Living the Unexpected Life

According to Google 2019 is the year of the pig, a sign of wealth and fortune and the year for big personalities to flourish.  Hopefully, our family gets to experience great fortune this year as we individually pursue our goals and dreams. For the most part, the kids and their futures are our biggest focus.  We enjoy parenting them and have learned quickly that patience goes a long way with a teenager.  I definitely pray daily, sometimes hourly, for my kids. I got exactly one picture of my kids on Christmas Day.  I am the kind of person who lives in the moment and then regrets the fact that I did not take any pics a few days later.  Especially when I open up my blog to work on it. Evan recently made a big splash at an invitational swim meet for high school.  He will be competing at State in mid February in the 100 breast.  We are all excited to go!  He also has the school record in that event, they post the records at the YMCA swim pool he practices at for club swim.

Finally the weather has changed and the wind is bringing on spring here in Wenatchee! It is my favorite time of year for many reasons but mostly because I can get outdoors to run.  My cut off for running outside is 40 degrees, which is is still cold but doable for this ex-Alaskan girl. I live in a wonderful place with great friends who are like family to me.  Since I do not see my family very often it has been a great blessing to have these kinds of friends.  I think Heavenly Father has healed a lot of my old wounds through them and it has brought me a ray of hope for my future and given me the ability to look forward with a positive attitude. As I sat in the temple on Friday night, I had a comforting feeling that all I am trying to do well now is acceptable to God.  I am not focusing on huge things but rather working on the small things like prayer and scripture study, it has made me more hopeful and therefore happier. Our family is finally four again since David came home

Jason and I put in a lot of miles this last week.  Well, Jason actually drove and I kept him company.  There was only one time that I may have talked too much. Ha ha! Me, making the trip extra fun with lots of stories, questions, and opinions. East Wenatchee-Spokane- Federal Way- Home   First, we went to Spokane for Jason's work retreat.  Jason wasn't feeling great, but it was still nice to get away and stay at a nice hotel and eat delicious food all on a company's dime.  I think we spent a whole $30.00 on the entire weeks adventures! Historical Davenport Hotel-Spokane This area was gorgeous! The hotel was restored in 2002. Second, we went to Federal Way to watch the little guy swim for a total of 52 seconds during his leg of the relay.  He kept telling us not to come but I told him that this is what parents do! We spend many minutes, sometimes hours, waiting to see our kids do something great for a few seconds. Most of the athletes looked li

GOOD LUCK EVAN Evan placed 6th in the 100 m Breast stroke at Districts. Eastmont 4x100 m Free relay is heading to State this Thursday.

The VanderSluis' gang is still hanging in there trying to work hard and do well in school. I took a little break from the blog because I had a lot going on with my job and life this fall. So, instead of feeling guilty about not doing it, I chose to put it on the back burner for a while. But now I am back! ME: I am doing the best I can in my job even though it can be rough disciplining underdeveloped minds.  I have been focusing on food a lot these days and it has been a good thing!  I realized that I do not eat often enough and then I am starving.  This leads to all kinds of bad things since I switched work outs to early mornings.  I have found many new favorite foods that are easy to grab before work and scarf down in front of my students.  I think they are use to me eating every class! I still rehearse 6 choirs this year and teach kindergarten and 1st grade music.  I cannot believe how much planning goes into my job and when I don't plan I FAIL.  My school is turning

 David graduated from High School and then we dropped our baby off at college.  THE HARDEST thing I have ever done is cut the cord. David is getting along well and learning how to study and take care of himself.  I worry every day but in a good way, he sends me texts of what he's eating and sounds happy. All of us are still adjusting and I am confident he will do great things. My baby- still little and needing his Mom. Evan is a freshman this year and getting ready to start swim in two weeks.  He is as sassy as ever, a good friend to me, and likes all the attention he gets as the only child for the next four years.  I just want him to stay little but his sense of humor gets sharper every year so I look forward to that growth! Evan's 7th grade pic.  His voice has changed and he's taller now. Halloween with his best friends Good Friends are priceless! Out entire family loves MUSIC. I'm the only one who only gets paid right now for my passion.