Share the Welt!

This last week or so has been interesting.... Actually, the whole month has been.

The kids went to the dentist, and no cavities *again* Yay!! We had a hard time with Josiah when he was young, and we've come a long way in this dept.!

This is a picture of us on the 3rd of July, down at the Hasenhorls on the 3rd of July party in Stanwood, Wa.

Rod and I are adjusting to life. Things are going well... as well as can be expected anyhow.



Josiah played in the AllStars tournament at the beginning of the month. I'm not sure I would have him play again. They stayed in for four games. Won-lost-won-lost.

7/13/08: A friend of ours, through Friday School, had a bunch of free tickets for paintball. So they took a group of about 40 people, including a bunch of our friday school teens. I didn't think anything of going, until the day before when I realized what we were going to be doing. Then when we got there *sigh* I was SO chicken!!!

There were quite a few of us who hadn't played before. By the end of the day, I felt like I was one of the boys. Can you see me crawling on the ground with a gun and hiding behind paintball shelters? Funny, huh? I played every game, and had so much fun.

They have a sign up that said "share the welt". Yah, we sure did. I have a couple of big ol’ bruises. We took Josiah with us. He was a real trooper - figured out fast to stay out of others' sights. One of my favorite memories from that day will be seeing him "charge the hill" like he was playing in Star wars Battlefront! Living the Dream - that's what he did! I ended up really enjoying myself. Told Rod that we need to invest in some guns and create a paintball type field out at mom & dads... that would Rock!

Left: Josiah with his paintball gun.

Afterwards we spent the evening out on Samish Island at the beach. Bonfire & BBQ. I love bonfires. (The only thing missing was Jay & his guitar!)

Left: Julia on Princess Amy.

This last week the boys went to horse camp. Josiah full day. Jedediah and Jaden half days.

Monday when went to pick the boys up, Julia was mad as a hornet. She wanted to ride a pony so badly!! There was a big "show" over it. (The boys have been talking about it for two weeks, and she thought she was going too, but she's not even close to being old enough.) So we signed her up for a couple of pony rides. She rode the pony named Princess Amy. That was a befitting ride for my little girl. Josiah rode Digger (horse) this year. Jedediah rode Maple (horse) and Jaden rode Rex (pony).

Below: Jedediah on Maple.

Graduation was last friday.. where we go watched them ride and where we hear our boys get awarded… Josiah “best drill team leader”, Jedediah “speedy cowboy,” and Jaden “energizer cowboy”. I got a kick out of each of their titles… they don’t’ EVER have a boy be the drill team leader on graduation day… so it was a BIG deal for Josiah to be one! And he did an awesome job! Jedediah really found his place in horse riding this year… Jaden I guess had enough energy for the entire group! It was a good week.

Below: Jaden on Rex.

Rod got his first unemployment check this last week. I seriously wonder how anyone is expected to live on that... but it's a good something. His severance check hasn't come. They have 30 days to give it to him. I sure hope they don't wait till midnight on July 28th (last day) to give it to him!

For what he has looked for work, he hasn't found anything. Honestly, i'm enjoying his time off. I just keep thanking the Lord for keeping enough in the bank to pay our bills and put food on the table. I'm really trying not to stress because I really do believe that the Lord will provide for us.

It's Friday School newsletter time again. I haven't had to do it (take a couple of months off in the summer), but it's time to get that started up again. I'd put it so far out of my mind, that I had to try to remember what program we do it in. Polli began using this particular program, and it works fantastic for us, but I only use it for the newsletter.. so I had to laugh at myself about that. So, you can see me.. sitting in front of a large monitor working on it for a few hours trying to fit all the new stuff & changes into it!!!

Hope you're having a great July! Thinking of you all! Looking forward to some sort of get together when the TenBrinks get home :) Zip.

Here's More

Seems like a lot is still going on. Thinking I need one of those trips to Florida to clear my mind!!!

Josiah & the Allstars. (Sounds a bit like Alvin and the Chipmunks!) Well, practice has been going well. Coach had him get a longer bat. So, I thought this wasn't going to cost me anything :) We found out that the tournament is in Oak Harbor this year (rotates yearly...). Hmm. Yah. So we'll see how that goes. The most we could drive over there is six times... Minimum I believe is four. Double elimination tournament. Honestly, we just didn't know what we were getting into when we signed him up. Excited that he made the team.. a little concerned about the process. It should be fine... But what's wierd is that I feel like i'm supposed to put 10 evenings on hold between July 6 & July 16.. and life doesn't happen that way.

Rod's work.. well.. his job ends friday. I can tell you that I feel anxious. Not because I'm afraid of him being laid off... but because i've waited about 6 weeks for this date and I just want it to be over already! Tired of the goofy corperate stuff... like his boss getting chewed on because the store isn't selling anything.. ummm duh, on that one. Like Rod's getting the cell number cut off after 8 years of the same number (most likely anyway) because they won't allow him to change it from a dealer to a non dealer line. Yah. Tired of this type of stuff.

Wondering what we are going to be doing with the severence money. I'm thinking that we'll probably hold on to it, or a significant portion of it, until we figure out what is really going on financially.. job-wise.. etc.

This last friday, we lost a family friend. The guy that died in a hamilton construction accident was a friend of ours. Rod and I weren't terribly close to him per se, but I've known the family since Kindergarten. We've done thanksgivings with them, family parties, and so much more. My friend, my age, Erica, lost her husband. He was 34. They have two young kids. My heart really goes out to her. On our anniversary, we found out about what happened to Caine, and Rod and I went and spent time with the family. I may have sacrificed an important evening of my relationship with Rod, but she'll never get another one on this earth with Caine. I was so glad that we did. Interesting enough, it's made the whole job thing seem so much smaller. A job is a job. It's not the loss of someone you said that you want to spend your forever with... The funeral is tomorrow, ordered flowers tonight. I really wish I could help... I'm going to pray pray pray that she makes it through this!!! I told her that if she EVER needs me to watch the kids, for any reason, that I definately will. Rod asked if he could get the funeral off. I didn't think his boss would let him... but she said yes..

On a different note... when we took the kids rafing... one of the parents suggested a missions trip for the teens... hmm... so I looked into doing a missions trip with Alternative Missions (the people that Jay & Faith work with)... and it looks like it may be a Go. We've only talked with a few of the parents, and allll of them have been positive. I didn't expect that at all. We are hoping to plan it, if it goes, for Sept of 2009. So we have plenty of time to get the money together.. as well as go right before friday school starts.. so that the kids are all amped up at the beginning of friday school. I'm hoping that this works.. but we need a fundraising coordinator. I'm willing to plan it, but we need someone who will step up to do fundraising. I've got tooo many irons in the fire to do that part!!!

Ok, well, that's all for now folks! Zindra

Nelsons: June 2008

Where do I begin? June has been crazy! Rod has found out that he is getting laid off. I think i'm finally out of shock into accecptance on this one. He's had an interview, but it's not one he would take. At the moment we really are considering him working from home doing Advertising for FCHM. Even if this doesn't become a full time job, FCHM needs the support so... either way he'll be doing their advertising!

Josiah is on the All Stars baseball team for Mt. Vernon. It started today. Here in June, it was pouring down rain... so I didn't sit on the bleachers until the end of practice to meet the coach (I sat in the car.) Garrett had bmx practice at the same park, so Mom ended up bringing Josiah home. I guess Josiah gave the coach our number, so I hope to hear from him soon, but next practice is saturday morning (when i'm supposed to be at a baby shower :?)

Jedediah has a friend, Xavier, who has played soccer for the last couple of years. His friend's mom, emailed me the other day and told me that soccer registration is happening. So I signed Jed up. I think they don't do anything until the end of august... so we'll see what goes on there. Haven't done soccer before.

Lately, my parents have had a lot of outside work that has needed to be done. So Rod and I set up a service project for our teens group to come work out at Mom & Dads. That was today! We are going to be providing the teens a service project completion letter for their college portfolios (which I guess is a big deal..). We had so many kids we finished early and the kids got to hang out.

My parents needed a ditch dug for the propane line to the house, the wood pile moved, the big outside windows washed.. rocks taken out of the front and back yards so that grass can be seeded, and last but not least, they moved the blocks for a retaining wall for the front yard and then built the wall, and filled behind it. They got a month's worth of work done in ONE afternoon! How much did it cost my parents? They bought the fixins for a bonfire BBQ. What was so cool, was that the kids earned respect.. and my parents saw Christian kids in action, showing Christ's love! Now, that was a cool way to use the influence Rod and I have in our group. Since the parents are all interested in service projects... i'm looking for another one to do later in the summer. I'd like to get the kids into the habit of doing them quarterly or something.

One of the parents of the teens had some free paintball tix. So Rod, Josiah, me and some teens are going to get to go paintballing (sp?) for the cost of the paint in a couple of weeks. Never done it before, got to try it at least once! I hear i'm supposed to wear layers!!!

One other friday school thing that is interesting... some of the parents want to do school bags & letterman jackets & rings for the older kids... Yet we hadn't decided on a mascot. Our colors have always been blue & white.. but today we talked to the teens (a parent said that the teens should decide, and we've all gone with that suggestion) and I think we've decided that we are going to be the First Class Skagit County Eagles. Skagit Valley has a history of eagles and then there is strong biblical references to eagles. It just seems to fit. So we will take that before the board and get final approval next month. (it helps that we are on the board). So, when Josiah and Jedediah are ready for a school bag or a class ring, we will have school colors and a mascot.. so all that will be ready when they are old enough to understand all of that stuff. This has been one of the things Rod & I have discussed, as homeschoolers, that our kids will miss... and now, they won't have to!!!

Me? I'm trying to hold things together, like usual. Money, time, kids, friday school stuff, FCHM stuff, friends.. It's one huge balancing act. Yet, it's rewarding. Some days I'm wondering what i'm doing, other days I've never felt so alive! Well, that's all for now.. Zindra

Leading a Verizonless Life

There's some Major changes coming to the Nelson household this summer.... About two weeks ago Rod and the entire staff of the Burlington store (including the manager) was told that they will be closing the Verizon store at the end of June. Wow, that was a shocker. They have met every sales quota they've been given and they have two salesmen that are pretty consistent at winning sales contests that involve trips! They haven't given the employees a good reason for closing the store. FIOS is coming next year.. and yet they say there isn't enough profit potential for the store. yah. Rod's customers are livid... especially the business customers that specifically come in and wait in line to see him.

So, Rod is looking for a new job! Strange. It's been eight years or so since he's been out of work. It's not that great of a feeling. We haven't told our kids yet (wanted to deal with it... and be able to talk with them about it without coming undone.). We also haven't told Mom or Garrett. Will probably wait until after Mom's birthday (tomorrow) to do that. So please keep the cat in the bag for a few more days with my personal family.

He does have the option of commuting to Everett, but with the severence package that they are offering, it seems financially irresponsible to not take it!

Frustrating things... things that will most likely change... 3 vacation weeks a year and a week of personal holidays. Trips. Being able to request days off when we want them. Having to start allll over at another company. Senority to the bottom wrung. Being comfortable.

Good things... hopefully better, normal working hours. More consistent paychecks? Not living on comission... Rod possibly having some time off. Maybe a better paying job.

Anyway, I just thought you all should know... you'll find out about it sooner or later, I guess it's best if you hear it from us... He works at Verizon in Burlington until June 28. If he hasn't found a job, he'll file for unemployment. We're really hoping that God is going to do something great through this change. My hope is that we will still be able to work with our co-op because we have put so much time an energy into it. We would like to stay near my parents, because I feel the need to support them.

So could you be praying for us? Because finding a job is more than a Rod thing it's a family thing. We are homeschoolers after all! Pray that we will make good decisions... about a job, about the ministry that we have with the teens (if we left it would evaporate), PEACE through it all and about the other myriad of things we have to take into consideration when you make life shifting changes! Thanks!

Zindra the Test Administrator & More

Hi everyone! It feels like awhile since i've blogged. Things have been crazzy around here. Friday School finally ended. I will miss everyone tremendously but I was ready for a break. Awana Graduation was tonight and the friends night that the kids have been doing while we've been doing a bible study at the Avon church, will be over in a few weeks. Boy am I looking forward to summer! I'm hoping that the weather will pan out a bit more.

One of the local firestations near here has a reader board that says something such as: "LOST.. the Sun. If found, please return." I had a big ol' laugh over that a few days ago. Really made me smile!

I've been doing the ezine for first class homeschool ministries. Which has been hard yet a treat. I enjoy being in touch with the people that write and I enjoy posting it all... but working with Constant Contact the ezine service has been a "growing" experience.

Rod's chess class had 29 students in it and he ran a round robin chess tournament. It was great at display night to give the kids awards. There were three different age groups.. and Josiah took the 'gold' for the 3rd-5th grades and Jedediah took the 'gold' for the 1st-3rd grades. Rod was funny and said that 'they didn't gold just because they are the teachers kids!'. They really did win them on their own. Jedediah didn't lose one game! It was a fun experience!

Our teens group is going every SO much better than expected. Not that we haven't had satan try to sabotage our events and time together... but I thought It would take well over a year to get to the point we are at. We love the kids, they love us. Match made in heaven! In June, we are taking teens and some of their parents River Rafting... (Eddie are you gonna be there?) with Youth Dynamics Adventures. We'll be on the Wenatchee June 12. I hope it's sunny but wet suits and all it'll be a great day either way. We have more people that want to go than they gave us spaces for! They gave us 20 spots. They told us that after May 15 that if there were any spots in the session open, they would open them up to us..

A few weeks ago a friend of mine who did the annual test administrating for a few families last year, told me that they might not be doing it this year. So I looked into doing it myself. Then someone asked if anyone locally administered the IOWA test on our Friday School google group, I said that I can... Turns out that there are quite a few families that want me to test their kids! Uh... that's not really what I intended... but none the less.. I guess I'm going to do it. It'll work out that I will probably break even for this year.. maybe make a few bucks. We'll see how it goes. I told Rod.. I didn't ever think of myself as a Test Administrator but I guess I am now! I will be administering the IOWA and the Stanford Achievement Tests. I was recently approved as a tester. So now i'm looking into the actual details of buying tests and helping others with a part of homeschooling that they really don't enjoy. One thing people seem to appreciate is that I'm willing to test year round instead of just in the spring.

Update on the kids... Josiah's baseball team isn't doing so well... but the coach has said that he will be invited to play or invited to try out for the All Star team. How ever that works. A select baseball team for 9 &10 year olds. We haven't told him yet, but we've decided that if he 'makes the team' he can play. He's also in Youth Level 6 in swimming... which means that he's only got one level to go. If we want him to continue swimming, we are going to have to make a decision in the next year or so about joining a swim team. Which is sort of a big decision...esp. if I want him in a league that is not a YMCA league.

Jedediah is very much into chess and paper airplanes. Both were classes at Friday School. He is sad that Rod's not going to teach the paper airplane science class again.. because he loves paper airplanes SO much. He's excelling at chess, and in the fall we may look into doing chess competitions again. Jed just turned seven this week. He is so good with homeschooling that I think i'm going to have to find work for him that is harder to do. He zips through everything I give him!

Jaden and his multi expression little self is doing great! Just finished cubbies... so next year if we do Awana he will be in the Sparkys. He was in Kindergarten at friday school and loved every minute of it. Jaden isn't really into school yet. He still wants to play with playdough and do mazes. He seems a little behind academically but he's still involved.

Julia is the family doll. She just recently learned how to swing on the swing in the front yard.. that's her new favorite thing. She loves her brothers and can't seem to live without Josiah. She does "school" too, which is sooo funny. She'll sit at the table and color or draw or whatever for a little bit almost every day. She's been drawing faces alot lately and it's amazing how much detail she puts in there (for a 2 year old!).

Well, I guess that's enough for now... Zindra