I'm still alive

Dear all,
I know, it's been a while. Things have been pretty crazy lately. The school term finished and was quickly followed by a week long lesson on child rearing. My sister Kelly and her husband were invited to attend the senior retreat as sponsors which left me with the three kiddos. Three pea-pods between the ages of 1-6 is A LOT of work! Alan, my faithful fiance, was wonderful that whole week. He helped me cook, played with the kids, disciplined, cleaned and he even kept ME sane. It is amazing what a couple can learn when caring for someone else's kids (if anything...to wait for a while ;).

The last day of Stewart-sitting Alan and I were determined to straighten the house. First of all we had to decrease the number of mess-makers so we dropped Will off at nursery and kept the girls. On the way to Kelly's house we decided to stop by my house for a spell. Upon approaching we noticed my house was covered in shiny black video tape. I was thrilled! In our community being "taped" means you are loved. It's almost like a way of passing. My crazy eighth grade girls did a marvelous job decorated or bilasim (as we say in tok-pisin) our house that we could hardly open the front door.

In the process of taking pictures and playing in the tape, Alan proceeded to sprain his ankle. Poor little lamb! This is when our friend Leah was recruited. How do mom's do it on their own? Knowing I couldn't, Leah was glad to help. The children were all very concerned about Uncle Alan's ankle. Baby Gwennie and Piper wrapped their legs with ace bandages. Will kept asking questions about Uncle Alan's boo-boo. Kelly and Paul returned that afternoon to an injured future brother-in-law and an exhausted sister-in-law. The kiddos did great but I was reminded, again, to appreciate the stage of life I am in and to encourage my friends with children.

That night I came down with the flu, a nasty case. Our biennial mission conference began that same day but I don't remember much. I slept and when I was conscious listened to the conference on my computer. The conference lasted a week. Thankfully my flu only lasted a few days. Conference went well. It's not an easy thing to get a few hundred people to agree.

Now I rest before school begins next week. My biggest priorities have been finish the newsletter, blog, work on wedding plans, and prepare for the beginning of school.