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.

New Photos!

Check out the family photos link - new pictures have been posted of the kids!

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.

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!

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!

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!