Rough Day

Hey ladies...
I just had a bad day and thought maybe I could vent to you. First, we found out this morning (actually, I found out last night) that a 10th grader was in a car accident that will leave her paralyzed over the weekend. She is in ICU in Rochester and it is going to be a long recovery process. Needless to say, since I teach 10th grade, it was a rough day. And actually, the most frustrating part of the day was kids who didn't even care and said things like, "She should have been wearing her seatbelt" or "We have heard about this 100 times today." WOW.
Then, the less bad event was that after looking at a house this weekend and talking about all the cool things about it and how we could fix the weird things about it, we found out today that it sold this morning. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. It was just really exciting and then my hopes were dashed. Oh well.
Hope you all had a good weekend and have a good week!
Love,
Breanna

Hi ladies! How are all of you? I'm sorry its been so long again since I've written. Things have been rather crazy around here since our fantatic Christmas of sickness. I feel like I never really "caught up" like I thought I'd get to do over the break. Anyway...

Although busy, things here are going pretty well. David has his last recital next week (the 24th) and he has been working very hard to get ready for that. It will be nice to have that done. Also, he has been fielding some job opportunites that have been pretty exciting for him, but stressful. He has had phone interviews in the last week or so with the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, same at Oshkosh, and also Augustana in Rock Island, IL. Green Bay liked him, and he will be traveling there on the 31st for an interview. He is one of three candidates left! :) We haven't heard back from Oshkosh, and the Augustana interview was just last night, so its a little early to tell. He also made a "select group" (whatever that means) of finalists for a job at PLU--go figure Elizabeth--for which he had to send some extra materials in to them. We're not really sure what to expect from that one, but at least he made it that far. :) Anyway, he's been stressed getting ready for all of these phone interviews, his recital, and preparing for the actuall interview in Green Bay, for which he has a LOT of music to learn.
As for me, things are going well, too. School is keeping me busy. The semester is over today, so next week, I start with a whole new batch of kids. I am sad that won't see the kids I've had again, but it will be nice to try something new. Other than school, I've been trying to pick up the slack for David working so hard, which means I'm EXHAUSTED at the end of the day. I seriously don't know how people manage two full-time jobs and running a house. I'm thinking next year I'll stay home. That would be nice if we acutally had MONEY! Ha! :)
And then there's Julia who has turned into a little person with her own BIG personality and newly found attitude. Being a parent has taken on a whole new meaning now that we actually have to discipline. I don't really like it yet; its hard to say "no!" and follow through when she cries. And she cries like she's getting her arm cut off. What a drama queen. However, as I teach the shit heads in my kindergarten classes who absolutely don't know how to listen AT ALL and therefore don't learn anything, and furthermore are undeterred by any consequence, I see how important it is to introduce tough love. Hopefully it will pay off.
She has been a blast most of the time, though. She talks a lot, had sprouted a lot of new teeth, runs, climbs, teases, sings, etc. The last three months have been amazing as far as what she's learned. That part is fun.
So, what's new with you guys? I loved reading about the "dream wedding" of Breanna's. Sounds super classy. :) What do you guys think about Bush's new "Surge" plan? Anyone want to sound off? How about Pawlenty's new budget for education? What a joke. Maybe we should buy an island and create our own government where no incompetant people can be elected. Because we would be the only people there. :) ha ha.
I'm not full of funny dream stories like Sarah, so I'll stop here. I really hope that you are all doing great!! Anyone who wants to drop by David's recital, its at 7:30 at the Floyd Ultan recital hall in the music building on Wednesday, the 24th. I'd love to see you there!! :)
Love to you all,
Mandola

A unique fashion

The day was Breanna's wedding day and everyone was dressed with killer style. Her bridesmaids were wearing the black tea-length dresses she picked out and the groomsmen were wearing snazzy tuxedos and everyone else in attendance looked their Sunday best. My brother was playing the interesting selections Breanna chose for her wedding day. My focus then shifted to Breanna, the bride at the front of the church. She looked like a stylish 40 year old straight from the 1980s. She had on a maroon silk blouse-type top which had large puffy short sleeves (like the kind Anne Shirley wanted to get when attending the Christmas ball from the fictional series, Anne of Green Gables) with a round, almost boat neck. Okay, a little different than your traditional bridal gown, but then when I saw the skirt I had to keep myself from laughing. It was a gold embroidered pattern worn right around the belly button and tailored tightly through the butt and hips with no flare and cut off straight at the knees. It was quite the outfit and no one really seemed to notice the poor fashion selection on the bride's part. The service was full of hymns because Breanna believed that to be important and most of them were appropriate. I had to stop and think why Earth and All Stars was selected for a matrimony hymn. But none of these atypical wedding occurrences affected the excitement in the air as Breanna tied the knot with Chris (he was still the groom). Oh, silly dreams. You may think the maroon and gold relates to Cobber colors, but both colors were each darker than what Concordia uses.

SarahA

2007 rocks

Hi everyone-
A review of lunching last Friday...
We (Elizabeth, Micaela, Sarah, Lindsey, and Breanna) ate a delightful lunch at Perkins. We discussed how our holidays went and things like that. Micaela had fun throwing french toast around, and I had fun encouraging such behavior...he he he. Although too short, it was fun to chat. I wish more of you could have been there as well!

As for me, I am currently finishing up my work for the weekend just in time to relax for a few hours before it is bed time. Actually, I have been relaxing quite a bit this weekend. Chris is on call, so I came to Mankato to hang out with him since he can't leave the city. We have been playing rummy and other fun things since he does not have cable yet. We also played some Atari games on Playstation...weird. Then, when he gets called into work (which has only been twice) I have done some correcting. It has been good to just sit and relax. We often don't do such things. I am glad we were made to.

P.S. Sarah, I wish I would not have taught Chris rummy because he thinks he is way better than me. But, he was underpriviledged as a child and did not play cards ever! WEIRD! At least I can teach him by my rules!!!!

Hope all of you are having restful weekends as well!

Love,
Breanna

Lunching with ladies??

Hello all! I am just writing to get the update on how the lunch went the other day with those of you who were lucky enough to get together for lunch?! I am very sad that I could not be there, but would love to live vicariously through ALL of you and hear how it all went. Tell us all about it!!!!!

My New Year's Resolutions are as follows: (I, too, am not a big fan of these, but here goes!!)

1) Get better at returning phone calls (those of you who know me best know that I SUCK at this!!)

2) Become more acquainted with the treadmills at the local YMCA (if for nothing else than to feel better about myself!)

3) Spend more time with those who mean the most to me (including each and every one of you)

4) Find something that I am TRULY passionate about and pursue it like nothing else

Love you guys!!
SB

Resolving!

Hey ladies, so I'm not usually into the New Year's resolution thing, but the lessons learned in the last year are proding me to set some goals and be resolved to accomplish them. Are any of you setting resolutions? Here are mine...

1. To read through the Bible, I have a Chronilogical Bible that I would like to read this year. Its about time I get back to the Word I've neglected for a long time.

2. Lose 20 lbs. (I miss those old jeans)

3. Leave Micalea with a babysitter once a month and so something fun/social.

4. Explore the area up here in the hopes that I will find places and things here that will make me appreiciate my surroundings as much as I did in Washington.

That's it, nothing too serious but all things I really hope will set me a good path for 2007. May this year be a year of adventure and dreams for all the F-n ladies. Love to you all!

Elizabeth