What a week!!

Becca and I both survived her trip to Columbia, SC. She had a great time, yeay!!Thanks for allt he prayers. THey helped!! We had a great weekend with our family. Becca was scheduled to start softball practice on Saturday, but there was some conufsion and we didn't practice. We start tomorrow. Hopefully, it stops raining by then.

We started this week off with two "unsuccessful" tests - one for each kid. Sami is still struggling with her algebra and the teacher. Ugh. Thankfully, Aunt Dana will be here in just a few days and she can get Sami where she needs to be. God knows, that is WAAYYY out of my realm. Becca had a rough go at her science test :(( Seems like many students did, so they were allowed to correct the errors and the teacher averaged the scores. Whew!!

Mid week was looking way up!! Sami got her driver's permit - TO DRIVE!! OUCH! She also got a part in a summer theater play. She will be playing the Kangaroo in the stage production of Horton Hears A Who. This should be fabulous!!!

On the real estate front, we have had 4 showings on our house in Mooresville this week. We got word last night that a young couple are interested in leasing with the option to buy. We are not sure that is the road we want to take. We're fact-finding now and will figure it out. We are very happy to have had this much activity on it!!

This morning, I asked Scott to drive my car - it wasn't acting like itself. Turns out, my power steering pump is going out. BUT!!!! I still have about 700 miles left on my factory warranty - so we're in!! WOOT! God is soooo good!! The other cool thing that happened this morning is this - as I checked traffic before pulling out of our neighborhood, on the rim of the first lake, stands a HUGE blue crane. So large, it is standing down the bank and is STARING INTO THE MOUNTAINEER! HOLY MOLY!! It seemed as interested in us as we were in us. We don't have squirrels, but do we have a multitude of amazing birds we see every day.

Finally, we are preparing for a visit from Nancy, Taylor and Zane Janneck from Mooresville. We are very excited about their visit. We will be having fun in the sun from Sunday until Wednesday! We have some great stuff planned!

I lied, now, finally, we all have new cell numbers. Scott's is 843.283.1423, mine is 843.902.7025, Sami's is 843.902.7026 and the extra phone that used to be Scott's is 843.902.7027. This is "Becca's" phone. She takes it with her when she is away from us or when she is riding around the neighborhood by herself. She also takes it with us when we shop. She usually texts me from the other side of the store! Terribly funny!!!

Have a super weekend! Love to all.

Growing pains

In SC, the DOE requires background checks before a parent can chaperone a trip or even help out in the classroom. Now, I totally support this concept. Unfortunately, it is a product of our society. So be it. I like that they are so proactive about our kids' safety. I applied shortly after we got here but, my background check has not been returned to the school yet. With that in mind...................

Becca's class is travelling to Columbia, SC today to the SC State Museum. As most of you know, I am usually my kids' biggest cheerleader, especially when it comes to new experiences. Well friends, today, I am considerably less enthusiastic about letting her go. I HATE that she is so far away, travelling with people I HAVE NEVER met. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

There are so very many things about the move that I never considered. Many because there simply wasn't time to ponder! One thing I never considered - the comfort I, as a hyper-active/involved parent, enjoyed from knowing nearly every kid in the girls class and knowing, at the very least, half of the parents. If I wan unable to go on a field trip, there were a dozen mom's I knew personally who would look after Becca (and Sami when she was in elementary school) as if she were their own child. Some of you are reading this right now! I am a little embarassed to say, but often, I had the teacher's cell phone numbers from another project we may have worked on together.

To top it off, she had to be there early, she won't be home until after 4 AND they forbid the children to bring any electronics - including cell phones! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I'm dying over here! Thankfully, I have my day filled with preparing for our guests this afternoon. But, as every single parent on the planet knows, there is still plenty of time to worry.

Looks like I have some adjusting of my own to do. I only wish I could embrace my own adjustment with the same zeal with which I encourage the kids to use. Self awareness blows.

Becca's First SC School Success!

GREAT NEWS FOR BECCA!! She not only got an "A" on her SC history test, she was the ONLY "A" in the class! Her teacher used her an example to her class. History has never been her strongest subject so she is, rightfully, very proud. She even called Mrs. Keifer, her 2nd grade teacher whom she adores, to tell her. This has helped her confidence tremendously!! Becca is also signed up for softball this spring. She he is very excited to start practice this Saturday.

Conversly, Sami is struggling in her math class and her teacher seems to be conducting herself less than judiciously. Grrr. We'll get thru it, but it is just one more issue with CFHS! Grrr. We are so very thankful for the support of her Mooresville friends who call, text, IM and FB often to cheer her on. They ROCK!! All of her other classes are going well! She is signed up to complete her missing credits online. Therefore she will be have the required hours to be a Sophmore in the fall.

The house coming along beautifully! All I have left to do is hang the pictures and other stuff on the walls! We are thrilled to have Jack, Marsha, Grandma and Grandpa Smith visiting from Anderson, SC this weekend. I will post more pictures soon!!

Things are looking up!

In the event that you did not hear about our first youth group experience, here is what happened: The first Sunday we were here, we went to church and learned the particulars about the youth group meeting. Sami wanted to go. I insisted on walking her in and introducing myself. I may be pretty relaxed, but dropping off one of my children in a building where I have never been with people I have never met it WAY out of my realm of acceptable situations, but I digress. We walk in, three little emo/punk girls look at us and say nothing. Two young men we recognize from the worship band say "hey!!". The only adult in attendance doesn't even look up from the very questionable video game he was playing with a couple of the kids. Uh, okay. Not the welcome we anticipated, but..... Sami remids me she is 15, and is capable of introducing herself and I am released. She calls 15 minutes later, crying and asking me to come get her. In the 15 minutes she was there, no other communication was extended to her. Nothing. Nada. No how. Grrrrrrrrrrrr. This is not the kick off for which we had hoped. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. So, I decided after a couple of days, that I would like to meet with the Senior Pastor, Pastor Brad, and chat with him about how much we enjoyed the service and his sermons at CFCC (Carolina Forest Community Church). Plus, I had some questions about the church in general and I really wanted to bring the youth issue to his attention - both from the standpoint of a parent and as a youth leader.

So, Pastor Brad and I met on Tuesday and it could not have gone better! Turns out, the youth group was out of town on a ski trip that weekend. The grown-up there was a guest speaker, and the kids who were there, were kind of the ones who just needed someplace to be. Whew!!! He was dissappointed in the news, apologetic, but very happy to learn what happens, as he put it, "when the cat is away". I was so thrilled after our meeting, I was practically vibrating (could have been the Starbuck's).

Sami is, quite understandibly, apprehensive to return. We are leaving that decision up to her completely. As a family, are dealing with an incredible amount of "newness". The prospect of yet another new experience is not terribly appealing to any of us right now! We are actually enjoying the relaxation afforded to us by our substantially reduced schedule!! It's kind of nice not to have to be somewhere all the time!

In any event, thanks for the concern from all who knew about this. My prayer is that Sami follows God's lead to THE RIGHT group for her. We know He will.

Finally, I have to share an hillarious joke Sami made today. We pull up to the HS this am. two black, male students get out of the blazer in front of us. Now. One of them has a confusing combination of pants on. They were indeed shorts. However they reached the top of his mid-calf sox. To which I said, "Oh, those are shorts. Or are they capris? I get it, they are 'sho-pris'." To which my child says, "No. That is his sister's name." Is it any wonder I spend so much time giggling?! Holy Cow!

Sami School Update,etc...

Thank you for your continued prayers. Sami's situation is handled. The three of us met with her Guidance Counselor on Friday to establish an IGP (individual graduation plan). As it turns out, she is only 0.5 credits short and if I tried hard enough, I might be able to get MHS to recode a class. But if not, it is a keyboarding class that she can take online over the summer!! So we are all set!! YEAY!!!! She can take up to three credit hours online each year. Of course, she is looking into it! Oddly enough, MHS requires 45 (ish) hours to graduate and CFHS only requires 37. Hmmm. Anyway, I am so thankful for the input I received about it from the blog. Whew. Glad that is done!
Becca is taking her first SC standardized test today. She did a GREAT job on her practice writing prompt last night! She was a bit anxious this morning, but she is going to do great!
On Friday, Scott and I took Guinness to the beach for the very first time. (the video didn't want to be posted here. so if you want to see it, www.dropshots.com/scottandrene ) OMGsh!! It was hysterical! This was his first look at any body of water larger than a retention pond! He didn't kwow where to start! We were there for about an hour. He slept the rest of the day.

The girls and I went to the beach on Saturday, too. Armed with nothing more than our books and towels, it was the most relaxing day we have enjoyed in a very long time. Sorry to sat that Becca and I are nursing sunburns. Why does PB&J taste more amazing on the beach?
We are still church shopping. I am having coffee today with the senior pastor of the church we have been attending. We really like the services and the messages, but I still have some concerns. Walking into a new church is not nearly as hard as worshipping without our FUMC family.
Finally, many of you have mentioned that you are not familiar with blogging. If you would like to be notified when we update ours, just click the "follow this blog" icon on the right hand side of your screen and follow the prompts.

School Woes

it would seem becca has a crush. it's very cute. she is getting the appropriate amount of teasing from the whole family! she got an A on her math, spelling and history tests last week. she got one of the higher grades in the class on her SC history test. HUGE boost to her confidence. they are now introducing adjectives. she claims she learned that in 1st grade. so she is coming along so much better in school this week.

there are more issues with cfhs (carolina forest high). turns out, there are issues not only with biology, but spanish and one other class that escapes me right now. okay, they are telling her she had to retake 3 full-year courses, will be classified as a frosh again BUT it won't impede her graduation track at all. this makes no sense to me. she will not even be able to go to assemblies next year with the sophomores. so any friends she will make, she will be separated from.

i have spoken with her counselor from mhs, and she gave me three options to pursue. cfhs, seems to like to say "we can't". been here a week and i am sick of hearing it. so...............i am making an appointment to meet with her guidance counselor so she can give me IN WRITING how this works. i am thankful to have some options in my pocket to combat her "we can'ts". the courses are offered online from byu, u of missouri and a program called PLATO that deals with credit recovery. it may cost us $200 bucks per class (ouch) but, she WILL stay on the track she has worked so hard to put herself on.

no worries, i will get it handled. i couldn't work on it last week. being the first week the kids were in school, last week was spend just trying to maintain! the big challenge for me will be to get this done while maintaining a pleasant demeanor. wish her, uh, i mean me, luck!!

We're now Coastal Carolinians!

Hey!! Until now, I thought blogging might seem a little self serving. However, since my friend Sandy started blogging about her bout with pancreatic cancer, I have come to appreciate the updates. We are so very blessed to have so many friends who are interested to enter the world of blogging.


As most of you know, we transplanted our family from Indianapolis to Myrtle Beach, SC on 2/16/09. Since then, the kids have taken a week off school. Survived the first week and are settling into the second week very nicely.

The weather is has been unusually cold (lowest since we've been here is 25). The beautiful thing about this is that, unless it is raining, the sun is shining and the skies are incredibly blue! Our Indiana brains are very confused!

Scott picked out the most beautiful home for us. WOW!!! I am getting it in line, slowly but surely. I am now the proud owner of a phenomenal kitchen. WOW!! It is fabulous! The kids were in charge of their own rooms. Consequently, they are in various stages of unpack. Becca's closet is nearly the size of Sami's first room!! She has her own bedroom suite now and is loving it! Sami's space is on the second floor with the guest room and a shared bathroom. She likes having her own space and is not quite as anal about unpacking as Becca and I. Finally, I am committed to (or will be committed) to have my car in the garage by the end of March! Time will tell.

Please know that our door is always open - as is the guest room!! We are expecting our IN family and friends to join us for some fun in the sun in MB!!