Updates and Questions

Things are pretty status quo around our home. Although the question is: "What is Status Quo?" At our house it's thusly described:

Samantha and Bobby are struggling to find employment at BYU-I because the chruch has recinded their "everyone gets a job" credo. So they are looking to move into Government-sponsored housing as they have no income and no prospects. They are considering changing schools and going somewhere where Samantha can change her major and get into more of a trade school where she plans to become a medical technician doing ultrasounds, etc. Bobby wants to go to Law school, so that will take some dedication and concentration on his part.

Emily had a dissapointing weekend. She was exactly one month from her six-month seizure-free mark (which allows her to drive again) and she had, what is termed, a "complex partial seizure". She never lost consciousness and was able to talk with me through the whole thing. It lasted about a minute. But that means her clock starts over again. Her medication was increased and she's on the path toward another six-month waiting period. During her seizure (which she can't remember) she said that she was seeing people in the room that weren't there before and that they were people she didn't know. Makes you wonder if she had a slight look through the vail (although it's more likely that is was a hallucination). She's still a trooper. That episode, however, simplified out decision to keep her home at the local community college to start her post-high-school career. She'll be attending North Central Texas College (NCTC). It's about 5 miles from our home.

Madeline is doing well. She took the ACT test and didn't fare as well as she would've liked. So, she's now worried she won't get into BYU-Provo. She said she'd be fine with going to BYU-I if it came to that. She'll be taking the test again later this spring and plans to do a little more preparation this time. She's got three boys fighting over her now. Two young men from our new stake (she's going with one to his prom, and she's taking the other to her sadie hawkins dance). The third is on a mission and is sending notes and little gifts every once in awhile. Oh my! She's decided that she doesn't want a steady boyfriend, so I'm happy.

Our new puppy is quite a cute little thing and is bugging the livin' bejeezers out of Sadie. She keeps jumping on her, but Sadie wants none of it. Hopefully she'll learn to cope.

Amy is doing well. She's taking photography classes at another local community college and is the "prize student" of the class. Of course, the instructor tells them that the camera that they need is a particular Canon model and it just happens to be $2,600. Nice . . . . If she can make money with it, it will make the decision easier. She's worked up a price list and she might have her first client coming up here soon. She's very good at it. I'm just not sure how we'll be able to afford the camera yet (still paying off the wedding, you know).

I'm well. Things are scary at work. People are all walking on egg shells hoping that it's not us them that get's laid off. I think I'm relatively safe, but you never know. Chruch stuff is going fine. I'm now having to get fully Scout Trained. I'm attending "Outdoor Leadership Skills" next weekend and then it's on to Wood Badge training in October. Yippee! Of course, I get stuck with the advisor for our group that doesn't think he should tell us anything. I asked him what I should bring for the overnight camping exercise and his response was "get a scout handbook." Nice . . . . Should be interesting.

For our summer plans we're going to Lake Mead with the Lloyd family in June and then we're planning to take a driving trip to Utah and Idaho for Daddy's 80th Birthday and to see Sam and Bobby - - If, however they decide to leave BYU-I and go somewhere else, that might put a kink in our plans. We'll see.

Matthew, what's up with your house situation -- any movement?

Sharene, Amy and I discussed it and we're going to try and make sure that I, at least, get up there for the weekend of Jared's wedding. So keep your fingers crossed!

update on PA

I don't have exciting news like the rest of you. We are plugging along - tax season has arrived in all of it's beauty. Stu has a cold (as per every year at this time) so I am being a "bad wife" and sometimes sleeping in another room.(snoring, tossing, loud breathing and bad breath...sorry..)
I get to babysit regularly, which is a treat, but also tiring. I sometimes am amazed that I had 4 children and am still "liking" children!!!Being Grandma is much more fun than being "Mom".
Things for you all to look forward to! Tomorrow is one of Erik's girl's birthdays, and also Madison, who is for all purposes, Jared's little girl. Fun times!!!!
Jared is also looking into buying a house in the near future. Hope it works out! Hope it works out for you, too, Matthew!!!

The Murray/WJ Binns

Our update. More money out the door and more waiting. Since we've moved into the new/old home - the decision was made that it is not for us - so we are trying to sell and move back to the old neighborhood and specifically into our old home. Yes, it also, is available. Strange, weird, and all that. So, we hope that within a year, we can move twice, lose all our equity, but save our sanity.

Judy's brother, Jim is battling cancer and the prognosis is not good, so that is sad for us and her side of the family. He is a very courageous man and trying very hard to have faith and hope.

Best wishes to all and I just heard that Sean moved his wedding date to April 30th. Couldn't wait, huh? Told you so!

Is Anyone Still Looking at This?

I thought this was a good idea, but we all kind of let it slip into oblivion. Hope things are going well for everyone. Things are well here. Emily is working through some friend issues again. Her counselor has told her that the firends that are giving her trouble should be classified as dangerous and she should not be alone with them (nice, huh?). She's seizure free since the wedding and has been faithfully been taking her meds since then. Hopefully that will continue. Maddy is going to take the ACT pretty soon and she's very nervous because she gets too nervous when she's in a testing environment. So, we'll see. Either way, she'll liekly be at either BYU-Provo or BYU-Idaho when all is said and done.

Bobby and Samantha are doing fine. Samantha is not liking a couple of classes she's taking and that's frustrating her to a point where she's quesitoning the value of staying in school. We're trying our hardest to get her through so she doesn't throw away her chance for a complete education. The mistake was taking both Physics and Chemistry in the same semester. I know that would have given me trouble had I done that.

Amy is now taking a photography class at a local community college. Doing very well and really wanting to get into doing something with photography as a profession. We'll see. That means a large purchase is on the horizon. Pray for my wallet to suddenly expand!

We Need to Keep this Alive! - So Here Goes Nothin'

So, Samantha and Bobby have been in town since last Friday night. Things have been going well and we've gotten to know Bobby more - which is a good thing. It's been funny going around looking at dresses, suites, cakes, decorations, etc. and having everyone think that both of them are still in high school (well funny in general, not funny to them). We keep checking things off the wedding to-do list and everytime we do two things happen: 1) it relieves stress for Amy as her to-do list gets shorter, and 2) it increases stress for Erik as his must-pay list gets longer. In the end, we hope that it will be a fun and memorable time for everyone as we surround one of the most important moments and ordinances of their lifetimes with a celebration of family, friends, and the love that surrounds all of us. We are really looking forward to seeing all of you in September. Hopefully you'll enjoy the view from the Best-Western that I booked you at (it looks out over an auto parts store and the local liquor store (sorry, but that's were it is)).

We're still waiting on Emily's doctor to call and tell us "what's next." I'm growing short of patience and hope he will call soon. Our own plan includes getting her into the world-class surgeon in Phoenix and getting her healed up in plenty of time for Samantha's wedding. Emily had her patriarchal blessing this past weekend and it was a great experience. The spririt was strong and her blessing confirmed her unique place in this life. I'm even more convinced that even though the surgery is serious, it is necessary, and it will be successful in helping her live a longer and better life.

Madeline was selected for the Varsity cheer squad for next year (she'll be a junior). She's very excited. Emily is considering "hiring on" as the manager for the school drill team. If she gets that it will be great experience for her. We're really hoping it will work out.

Samantha is going to Indianapolis for the summer to work as an office manager for the security systems company both she and Bobby work for. They expect to make a good amount of money over the summer. We hope that works out well for them. We finally had a chance to talk with Bobby's parents between the Sunday afternoon sessions of conference. We spoke for 90 minutes and found them to be very nice and pleasant people. That helped to alleviate the concern of that new relationship in our lives. So yea!

My knee is still improving, but is still giving me some problem (catching and popping from time to time). My rehab is going fine, but I wish it was just "problem free." I'm targeting October to get back on the Basketball court (I'm not going to risk hobbling myself prior to the wedding by playing any earlier).

So, our blog has "blogged down" it looks like! Well, I'll put a little in here and maybe it will prime the pump so to speak.

This is a picture from the back of the bed and breakfast that Judy and I stayed at about a month ago up in Midway. It was part of our Christmas and the first weekend that I started to feel that I was recovering slowly from whatever strange illness that I have had. It has been a very strange and eye opening two months or so that I have had - feeling the effects of mortal life and realizing how quickly all can change in one's situation. I am grateful that as of now - I am feeling about 85% of normal and have hope of continued recovery. It makes one certainly have more empathy for those who deal with physical limitations and chronic illness on a daily basis. I know that I will not forget the lessons or feelings I have had recently.

Nathan is going back in April 2nd for another round of ear tubes and this time they are going to take out his adenoid tissue. Fun for him - luckily he is off track for this time.

Julianne is in braces and has an expander on - so every night I get to be the torturer and "crank" the device open for her. After the initial day or two, she has done well. Now, we get to see her front teeth separate just a wee bit more every day!

I do have a little funny story to tell you - although it was more funny if you were there. We went to Mama and Daddy's for dinner last Sunday and they got out that game from our childhood that is gospel based where you describe things that are related to certain subjects. You have a little red window you hold over the card to see what the words are you are describing. Well, as the honor of being the "talker" got to me - I put the red plastic window over the card and read, "Things associated with job" Then I looked puzzled and read...."Satan" This is what was written on the card. Although appropriate, I couldn't figure out what my profession had to do with gospel subjects! Then it hit me .....not job, but Job, the old testament prophet! Oh what a difference a capitalization makes!

Best wishes to all - and we hope all survive another week in this world!

St. Lucia's eve.

So, Judy decided to start a new tradition in memory of Hildur and Benard's meeting while he was on his mission in Sweden. As we know, Hildur was selected that year to be the representative of St. Lucia, a young woman who was martyred because of her desire to serve God instead of marry. These processions (with attendants and star boys) go from house to house offering treats and good wishes on Dec. 13. We went to a few neighbors with Swedish gingerbread and wished them a happy Christmas.

By the way, our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Emily and all of Erik's family. Hope his knee surgery goes well tomorrow.