What have I been up to? Baseball, Flag football (x2- Kayla is playing, too), church work (I am working at our church 2x's a week), grocery shopping, helping out friends, doctor's appointments, making 5 lunches a day, taking my car into the shop (for the 4th time--with the same problem), making dinner, cleaning (though my house is still filthy!), mowing 3 acres, planning birthday celebrations (Kayci turned 8 in September and Joseph turned 6 in October), and helping my husband survive and trying myself to survive a PhD! But-- life is good. God is good and I am happy to be busy for Him (though sometimes I do get overwhelmed).
The PhD update is: His dissertation is back and in his hands. He has some structural things that need to be adjusted. His next goal is to turn in this revised draft on or before Dec. 1st. He has to have his oral defense done by Feb 1st in order to graduate in May. So our prayer is that Mark will have the strength and clarity of mind to go really hard over the next several weeks while maintaining a family, full-time and part-time job, and whatever else life brings.
The kids are all doing great. We are thrilled with their teachers and are already seeing progress with Kayci in her reading (she was diagnosed with dyslexia at the end of last year).
FYI---Mark's mom had knee replacement surgery on Monday and is doing well.She will have lots of rehab over the next several weeks. We are thankful that everything is going well and pray for a complete recovery.
