I'm getting a little ahead of myself.  I'm Nancy, pretending to be 28 years old though that year has come and gone many times over, married to Doug - it's his birthday today and he is one of the something-9 year olds, so next year we will do it up right.  We've been married for 14 years and somehow managed to make four nearly perfect kids.  The two older ones, both girls, are speeding toward their teen years, something I thought I would dread but so far, they have been angels.  They are best friends, talented artists, and have been drawing and writing stories ever since they discovered paper and pencils.  The boys, still in their single digits, are best friends and though I may be a little biased, really brilliant.  

We homeschool and for those who are interested, I am always happy to talk about it.  When I first mentioned it to my Pop, he was so upset and asked all the typical questions, such as concern over socialization.  I didn't make the choice on a whim - I spent days in the library reading everything I could get my hands on... and even now, I continue to read about different styles, family stories, and new products.  My Pop is one of my biggest supporters, now, after seeing the kids and how they interact with people of all ages... better than I do!!  And it's not just how the kids are 'doing school' - it's a way of life... a way of learning.  Everything we do, we try to make it a lesson.  For example, instead of making cookies real quick, I might have them double the recipe, or half it.  They learn math and fractions from that, chemistry as they watch the different ingredients mix and how adding heat changes it, and not only did we spend a lot of time together, we get a yummy snack when we are done.  I wouldn't do it any other way.

Doug and I have started our own businesses.  He is working with a friend providing internet services to those who can't normally get it, doing some technical support, some web design.  My business is personalized jewelry and photo Italian charms but I also make lots of arts and crafts things such as ornaments, knitting and crochet, paper crafts, etc.  I've started 'Going Green' by recycling old greeting cards into new ones or cutting them up and making them into really neat boxes for the jewelry I sell.  Just recently, I've started crocheting with plarn, or plastic yarn - cut up grocery bags!  It's so addicting!

Unfortunately, I do have a kidney disease that drops me into my Comfy Chair too often.  I pass 3 - 5 kidney stones every week and I have to take pain medication (the strong stuff) constantly, just to be able to function.  If you have passed a stone, I can hear the sympathetic moan from you and thanks.  I have lost friends over it because it is almost as hard to see someone in that much pain as it is to actually be in that pain, but for the most part, it is under control and my only fear is that the kids will remember it as a defining part of me instead of just something Mom has at times.  I want them to remember all the fun we have together and all the love we share.  I think they will.

So if that looks and sounds like I might have something to say that you might like to hear... stop in again and read the future entries.  I haven't been writing lately and all the words are starting to clog my brain so I thought I would dump them here, for you to read... until I am booed off the stage.

 - Nancy