then rubbing Daddy's ears. If you've ever had a "wet willy," it's like a wet willy on steroids. Needless to say, Daddy wouldn't trade the time spent with his family for anything.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Almost 1/2 Way!
It's been a while since we've blogged anything, but everything is going well. We're closing in on the half-way point for school, which will conclude the first week of February. Suzanne is somehow managing to maintain some sense of order at home while I am away at school and in clinical rotations. Thus far, I have had two rotations on the kidney unit and one in oncology. This summer, I will do rotations in pediatrics and mental health.
Caleb and Miriam both had successful soccer seasons. They both scored multiple goals for their teams had a blast doing it. Caleb is going to Omaha, NE, with Pop Pop to watch Carolina play in the College World Series. Nathanael is learning (slowly!) to use the potty. He is also enjoying swimming at the pool on hot days. Joshua loves the water, too. He also likes to dance. He has a signature dance move that I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone do. I'll try to post a video when I have a break from school.
Most importantly, everyone is healthy. We are helping out with a group of refugees from the mountainous border of Burma and Thailand (Karenni people) at church. They speak no English, but I believe they are here due to religious persecution in their home country(ies). Miriam loves helping out with their children.
A big thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and support.
Caleb and Miriam both had successful soccer seasons. They both scored multiple goals for their teams had a blast doing it. Caleb is going to Omaha, NE, with Pop Pop to watch Carolina play in the College World Series. Nathanael is learning (slowly!) to use the potty. He is also enjoying swimming at the pool on hot days. Joshua loves the water, too. He also likes to dance. He has a signature dance move that I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone do. I'll try to post a video when I have a break from school.
Most importantly, everyone is healthy. We are helping out with a group of refugees from the mountainous border of Burma and Thailand (Karenni people) at church. They speak no English, but I believe they are here due to religious persecution in their home country(ies). Miriam loves helping out with their children.
A big thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and support.
Monday, March 2, 2009
We Have Snow!
We received 4-6" of snow last night, and the kids were able to get out and enjoy it this morning. We've posted a few pictures of the kids in the snow and some other photos in our Family Photo Album. Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Greetings!
Just a quick update on how things are going for us...
First of all, school is going OK. It's keeping me plenty busy. We've finished one class completely (in 1 month!) and just had mid-terms in two others. Caleb and Miriam are about to wrap up their basketball seasons and start soccer. Miriam scored her first points two weekends ago. She has also lost her first two teeth (bottom middle)! Joshua and Nathanael are both growing and doing well.
We appreciate everyone's support and prayers as we move through this next year.
I heard this song on the radio a few weeks back...it's worth a listen, if you've not heard it:
Take care until next time!
First of all, school is going OK. It's keeping me plenty busy. We've finished one class completely (in 1 month!) and just had mid-terms in two others. Caleb and Miriam are about to wrap up their basketball seasons and start soccer. Miriam scored her first points two weekends ago. She has also lost her first two teeth (bottom middle)! Joshua and Nathanael are both growing and doing well.
We appreciate everyone's support and prayers as we move through this next year.
I heard this song on the radio a few weeks back...it's worth a listen, if you've not heard it:
Take care until next time!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Happy New Year; School Is Here
Happy New Year! Things have been rather chaotic since I last posted about getting into school. We have found a house in Rural Hall (just north of Winston Salem) to rent. We moved in just before Christmas, so we were able to celebrate Christmas with our family in our new home. I went to orientation for school last week, and classes start tomorrow. Basically, we were told we'd be completing 2 1/2 years worth of coursework and clinical rotations in 13 months.
Suzanne has started homeschooling Caleb and Miriam for the spring semester. They are both progressing well in their studies, although Joshua and Nathanael can make it difficult on her from time to time. I try to help her out on my days off, either by watching Nathanael and Joshua or by helping Caleb and Miriam, but I realize this only gets done because of the hard work Suzanne puts in. This next year may be more difficult on her than it is on me.
We are also looking for a church home and a solid group of friends and homeschoolers, especially for the kids to be around. Caleb and Miriam are both playing Upward basketball, so that should help to some degree. Please remember us in your prayers as we progress through this next 12-14 months. It will be trying on all of us.
The good news? By this time next year, I'll have less than a month left in school!
Suzanne has started homeschooling Caleb and Miriam for the spring semester. They are both progressing well in their studies, although Joshua and Nathanael can make it difficult on her from time to time. I try to help her out on my days off, either by watching Nathanael and Joshua or by helping Caleb and Miriam, but I realize this only gets done because of the hard work Suzanne puts in. This next year may be more difficult on her than it is on me.
We are also looking for a church home and a solid group of friends and homeschoolers, especially for the kids to be around. Caleb and Miriam are both playing Upward basketball, so that should help to some degree. Please remember us in your prayers as we progress through this next 12-14 months. It will be trying on all of us.
The good news? By this time next year, I'll have less than a month left in school!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
School News!!!
After months of an agonizing waiting game, we have finally heard back from both UNC and Winston Salem State. While we were hoping to hear positive news from both places, we only needed it from one.
Well, about two weeks ago, I heard back from UNC. While they said I was a strong candidate and got extra points in various areas of my application, my grades at High Point were not strong enough to pull my grades from Campbell up to the minimum GPA requirement.
This past week, I received a letter from WSSU. They said I was accepted into their program. Suzanne and I are happy to move on to the next phase of our lives, as are our children. While it is a great relief to know that I am in school, it brings on another group of responsibilities...finding a place to live, moving, etc.
We appreciate everyone's thoughts, prayers, and support as we've moved through this process. Please continue to remember us as we move forward.
Well, about two weeks ago, I heard back from UNC. While they said I was a strong candidate and got extra points in various areas of my application, my grades at High Point were not strong enough to pull my grades from Campbell up to the minimum GPA requirement.
This past week, I received a letter from WSSU. They said I was accepted into their program. Suzanne and I are happy to move on to the next phase of our lives, as are our children. While it is a great relief to know that I am in school, it brings on another group of responsibilities...finding a place to live, moving, etc.
We appreciate everyone's thoughts, prayers, and support as we've moved through this process. Please continue to remember us as we move forward.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
A Quick Update...
...well, it's been a while since we've updated either our blog or our photos. A lot has happened since we moved to Mt. Airy at the end of December. Jobe was able to find a job closer to home (30 minutes rather than 90). Caleb, Miriam, and Nathanael have all had birthdays (now 8, 5, and 2). Joshua is rapidly developing his own unique personality, too (he likes to talk...or try to talk).
Right now, Jobe has applied to nursing school at Carolina and Winston Salem State. We should know something from Carolina as soon as all the transcripts have been received (hopefully within the next few weeks to a month). WSSU's acceptance period isn't until September, so we won't know anything for a while with that one. So it's just a waiting game at this point in time.
We have some great pictures we've taken this summer, and some good video, too! We'll post the pictures within the next week or two. We'll try to post some video, if we can remember how to do it. Take care, and thanks for thinking about us!
Right now, Jobe has applied to nursing school at Carolina and Winston Salem State. We should know something from Carolina as soon as all the transcripts have been received (hopefully within the next few weeks to a month). WSSU's acceptance period isn't until September, so we won't know anything for a while with that one. So it's just a waiting game at this point in time.
We have some great pictures we've taken this summer, and some good video, too! We'll post the pictures within the next week or two. We'll try to post some video, if we can remember how to do it. Take care, and thanks for thinking about us!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
We've Moved!
First of all, our Earthlink E-mail addresses no longer work. Click the "E-Mail" links to the right to contact either Jobe or Suzanne at their new e-mail addresses.
OK - for some of you, this may come as a surprise, but we've moved. We're now living in Mt. Airy, NC, with Suzanne's parents. Since some of you may not be aware of this or what's happening right now in our lives, let me take just a moment to fill you in.
In June, I (Jobe) decided to leave banking to go school and enter the healthcare profession. To ensure that this is what I/we wanted to do (before paying for school), I took a job at a local hospital to work as a transporter/translator in the ER. Working there for a few months confirmed that this was the direction I/we needed to head. So, in September, I enrolled in a couple of pre-requisite classes. I have one or two more classes to take this spring, then I will apply for admission into a BSN (bachelor's of nursing) program. This program would be a full-time, thirteen month committment.
Since I am going to school full-time in a year, and since going to school would require us to move, we decided to list our home "For Sale by Owner" in September. Since the housing market is suppressed right now, we didn't expect it to sell until possibly the spring or summer of '08. Things worked out for us a little more quickly than expected, and our house sold on Dec. 14. We requested that we be able to stay in our house through Christmas, and the request was granted. We were out on the 26th. Needless to say, it's been a little crazy here lately.
I guess that brings us full-circle to us now living with Pa and Grandma and having new e-mail addresses. Happy New Year!
OK - for some of you, this may come as a surprise, but we've moved. We're now living in Mt. Airy, NC, with Suzanne's parents. Since some of you may not be aware of this or what's happening right now in our lives, let me take just a moment to fill you in.
In June, I (Jobe) decided to leave banking to go school and enter the healthcare profession. To ensure that this is what I/we wanted to do (before paying for school), I took a job at a local hospital to work as a transporter/translator in the ER. Working there for a few months confirmed that this was the direction I/we needed to head. So, in September, I enrolled in a couple of pre-requisite classes. I have one or two more classes to take this spring, then I will apply for admission into a BSN (bachelor's of nursing) program. This program would be a full-time, thirteen month committment.
Since I am going to school full-time in a year, and since going to school would require us to move, we decided to list our home "For Sale by Owner" in September. Since the housing market is suppressed right now, we didn't expect it to sell until possibly the spring or summer of '08. Things worked out for us a little more quickly than expected, and our house sold on Dec. 14. We requested that we be able to stay in our house through Christmas, and the request was granted. We were out on the 26th. Needless to say, it's been a little crazy here lately.
I guess that brings us full-circle to us now living with Pa and Grandma and having new e-mail addresses. Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Merry Christmas & Caleb's Baptism
Let me start by saying "Merry Christmas" to you from all six of us.
Things are a little crazy for us right now. First of all, we've sold our house, and we have to be out the day after Christmas. We have been busy packing and moving while trying to keep up with everything else. We'll be living with Suzanne's parents for a little while (probably around one year).
In the midst of it all, last Sunday (Dec. 16), after the kids' Christmas play at church, Caleb approached his mom about asking Jesus into his heart. Mommy talked with Caleb about everything, and Caleb made the decision to be saved. He wanted to be baptized in our church before leaving, and he wanted his Pa (Suzanne's dad) to baptize him. Fortunately, we were able to work out all of the details, and Caleb was baptized today (Dec. 23) on our last Sunday at our church by Pa. The video is included below this post.
We all hope you enjoy your Christmas holiday! Take care.
Things are a little crazy for us right now. First of all, we've sold our house, and we have to be out the day after Christmas. We have been busy packing and moving while trying to keep up with everything else. We'll be living with Suzanne's parents for a little while (probably around one year).
In the midst of it all, last Sunday (Dec. 16), after the kids' Christmas play at church, Caleb approached his mom about asking Jesus into his heart. Mommy talked with Caleb about everything, and Caleb made the decision to be saved. He wanted to be baptized in our church before leaving, and he wanted his Pa (Suzanne's dad) to baptize him. Fortunately, we were able to work out all of the details, and Caleb was baptized today (Dec. 23) on our last Sunday at our church by Pa. The video is included below this post.
We all hope you enjoy your Christmas holiday! Take care.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Veteran's Day
It's getting late; it's not been long since I came home from work. I usually don't use this blog as a forum to post things that are not directly related to our family (pictures, stories, etc.), but sometimes my mind keeps going even when my body is tired. Tonight is one of those nights.
I can probably count on my hands the number of country music songs I would admit to liking, and I never listen to it on the radio. About a week ago, when I was scanning through the radio stations on my way home from work, I heard a song that has become stuck in my head. I heard it again tonight on my way home from work. It's called "If You're Reading This." If you've not heard it, click "Play" below.
To me, this song drives home a point that I so often forget. Halfway around the world, soldiers are living and fighting, and some are dying in a war they may or may not believe is right. Their children are being born or maybe graduating from high school. Their lives continue at home with or without them.
Regardless of how bad my day has been for any reason, I come home to the same house where my wife and children are sleeping each and every night. I recently saw the birth of my fourth child, and I held him shortly thereafter. I was there to hear the first words and see the first steps. How fortunate am I.
Veteran's Day was Monday...it is a holiday that often gets lost in between Halloween and Christmas. We should take time to be thankful for those who serve and have served and remember them in our prayers. We should also be thankful each day we are given, that our lives were not required of us that day.
I can probably count on my hands the number of country music songs I would admit to liking, and I never listen to it on the radio. About a week ago, when I was scanning through the radio stations on my way home from work, I heard a song that has become stuck in my head. I heard it again tonight on my way home from work. It's called "If You're Reading This." If you've not heard it, click "Play" below.
To me, this song drives home a point that I so often forget. Halfway around the world, soldiers are living and fighting, and some are dying in a war they may or may not believe is right. Their children are being born or maybe graduating from high school. Their lives continue at home with or without them.
Regardless of how bad my day has been for any reason, I come home to the same house where my wife and children are sleeping each and every night. I recently saw the birth of my fourth child, and I held him shortly thereafter. I was there to hear the first words and see the first steps. How fortunate am I.
Veteran's Day was Monday...it is a holiday that often gets lost in between Halloween and Christmas. We should take time to be thankful for those who serve and have served and remember them in our prayers. We should also be thankful each day we are given, that our lives were not required of us that day.
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